Distinguished Flying Medal



The Distinguished Flying Medal was instituted on 3 June 1918 to be was awarded to non-commissioned-officers and men for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy.



The silver-coloured award has the shape of an oval medal, 1.375 inches wide and 1.625 inches long. On the obverse you can see the bareheaded coinage effigy of :



King George V, facing left and the legend : GEORGEIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:



King George VI, facing left and the legend : GEORGEIVS VID: G: BR: OMN: REX F.D: IND: IMP:



On the reverse, within a wreath of laurel, Athena Nike is shown seated on an aeroplane, a hawk rising from her right arm above the words : FOR COURAGE.



The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternate violet and white stripes (0,0625 inches) leaning 45 degrees to the left. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal. The medal was engraved with the service number, rank, initials, surname and service of the recipient.