List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Air Force
The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals. It can be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not "in the face of the enemy".[1] The VC has been awarded on 1356 occasions to 1353 individual recipients.
The ribbon is crimson, 38 mm (1.5 inches) wide. The original (1856) specification for the award stated that the ribbon should be red for army recipients and blue for naval ones.[2] However the dark blue ribbon was abolished soon after the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. On 22 May 1920 King George V signed a warrant that stated all recipients would now receive a red ribbon and the living recipients of the naval version were required to exchange their ribbons for the new colour.[3][4]
There have been a total of 26 recipients of the VC who were serving in the Royal Air Force, including the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, at the time of their valiant deed or deeds. First World War VCs awarded to airmen in the Royal Flying Corps (13 in total) and the Royal Naval Air Service (2 in total) are not listed below. The vast majority of air force VCs awarded in a single conflict were for the Second World War. Second World War dominion air force personnel under RAF command are not listed below. Their tally is as follows: Royal New Zealand Air Force (3 awards), Royal Australian Air Force (2 awards), Royal Canadian Air Force (2 awards), South African Air Force (1 award). Additionally, two Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm airmen won the VC during the Second World War, one of whom was attached from the Royal Canadian Navy.
All of the 26 men who won the VC while serving in the RAF were aircrew. Although no RAF ground branch officers or tradesmen have ever won the VC while serving in the RAF, Group Captain F H Kirby, who was an RAF equipment officer, won the VC for his actions during the Second Boer War when he was a corporal in the Royal Engineers.[5] No RAF personnel have been awarded the VC since the end of the Second World War.
Recipients
This along with the * indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously
References
- General
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- Specific
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Original warrant, Clause Two": Secondly. It is ordained that the Cross shall be suspended from the left breast by a blue riband for the Navy, and by a red riband for the Army
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/lonsouth.htm
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31463. p. 9136. 18 July 1919. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31042. p. 14204. 29 November 1918. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30999. p. 13199. 5 November 1918. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31042. p. 14203. 29 November 1918. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The London Gazette: no. 34870. p. 3516. 11 June 1940. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34927. p. 5090. 20 August 1940. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34993. p. 6569. 15 November 1940. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34958. p. 5788. 1 October 1940. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35486. p. 1163. 10 March 1942. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35225. p. 4213. 22 July 1941. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37623. p. 3211. 21 June 1946. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35539. p. 1851. 24 April 1942. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35755. p. 4593. 20 October 1942. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35992. p. 1905. 23 April 1943. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36030. p. 2361. 25 May 1943. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36235. p. 4859. 2 November 1943. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36285. p. 5435. 10 December 1943. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36584. p. 3041. 23 June 1944. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37324. p. 5233. 23 October 1945. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36682. p. 4073. 29 August 1944. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37228. p. 4185. 14 August 1945. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36693. p. 4175. 5 September 1944. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37347. p. 5533. 9 November 1945. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36997. p. 1593. 20 March 1945. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36948. p. 999. 16 February 1945. Retrieved 2008-11-16.