How about some of the BOAC pilots who operated the Swedish "ball bearing run" during WW2? Very few gongs or recognition despite a casualty rate not far off RAF ops. And no, not just in speedy Mosquitoes; much of the traffic was in Whitleys, Venturas, all by legal necessity completely unarmed.
Edit: ditto for merchant navy...vast majority, nada. Even on a convoy with disastrous loss rate - unless carrying munitions. For instance, carrying wooden rifle butts qualified crew for medals but hold full of aviation fuel stored in foil lined hardboard cases didn't!
Last edited by ShotOne; 9th Jan 2017 at 13:44.