Chinook DFC Award
Very well done. My very first boss in my first job was a DFC and bar. His first was something to do with getting a stricken aircraft home from Berlin while wounded. A very unassuming man and a gent.
The award of medals will always be somewhat relative to the conflict that we find ourselves in; I don't mean this as a slight to those with DFCs from modern day conflicts but go back 75 years and you'd probably find that their acts of bravery would not get the same recognition as in WW2 when we were losing crews left right and centre
DFC - 20,354, first bars 1,550, second bars 42*
DFM - 6,637, first bars 60, second bar 1
Equivalent army and navy awards are as follows
MC - 10,386, First bars 482, second bars 24
MM - 15,225, first bars 164, second bar 2
DSC - 4525, first bars 434, second bars 44, third bar 1
DSM - 7132, first bars 153, second bars 4, third bar 1
It can be seen that the DFC was in fact the most frequently awarded gallantry medal of WW2. Similar to A-P's remark, I also do not in any way wish to denigrate the WW2 awards, but it has to be admitted that the RAF of the time was not slow to recognise gallantry among its aircrew.
* I would assume that the Google source quoted by Heathrow Harry which lists 22 recipients of the second bar has probably only given a selection. I believe the figure of 42 I have quoted is likely to be correct as Abbott & Tamplin is generally accepted as "The Bible" in matters of gallantry medals
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TTN
Thanks for that.
Does your 'bible' also give the AFC's and AFM's that were awarded for 'an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy'?
Or are all of the AFC's and AFM's grouped together?
Thanks for that.
Does your 'bible' also give the AFC's and AFM's that were awarded for 'an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy'?
Or are all of the AFC's and AFM's grouped together?
No problem, Ian. Once again figures are for WW2
AFC - 2001 - first bars 26, second bar 1
AFM - 259 - no bars awarded
The AFM was always one of the scarcest gallantry medals, which in later years was sometimes awarded to SAR crewmen. Like the DFM it was also a very attractive medal, and I regret their passing, along with the DSM, DCM, and MM, although I understand the rationale for all ranks now receiving the same award
AFC - 2001 - first bars 26, second bar 1
AFM - 259 - no bars awarded
The AFM was always one of the scarcest gallantry medals, which in later years was sometimes awarded to SAR crewmen. Like the DFM it was also a very attractive medal, and I regret their passing, along with the DSM, DCM, and MM, although I understand the rationale for all ranks now receiving the same award
HH,
There is certainly a triple DFC Chinook mate, and a double DFC, a CGC/DFC (the highest individual gallantry award given to a RAF pilot since WW2) and at least one DFC/AFC....and I believe the last DFM went to a chinook ALM (who has an AFM too).
There is certainly a triple DFC Chinook mate, and a double DFC, a CGC/DFC (the highest individual gallantry award given to a RAF pilot since WW2) and at least one DFC/AFC....and I believe the last DFM went to a chinook ALM (who has an AFM too).
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Sky Sports
How times have changed!
When I was a loadie in NI in the early 90's, you were awarded a MID for coming under fire. Now, it seems, you have to get hit in the ball bag as well.
How times have changed!
When I was a loadie in NI in the early 90's, you were awarded a MID for coming under fire. Now, it seems, you have to get hit in the ball bag as well.
Actually H-H the award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to the RAF guy referred to in Evalu8ter's post is in the public domain, although I won't mention the man's name here because that is the PPRuNe convention with serving personnel. The London Gazette date is 9 September 2005 and a quick Google search of the named individual gives an account of the rescue operation in Sierra Leone for which the award was given. Similarly the name of the recipient of the DFC and two bars (DFC for Iraq, one bar each for Iraq and Afganistan) is also available to the public. However in the case of special forces you are correct that on occasions names of medal recipients have been suppressed to protect anonymity.
As far as I can tell there have been 25 DFCs awarded so far for Afghanistan, including the bar referred to above, and if I say I hope there won't be many more I hope I won't be misunderstood!
As far as I can tell there have been 25 DFCs awarded so far for Afghanistan, including the bar referred to above, and if I say I hope there won't be many more I hope I won't be misunderstood!
As a cold war warrior with a medal-free chest (despite 20 years’ service and a few thousand hours in my log book!), I find myself immensely proud when I read of extraordinary courage and coolness under fire like this. I’m so glad that, despite all the damage wreaked by successive governments, the Royal Air Force still has people of this towering stature. Many congratulations to the whole crew.
TTN, excuse my ignorance, but how does one get sight of the citations for awards like this? I’ve burrowed around in the Gazette, but I’ve given up… (LMF probably)
airsound
TTN, excuse my ignorance, but how does one get sight of the citations for awards like this? I’ve burrowed around in the Gazette, but I’ve given up… (LMF probably)
airsound
Both are great guys and both awards are well deserved.
The captain is normally awarded a medal on behalf of the crew - medals are very much an officer thing and to be honest, most crewman past and present don't really give a sh1t who gets what; the satisfaction of a job well done and getting the troops/casualty on board safely are all the reward that's needed.
The captain is normally awarded a medal on behalf of the crew - medals are very much an officer thing and to be honest, most crewman past and present don't really give a sh1t who gets what; the satisfaction of a job well done and getting the troops/casualty on board safely are all the reward that's needed.
TTN, excuse my ignorance, but how does one get sight of the citations for awards like this? I’ve burrowed around in the Gazette, but I’ve given up… (LMF probably)
In the case of the CGC award I just googled Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and got a list of recipients, only one of whom was RAF. His London Gazette date was given, and although no citation is shown in the LG it was easy to get a link to a general description of the operation in Sierra Leone.
I also learned that the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was awarded to the Royal Irish Regiment and the Ulster Defence Regiment which is relevant to the earlier discussion on unit citations.
TTN - SF personnel have been named through-out HERRICK and TELIC. You just need to pay attention to the Level 2 and 3 awardees who don't have to take part in the media rigmarole on the day of the announcement. They have typically been PARA and RM, although there are a fair few County Regt and Support Arms in there as well.
