Editing Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

{{short description|Military decoration of the United Kingdom}}
{{Confused|Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military award
| name = Distinguished Flying Cross
| image = [[File:DistinguishedFlyingCrossUKObv.jpg|240px]]
| caption = Obverse of the decoration
| presenter = United Kingdom and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]
| type = Military decoration
| eligibility = British, Commonwealth, and allied forces
| awarded_for = ''... exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air.''<ref name=MoD>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility |title=Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=12 December 2012 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |access-date=5 February 2015}}</ref>
| campaign = 
| status = Currently awarded
| description = 
| clasps = 
| established = 3 June 1918
| firstawarded = 
| lastawarded = 
| total_awarded = ''To 2017'': 22,322 crosses; 1,737 bars
| total_awarded_posthumously = 
| total_recipients = 
| individual = 
| precedence_label = Order of Wear
| higher = [[Military Cross]]<ref name=JSP761>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/396186/JSP761_honours_awards.pdf |title=JSP 761: Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces |date=December 2014 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205041741/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/396186/JSP761_honours_awards.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2015 }}</ref>
| same = 
| lower = [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]]<ref name=JSP761/>
| related = [[Distinguished Flying Medal]]
| image2 = [[File:United_Kingdom_Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg|110px]]
| caption2 = Ribbon: No bars
1918-1919: horizontal alternate white and purple stripes
1919-current: Diagonal alternate white and purple stripes
}}
[[File:Bar to the Air Force Cross.png|right|thumb|175px|Ribbon bar for a 2nd award]]
The '''Distinguished Flying Cross''' ('''DFC''') is the third-level{{what|need to explain this for readers somehow|date=April 2024}} military decoration awarded to officers, and since 1993 to other ranks, of the United Kingdom's [[Royal Air Force]] and other [[British Armed Forces|services]], and formerly to officers of other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".<ref name=LG674>{{London Gazette|issue=31674|page=15049|date=5 December 1919}}</ref>

==History==
The award was established on 3 June 1918, shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF), with the Royal Warrant published on 5 December 1919.<ref name=LG674/> It was originally awarded to RAF [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] and [[warrant officer]]s, including officers in Commonwealth and allied forces. In March 1941 eligibility was extended to Naval Officers of the [[Fleet Air Arm]], and in November 1942 to Army officers,<ref name=Abbott91/> including [[Royal Artillery]] officers serving on attachment to the RAF as pilots-cum-[[artillery observer]]s. Posthumous awards were permitted from 1979.<ref>{{Cite book|author= P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin.|title=British Gallantry Awards.|page=xx. Nimrod Dix & Co, London, 1981}}{{ISBN|0-902633-74-0}}</ref>

Since [[1993 reviews of the British honours system|the 1993 review of the honours system]] as part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in bravery awards, all ranks of all arms of the Armed Forces have been eligible, and the [[Distinguished Flying Medal]], which had until then been awarded to [[Other ranks (UK)|other ranks]], was discontinued.<ref name=Duckers>{{Cite book|author=Peter Duckers.|title=British Gallantry Awards 1855 – 2000.|pages=29–30. Shire Publications, Oxford, 2010}}{{ISBN|978-0-7478-0516-8}}.</ref> While remaining a reward for "flying in active operations against the enemy", the requirement was changed from "valour, courage or devotion to duty"<ref name=LG674/> to "exemplary gallantry".<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=56693|page=11147|date=17 September 2002}}</ref>

The DFC had also been awarded by Commonwealth countries but by the 1990s most, including [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada|Canada]], [[Australian Honours System|Australia]] and [[New Zealand Royal Honours System|New Zealand]], had established their own honours systems and no longer recommended British honours.<ref>{{Cite book|author=John Mussell (ed).|title=Medal Yearbook 2015.|pages= 390, 429, 459. Token Publishing, Honiton, Devon}}{{ISBN|978-1-908-828-16-3}}</ref>

