Gallantry in Action

The Royal Air Force's Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was created in 1918 to distinguish itself from the Army and Royal Navy. It was awarded to 60 airmen between 1918 and 1946, with three more awarded post-WWII. The book includes mini-biographies and citations for all those who received the DFC and Two Bars, covering most of WWII operations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2019
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing

The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed on 1 April 1918 through the merger of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). As a new branch of the military, the RAF needed its own gallantry medals to distinguish itself from the Army and the Royal Navy. Thus, the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was introduced.

Initially, the DFC was not immediately used, but as World War I progressed, awards that would have previously resulted in the Military Cross or Distinguished Service Cross became the Distinguished Flying Cross. By the end of World War I, numerous DFCs and First Bars had been awarded, but only three Second Bars had been promulgated for First World War actions.

Before World War II erupted, only four more Second Bars had been awarded, primarily for actions in what we would now call the Middle East. By the end of World War II, awards of the DFC and First Bars had multiplied significantly, but only fifty Second Bars had been awarded (and gazetted), making fifty-seven in all between 1918 and 1946. To this, three more Second Bars were awarded post-WWII, between 1952 and 1955, bringing the total to sixty.

Despite this, the number of members of the DFC remains relatively small, making it a prestigious and exclusive honor within the RAF.

This book presents the mini-biographies of all sixty recipients of the DFC, along with the citations that accompanied their awards. Additionally, citations for other decorations such as the Distinguished Service Order are recorded. It is worth noting that during periods of large numbers of awards, the recommendations for these decorations were often longer than the actual citations themselves, and as a result, they did not make it into the London Gazette. During these times, only the name of the recipient was recorded.

As the reader delves into the pages of this book, they will discover the diverse range of airmen who have been awarded the DFC. These airmen served in various roles within the RAF, including pilots, navigators, and ground crew members. Their contributions to the war effort were significant, and their bravery and dedication to their duty are truly remarkable.

The DFC is a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served in the RAF and has become an iconic symbol of the military's highest honors. This book serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the DFC and the men who have earned it.

Weight: 642g
Dimension: 157 x 217 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911621287