Medal:
1 3/8 inches in diameter, silver
Obverse:
King George V: A bareheaded coinage effigy,
facing left and the legend
GEORGEIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:
Reverse:
A wreath of laurel, a representation of
Athena Nike seated on an aeroplane,
with a hawk rising from her right
arm above the words
Bars:
A straight silver bar with an eagle in the
centre is awarded for a further act that would have merited award of the
DFM.
The year of the award was engraved on the back of
the bar.Awarded for additional acts of gallantry (silver laurelled bar)
Mounting:
A bomb is attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings
Ribbon:
1¼ inches with alternate
narrow diagonal stripes of white and deep purple.
Awarded to:
Non-commissioned officers and
men for an act or acts of exceptional valour, courage or devotion to
duty whilst flying
in active operations against the enemy.
The medal was
engraved with the service number, rank, initials, surname and service.
Military awards have the service number, full name and unit or service
engraved and civil awards
usually have the names in full
engraved around the rim.
History:
Instituted June 3, 1918, until
1919 the stripes were horizontal. The DFM was awarded to
non-commissioned officers and men
for acts of valour while flying in
operations against the enemy.
Following the 1993 review, the DFM was discontinued and the DFC
became available to all ranks of all services
for exemplary gallantry in
the air in the presence of the enemy.
©Crown Copyright/MOD 2008