The DFC now serves as the third-level award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces for exemplary gallantry in active operations against the enemy in the air, not to the standard required to receive the [[Victoria Cross]] or the [[Conspicuous Gallantry Cross]].<ref name=JSP761/> Apart from honorary awards to those serving with allied forces, all awards of the DFC are announced in the ''[[London Gazette]]''.<ref name=Abbott91/>

A [[medal bar|bar]] is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a further award, with a silver rosette worn on the ribbon when worn alone to denote the award of each bar.<ref name=Dorling>{{Cite book|author=Captain H. Taprell Dorling.|title=Ribbons and Medals.|page=41. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956}}</ref>

Recipients are entitled to use the [[post-nominal letters]] "DFC".<ref name=Dorling/>

==Description==
The decoration, designed by [[Edward Carter Preston]],<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Crompton |editor-first=Ann |year=1999 |title=Edward Carter Preston, 1885–1965: Sculptor, Painter, Medallist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EsQw0Lv_TnUC |publisher=[[University of Liverpool]] Art Gallery |isbn=0853237921}}</ref> is a [[Cross fleury|cross flory]], {{convert|2.125|in|mm}} wide. The horizontal and bottom bars are terminated with bumps, the upper bar with a rose. The decoration's face features aeroplane propellers, superimposed on the vertical arms of the cross, and wings on the horizontal arms. In the centre is a [[Bay Laurel|laurel]] wreath around the RAF monogram, surmounted by a heraldic [[Tudor Crown (heraldry)|Imperial Crown]].<ref name=Abbott91>{{Cite book|author= P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin.|title=British Gallantry Awards.|pages=91–95. Nimrod Dix & Co, London, 1981}}{{ISBN|0-902633-74-0}}</ref>

The reverse is plain, except for a central roundel bearing the reigning monarch's [[Royal Cypher|cypher]] and the date '1918'. Originally awarded unnamed, from 1939 the year of issue was engraved on the reverse lower limb of cross,<ref name=Abbott91/> and since 1984 it has been awarded named to the recipient.<ref name=Yearbook>{{Cite book|author=John Mussell (ed).|title=Medal Yearbook 2015.|pages=87. Token Publishing, Honiton, Devon}}{{ISBN|978-1-908-828-16-3}}</ref>

The suspender is straight and decorated with laurel wreaths.

The ribbon bar denoting a further award is silver, with the Royal Air Force eagle in its centre. Bars awarded during World War II have the year of award engraved on the reverse.<ref name=Abbott91/>

The 1.25-inch (32&nbsp;mm) ribbon was originally white with deep purple broad horizontal stripes, but it was changed in 1919 to the current white with purple broad diagonal stripes.<ref name=Abbott91/>
{|align=center class=wikitable width=60%
!colspan=4|Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon bars
|-
!width=15% valign=center align=center|
!width=20% valign=center align=center|DFC 
!width=20% valign=center align=center|DFC and Bar
!width=20% valign=center align=center|DFC and Two Bars
|-
!width=15% valign=center align=center|1918–1919
|width=20% valign=center align=center|[[File:UK DFC 1918 BAR.svg|110px|centre]]
|width=20% valign=center align=center|[[File:UK DFC 1918 w bar BAR.svg|110px|centre]]
|width=20% valign=center align=center|[[File:UK DFC 1918 w 2bars BAR.svg|110px|centre]]
|-
!width=15% valign=center align=center|since 1919
|width=20% valign=center align=center|[[File:United Kingdom Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|110px|centre]]
|width=20% valign=center align=center|[[File:UK DFC w bar BAR.svg|110px|centre]]
|width=20% valign=center align=center|[[File:UK DFC w 2bars BAR.svg|110px|centre]]
|-
|}

