- Distinguished Flying Medal
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Distinguished Flying Medal 
Obverse (top left) and reverse (top right) of the medal.Awarded by UK and Commonwealth Type Military decoration. Eligibility British and (formerly) Commonwealth forces Awarded for for exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy Status Discontinued in 1993 Statistics Established 3 June 1918 First awarded 1918 Precedence Next (higher) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal Equivalent Distinguished Service Medal
Military Medal
Air Force MedalNext (lower) Mention in Despatches The Distinguished Flying Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) and the 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 in active operations against the enemy".
The medal was established on 3 June 1918. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers (although WOs could also be awarded the DFM), although it ranked below the DFC in order of precedence, between the Military Medal and the Air Force Medal. Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DFM". In 1993 the DFM was discontinued, and since then the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
During World War I, approximately 105 DFMs were awarded, with 2 first award bars. During World War II, 6,637 DFMs were awarded, with 60 first award bars. Some 165 were awarded to aircrew from other non- Commonwealth countries.
A second bar to the DFM was uniquely awarded to Flight Sergeant Donald Ernest Kingaby in November 1941.
Description
- An oval, silver medal, 35 mm wide and 41 mm long. The obverse shows a bareheaded effigy of the reigning sovereign.
- The reverse shows Athena Nike seated on an aeroplane, a hawk rising from her right arm above the words FOR COURAGE, all within a laurel wreath.
- A bomb is attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings.
- The ribbon is 32 mm wide, and consists of alternate violet and white stripes (1/16 inch wide) leaning 45 degrees to the left. A violet 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.
- Further awards are signified by a straight slip-on silver bar with an eagle in the centre.
Distinguished Flying Medal ribbon bars DFM DFM and Bar 1918–1919 
1919–1993 
See also
- Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Medal
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- Page including text from the London Gazette dated 5 December 1919 establishing DFC, AFC, DFM and AFM
United Kingdom Decorations and Medals for Gallantry, Valour, Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Current awards Level 1Level 2A_
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) • 
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) • 
Royal Red Cross Class I (RRC)Level 3A_
_ 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) • _
Military Cross (MC) • 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) • 
Air Force Cross (AFC) • Royal Red Cross Class II (ARRC)Level 2BLevel 3B
Constabulary Medal (Ireland) • 
Medal for Saving Life at Sea (SGM) • 
Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) • 
Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) • 
British Empire Medal (BEM) • 
Queen's Police Medal, for Distinguished Service (QPM) • 
Queen's Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service (QFSM) • 
Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) • 
Queen’s Medal for Chiefs • 
Polar MedalLevel 4Other awardsBadge of Honour
Obsolete awards Levels 1 / 2ALevel 3A
Order of British India (First Class) (OBI) • 
Order of British India (Second Class) (OBI) • 
Kaisar-i-Hind, Gold • Kaisar-i-Hind, Silver • Kaisar-i-Hind, BronzeLevel 2B_
_ _ _ _ 
__ _ _ 
Albert Medal (AM) • __ _ 
Edward Medal (EM) • __ Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM) • _
Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery (Gold) • 
Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) • 
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) • 
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM)Level 3B_
_ _ _ _ 
Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal • __ _ _ King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal • __ _ 
Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM) • __ Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery (Silver) • _
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) • 
Military Medal (MM) • 
Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) • __ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
Air Force Medal (AFM) __ _ _ _ _ _ 
Indian Order of Merit (Third Class) (IOM) • __ _ _ _ _ 
Burma Gallantry Medal (BGM) • __ _ _ _ 
Indian Police Medal, for Gallantry • __ _ _ 
Ceylon Police Medal, for Gallantry • __ _ 
Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Gallantry • __ 
Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Gallantry • _
Colonial Police Medal, for Gallantry (CPM) • 
Canada Medal (CM) • 
Indian Police Medal, for Meritorious Service • 
Ceylon Police Medal, for Merit • 
Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Meritorious Service • 
Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Meritorious Service • 
Colonial Police Medal, for Meritorious Service (CPM)Level 4See also: Order of Wear, Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom and British campaign medals Categories:- Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
- Decorations of the Royal Air Force
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