Distinguished Flying Cross (UK)
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This article is about the award given in the United Kingdom; a separate article describes the award given in the United States.
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The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, and formerly to officers of the air forces of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
The award was established on June 3, 1918. It was originally awarded to air force commissioned officers and to Warrant Officers. Since World War II the award has been open to army and naval aviation officers, and since 1993 to other ranks of the Royal Air Force as well; the Distinguished Flying Medal, previously awarded to other ranks, has been discontinued.
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DFC". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a second award.
The cross is a cross flory and is 2 1/8 inches wide. The horizontal and bottom bars are terminated with bumps, the upper bar with a rose. The front of the medal features aeroplane propellers superimposed on the vertical arms of the cross and wings on the horizontal arms. In the centre is a wreath around the letters RAF surmounted by an Imperial Crown. The reverse features the Royal Cypher in the centre and the year of issue engraved on the lower arm.
The ribbon was originally white with purple broad horizontal stripes, but changed in 1919 to the current white with purple broad diagonal stripes.