THE US AIR MEDAL -
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by
Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 11 May 1942. The Air Medal was awarded retroactive to 8 September 1939.
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QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE AIR MEDAL
The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United
States, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
During World War II the medal's award criteria varied widely depending on the theater of operations, the aircraft flown, and the
missions accomplished. In Europe some bomber crewmembers received it for five sorties; elsewhere, the Pacific and CBI much higher
criteria were used. The Distinguished Flying Cross would be given to a commissioned officer where the Air Medal would be awarded
to an enlisted man.
The Air Medal may also be awarded to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service. Award of the Air Medal
is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crew member or non-crew member flying status which requires
them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. However, it may
also be awarded to certain other individuals whose combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger
status, or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crew member but who are not on
flying status. These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the operational land combat mission or to the mission of
the aircraft in flight.
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Subsequent awards of the Air Medal are denoted in the U.S. Army by award numerals displayed on the medal and ribbon. The Army
originally used oak leaf clusters, however it changed to numerals during the Vietnam War when the number of Air Medals awarded
became too large to be annotated on a single ribbon. The Army and the Air Force also awards the Air Medal with the "V" Device
for acts of heroism.
The following are examples of the Air medal.
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