==Recipients==
===Numbers awarded===
From 1918 to 2017 approximately 22,322 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 1,737 bars have been awarded. The figures to 1979 are laid out in the table below,<ref name=Abbott95>{{Cite book|author= P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin.|title=British Gallantry Awards.|pages= 95–98. Nimrod Dix & Co, London, 1981}}{{ISBN|0-902633-74-0}}</ref> the dates reflecting the relevant entries in the London Gazette:
{| class="wikitable"
! Period ||  ||align=center| Crosses|| 1st bar || 2nd bar
|-
|align=center| World War I||align=center| 1918–19 ||align=center| 1,045 ||align=center| 62 ||align=center| 3 
|-
|align=center| Inter–War || align=center| 1919–39 ||align=center| 165 ||align=center| 26 ||align=center| 4 
|-
|align=center| World War II ||align=center| 1939–45 ||align=center| 20,354 ||align=center| 1,550 ||align=center| 42 
|-
|align=center| Post–War ||align=center| 1946–79||align=center| 678 ||align=center| 42 ||align=center| 5 
|-
|align=center| '''Total''' ||align=center| '''1918–79''' ||align=center| '''22,242''' ||align=center| '''1,680''' ||align=center| '''54''' 
|}
In addition, between 1980 and 2017 approximately 80 DFCs have been earned, including awards for the [[Falklands War|Falklands]] and the wars in the [[Gulf War|Gulf]], [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].<ref>Post 1979 DFCs include 9 for the [[Falklands War|Falklands]] ([https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49134/supplement/12831 London Gazette Supplement, 8 October 1982]); 5 for [[British military intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War|Sierra Leone]] ([https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57070/supplement/12067 London Gazette Supplement, 30 September 2003]); 14 for [[Gulf War]] ([https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52588/supplement/1 London Gazette Supplement, 29 June 1991][https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53855/supplement/16325 Late award: 21 November 1994]) & 1 honorary award; 16 & 2 bars for [[List of British gallantry awards for the Iraq War#Distinguished Flying Cross|Iraq]] and 29 & 1 second award bar for [[List of British gallantry awards for the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)#Distinguished Flying Cross|Afghanistan]], plus awards for smaller conflicts.</ref> Additionally, two second-award,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58092 |date= 8 September 2006 |page= 12274 |supp= y }}</ref> and one third-award bars<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58776 |date= 25 July 2008 |page= 11242 |supp= y }}</ref> have been awarded.

The above figures include awards to the [[Dominions]]:<br />In all, 4,460 DFCs have gone to Canadians, including 256 first bars and six second bars. Of these, 193 crosses and nine first bars were for service with the RAF in World War I. For World War II, 4,018 DFCs with 213 first bars and six second bars were earned by members of the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]], with a further 247 crosses and 34 first bars to Canadians serving with the RAF.<ref>[http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/details/46 Veterans Affairs Canada – Distinguished Flying Cross] (Retrieved 25 November 2018)</ref><br />From 1918 to 1972 the DFC was awarded to 2,391 Australians, along with 144 first Bars and five second Bars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/imperial.cfm#dfc |title=Imperial Awards |work=It's an Honour |publisher=[[Australian Government]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623051652/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/imperial.cfm#dfc |access-date=25 November 2018|archive-date=23 June 2006 }}</ref><br />Over 1,000 DFCs were awarded to New Zealanders during the World War II, with the most recent awards for service in Vietnam. In 1999 the DFC was replaced by the [[New Zealand Gallantry Decoration]].<ref>[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/i/i10.html New Zealand Defence Force: British Commonwealth Gallantry Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross] (Retrieved 25 November 2018)</ref>

A total of 1,022 honorary awards have been made to members of allied foreign forces. This comprises 46 crosses and one bar for World War I and 927, along with 34 first and three second bars, for World War II. Eight crosses and two bars were awarded to members of the [[US Air Force]] for the [[Korean War]],<ref name=Abbott95/> and one cross to the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine Corps]] during the [[Iraq War]].<ref name=Guardian/>

