| Medal: |
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A cross flory, in silver, the horizontal
and base bars terminating in bombs,
the upper bar in a rose.
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This cross is surmounted by another,
composed of aeroplane propellers,
charged in the center with a roundel
within a laurel leaf from which two wings stretch across the horizontal bars.
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At the centre of the roundel is the RAF
monogram surmounted by the Imperial Crown. |
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| Reverse: |
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The reverse of the cross has at its centre
an encircled Royal Cypher above the year '1918'.
The year of the award was engraved on the back.
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| Bars: |
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A silver bar ornamented by an eagle may be issued to DFC
holders performing a further act of such valour which would have merited award
of the DFC.
The year of the
additional award was engraved on the bar.
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| Ribbon: |
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| Alternate narrow diagonal stripes of white and deep
purple. |
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| Awarded to: |
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All ranks of the RN, RM, Army and RAF in recognition of exemplary
gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air. |
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| History: |
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Instituted in 1918, the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
was issued for acts of valour while flying in operations against the enemy to
warrant officers and officers of the Royal Air Force. It was later made
available to equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy and Army for acts of valour in
the air.
The equivalent award for the other ranks for acts of
valour in the air on operations against the enemy was the Distinguished Flying
Medal (DFM), instituted at the same time as the DFC and which was also later
made available to other ranks of the Royal Navy and Army.
Following the 1993 review, the DFM was discontinued and
the DFC became available to all ranks of all services for exemplary gallantry in
the air in presence of the enemy. It is at a level below the Conspicuous
Gallantry Cross and is at the equivalent level to the Distinguished Service
Cross (for exemplary gallantry at sea) and the Military Cross (for exemplary
gallantry on land). |