Distinguished Flying Medal

Awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for an act or acts of exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy
Medal:
 
  Oval,  1 3/8 inches silver
 
Obverse:
 
   King George V:  A bareheaded coinage effigy, facing left and the legend GEORGEIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:
 
Reverse:
 
 
   A wreath of laurel, a representation of Athena Nike seated on an aeroplane, with a hawk rising from her right arm above the words
 FOR COURAGE
 
Bars:
 
A straight silver bar with an eagle in the centre is awarded for a further act that would have merited award of the DFM.  The year
of the award was engraved on the back of the bar.
 
Ribbon:
 
  1¼ inches with alternate narrow diagonal stripes of white and deep purple.
 
Awarded to:
 
  Non-commissioned officers and men for an act or acts of exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. The medal was engraved with the service number, rank, initials, surname and service.
 
History:
 
   Instituted June 3, 1918, until 1919 the stripes were horizontal.  The DFM was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for acts of valour while flying in operations against the enemy.
   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 the presence of the enemy.
©Crown Copyright/MOD 2008
166 Squadron Emblem