The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Overview
The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was instituted in 1918. It was awarded to junior officers and senior non commissioned officers of the Air Force for courage and devotion to duty on active service.
Since 1993 the DFC has been made available to all ranks in the United Kingdom. In 1999 the DFC was replaced in New Zealand by the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration.
Description
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a cross flory, silver in colour. On the obverse, the vertical arms feature airplane propellers, and the horizontal arms feature wings. A laurel wreath encircles a crowned RAF monogram in the centre. The reverse bears the Royal Cypher of the Sovereign and the date '1918'.
The ribbon bar is also silver, with the Royal Air Force eagle at its centre. The ribbon was originally white with deep purple broad horizontal stripes, but it was changed in 1919 to its current design of white with narrow purple diagonal stripes
Recipients
Over 1000 DFCs were awarded to New Zealanders for actions during the Second World War. The most recent awards were for service in Vietnam.
Queries & requests
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Wearing this award
The Distinguished Flying Cross is worn as a decoration in the New Zealand Order of Wear. It is always worn after the Military Cross and before the Air Force Cross.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Checking eligibility and applying for this award
The Distinguished Flying Cross is no longer awarded in New Zealand since the introduction of New Zealand's own system of Gallantry and Bravery awards in 1999.
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Checking if this award was issued
Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.
Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page.