===Notable awards===
{{see also|Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)}}
* King [[Albert I of Belgium]], who on many occasions during World War I was flown in a British aircraft to reconnoitre enemy positions.<ref name=Abbott95/>
*Wing Commander [[Douglas Rivers Bagnall]], DSO, who was also awarded  also the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|American DFC]].
* [[John Balmer]], [[Royal Australian Air Force|RAAF]] pilot<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1545698|title=Recommendation: Distinguished Flying Cross|publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]]|access-date=1 August 2018}}</ref>
* Wing Commander [[Clive Beadon]], pilot during World War II
* [[Roy Calvert]], [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] pilot who was awarded the DFC three times.
* Major General [[Levi R. Chase]], American flying ace, awarded DFC with bar (WWII and Korea)
* Major [[William Chesarek]], [[United States Marine Corps]], helicopter pilot who in 2006 rescued a British serviceman during the [[Iraq War]].<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|title=Historic award for female private|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/mar/22/military.leeglendinning|work=[[The Guardian]]|issn=0261-3077|page=8|date=22 March 2007|access-date=25 November 2018}}</ref>
* Flight Lieutenant [[Pierre Clostermann]], French RAF officer, awarded RAF DFC and bar in 1945.
* Flight Lieutenant Robert Clothier, RCAF, and later a noted Canadian television actor known for the role of "Relic" in ''The Beachcombers''
* [[Harry Cobby]], flying ace of the [[Australian Flying Corps]] who was awarded the DFC three times.
* [[Gordon Cochrane (pilot)|Gordon Cochrane]], [[Royal New Zealand Air Force|RNZAF]] pilot who was awarded the DFC three times.
* Captain Duncan Ronald Gordon Mackay, the last fatality of the [[First World War]].
*[[Peter Stanley James]], [[Royal Air Force|RAF]], who in July 1941 took part in a daylight raid on the [[German battleship Scharnhorst]] in dock at [[La Rochelle]]. 
* [[Philip Robinson (RAF officer)|Philip Robinson]], RAF pilot who was awarded the DFC three times.
* [[Johnny Johnson (RAF officer)|Squadron Leader George Leonard Johnson]], navigator who took part in '[[Operation Chastise]]'.
* [[Keith Truscott|Keith 'Bluey' Truscott]], famous footballer and RAAF pilot who was awarded the DFC twice.
* [[Arjan Singh]], [[Indian Air Force]]. He later became [[Marshal of the Indian Air Force]].
* [[Mohinder Singh Pujji]], [[Indian Air Force]].
* Group Captain [[Peter Townsend (RAF officer)|Peter Townsend]], [[Royal Victorian Order|CVO]], [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], DFC & bar. An RAF flying ace, [[courtier]] and author, he was [[Equerry#United Kingdom|equerry]] to [[George VI|King George VI]] and Queen Elizabeth II, and also had a romance with [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]].
* [[Harold Whistler]], [[Royal Flying Corps]] flying ace who was awarded the DFC three times
* Wing Commander [[Stanisław Skalski]]
Poles in R.A.F. flying aces propably first air victory II W.W. in Europe.
D.S.O. and two bar , D.F.C two bar.
* Wing Commander [[Robert Stanford Tuck]], [[Royal Air Force]] flying ace who was awarded the DFC three times
*[[Squadron leader|Squadron Leader]] Stuart Mitchell, [[Royal Air Force]], the only tanker pilot to be awarded the DFC to date, for his actions in the [[Bosnian War|Bosnia campaign]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/661279.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Queen honours brave pilots|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref>
* [[Flight Lieutenant]] [[Michelle Goodman|Michelle Jayne Goodman]], the first female officer to be awarded any British combat gallantry medal.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=58633|supp=y |page=3616|date=7 March 2008}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31674/page/15049 Original Royal Warrant for the DFC. ''London Gazette'', 5 December 1919]
*[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56693/supplement/11147 Current Royal Warrant for the DFC. ''London Gazette'', 17 September 2002]
*[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/recommendations-military-honours-awards-1935-1990/ Search recommendations for the Distinguished Flying Cross on The National Archives website]

{{Decorations of the United Kingdom}}
{{Former Australian Honours}}
{{South African military decorations and medals}}

[[Category:Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Courage awards]]
[[Category:1918 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1918]]