The Air Force Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy".
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 WOs could also be awarded the AFM), but ranked below it in order of precedence, between the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
The AFM was awarded 259 times during WW2.
Recipients of the Air Force Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFM". In 1993, the AFM was discontinued, and since then the Air Force Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
Read more about Air Force Medal: Description
Famous quotes containing the words air and/or force:
“As in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear;”
—Robert Southwell (1561?–1595)
“There is no force so democratic as the force of an ideal.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)