A cross, in silver, the obverse made up of a thunderbolt surmounted by another cross of aeroplane propellers, the ends of which are enscribed with the letters of the Royal Cypher, the base bar terminated with a bomb and the top bar by the Imperial Crown, with the arms conjoined by wings. A central roundel depicts Hermes mounted on a hawk in flight bestowing a wreath. The reverse bears the image of the Royal Cypher above the date '1918'.
Clasp
A silver bar ornamented by an eagle may be issued to AFC holders performing a further act of such gallantry which would have merited award of the AFC.
Ribbon
Alternate narrow diagonal stripes of white and crimson, top right to bottom left.
Awarded to:
All ranks of the RN, RM, Army, and RAF in recognition of exemplary gallantry in the air on non-active operations.
History
Instituted in 1918, the Air Force Cross (AFC) was issued for acts of gallantry while flying on non-active operations to warrant officers and officers of the Royal Air Force. It was later made available to equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy and Army for acts of gallantry in the air.
The equivalent award for the other ranks for acts of gallantry in the air on non-active operations was the Air Force Medal (AFM), instituted at the same time as the AFC and which was also later made available to other ranks of the Royal Navy and Army.
In 1993 the AFM was discontinued and the AFC became available to all ranks of all services for exemplary gallantry in the air not in presence of the enemy. It is at the same level as the Queen's Gallantry Medal, which is awarded for the same degree of gallantry on land or at sea.