Air Force Cross (AFC)

Reverse:Within a central circle, the current Royal Cypher (GV, GVI, EIIR) above the  date 1918. The year of award appears on the lower arm.

Mounting:A small link at the top of the crown attaches to a slot in two sprigs of laurel firming the underside of a straight clasp.

Ribbon:The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternating red and white  stripes (0.125 wide) leaning to the left at 45 degrees from the vertical. The red colour is to appear in the bottom left and upper right corners when viewed  on the wearer's chest. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.

Dates:The award was established on 03 June 1918, the birthday of King George V.

Issued:First World War: 70 to Canadians in the RAF
Second World War: 428 to RCAF 1 bar to RCAF (S/L John HONE, AFC*) 34 to Canadians in the RAF (no bars) Korea: 4 to RCAF (EIIR types)
Post War:  22 to RCAF (11 GVI and 11 EIIR) 2 to Canadians in the RAF 2 bars to Canadians in  the RAF

Naming:The medals are issued unamed

Terms:The cross is awarded to an officer or a Warrant Officer for an act or
acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, but not while in active
operations against an enemy.

Bar:A bar is awarded for an additional act which would have warranted the
AFC. The straight  slip-on silver bar has an eagle in the centre. The year of the
award is engraved on the reverse.

Description:A silver cross(1.625”across), shaped as a thunderbolt in the form
of a cross, the arm terminates with a bomb. The cross is surmounted by another cross composed of aeroplane propeller blades, with the ends of the four blades enscribed with the Royal Cypher. For the WWII DFCs the letters G (top), R (left), VI (bottom), and I (right) and for Korea DFCs E (top) II(left),R (right),and the bottom blank. The top arm is ensigned by an Imperial Crown.

Obverse: In the centre of the obverse is a roundel displaying Hemes, mounted on a hawk in flight bestowing a wreath.