Air Medal
| Air Medal | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Awarded by the United States Armed Forces | |
| Type | Military medal (Decoration) |
| Awarded for | Meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Established | , May 11, 1942 (as amended by , September 11, 1942) |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Meritorious Service Medals: Joint Service, Branch Service |
| Next (lower) | Air Force: Aerial Achievement Medal Army, Navy & Marine Corps: Commendation Medals |
  Service ribbon (above) - Reverse of medal (below) |
|
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The medal was created in 1942 and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
The Air Medal was established by Executive Order , signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 11 May 1942. The Air Medal was awarded retroactive to 8 September 1939. The medal is awarded to anyone who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
The original award criteria set by an Army Policy Letter (dated 25 September 1942) was for one award of the Air Medal...:
These criteria were later altered by the commanding generals of each numbered Air Force to fit the conditions of their theater of operations and to maintain morale. The Distinguished Flying Cross would usually be awarded for roughly twice to five times the requirements of the Air Medal. This led to automatic "score card" awards of the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross for completing a set number of operational missions rather than distinguished service, meritorious action, or bravery as had been intended.
On 5 August 1943 "score card" awards for completing a set number of operational flights were officially abolished by a Headquarters Army Air Forces Awards Board memorandum. This was due to the embarrassment when airmen who had received the Air Medal for "score carding" five missions or more being later removed from flying duties for "lack of moral fibre". Commanders could still issue the awards on those grounds, but the recipient must perform exceptional or meritorious service as well.
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 the airspace was considered completely controlled by the enemy and heavy air defenses were encountered - so the criteria was altered from than that of the original medal. Bomber, photographic reconnaissance, or observation crewmembers and air transport pilots received it for five sorties, fighter pilots received it for ten sorties, and individual pilots or aircrewmen received one award per enemy aircraft shot down.
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Wikipedia