Distinguished Flying Medal (UK)

The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was a British military decoration awarded specifically to non-commissioned officers and enlisted ranks of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Fleet Air Arm. It was instituted to recognize acts of valor or devotion to duty while flying in active operations, serving as the enlisted equivalent of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The medal was instituted in 1918, concurrently with the formation of the Royal Air Force toward the end of the First World War. It was created to ensure that the bravery of non-commissioned aircrew could be properly recognized alongside their commissioned counterparts.

The UK discontinued the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1993 as part of a widespread review to eliminate rank-based distinctions in the military honors system. Following this change, all ranks of the RAF became eligible for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for acts of bravery in the air.

The medal is oval-shaped and struck from silver, featuring the reigning monarch on the obverse side, such as King George VI during World War II. The reverse displays the image of Athena Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, standing on an eagle in flight.