The medal was established on 3 June 1918. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Air Force Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, although the latter could also be awarded the AFM. It ranked below the AFC in order of precedence, between the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Although the new award was announced in the London Gazette on 3 June 1918, the actual Royal Warrants were not published in the London Gazette until 5 December 1919. A bar, worn on the ribbon, could be awarded to recognise a second award of the Air Force Medal. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFM". The first two awards appeared in the London Gazette on 3 June 1918, to:
Twenty-nine awards appeared in a supplement to the London Gazette of 8 February 1919. The first awards of a bar to the Air Force Medal were announced on 26 December 1919, to two sergeants in the Australian Flying Corps, for providing support to a pioneering flight from London to Australia:
275 Sergeant James Mallett Bennett, A.F.M.
8974 Sergeant Walter Henry Shiers, A.F.M.
In 1979 eligibility for a number of British awards, including the AFM, was extended to permit posthumous awards. Until that time, only the Victoria Cross and a mention in dispatches could be awarded posthumously. In 1993, the AFM was discontinued, as part of the review of the British honours system, which recommended removing distinctions of rank in respect of awards for bravery. Since then, the Air Force Cross, previously only open to Commissioned and Warrant Officers, has been awarded to personnel of all ranks. The AFM had also been awarded by Commonwealth countries but by the 1990s most, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, had established their own honours systems and no longer recommended British honours.
Numbers of awards
Between 1918 and 1993 approximately 942 medals and ten second award bar were awarded.
Period.
Medals.
Bars.
1918–1919
102
2
1920–1929
48
3
1930–1937
20
–
1938–1939
38
–
1940–1945
259
–
1946–1952
175
–
1953–1993
300
5
Total
942
10
Awards include several to the Royal Navy and the Army Air Corps. Fifteen honorary awards were made to aircrew from foreign countries, one in 1919 and 14 for service during the Second World War. Civilians were eligible for the AFM from 1919 to 1932, three awards being made.
Description
The AFM is an oval silver medal, wide with a height of, with the following design:
The obverse shows the effigy and titles of the reigning sovereign:
The suspension consists of two outstretched wings.
Further awards are signified by a straight slip-on silver bar with an eagle in the centre.
All awards have the name and service details of the recipient engraved or impressed on the rim.
The ribbon is wide, and consists of alternate red and white stripes, wide, leaning 45 degrees to the left. A red stripe is to appear in the bottom left and upper right corners when viewed on the wearer's chest. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.
