Air Medal

The Air Medal is a personal military decoration awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes themselves by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. It has a rich history and specific regulations surrounding its awarding. ### History The Air Medal was established by Executive Order 9158 on September 8, 1939. It was initially created to recognize the essential nature of aerial flight in military operations, primarily focusing on achievements during missions involving combat conditions. Over the decades, its criteria and awarding practices have evolved, especially during World War II, which solidified its importance within military awards. ### Criteria and Eligibility To be eligible for the Air Medal: 1. The individual must have been under flight orders as part of an aircrew. This excludes personnel who are merely transported aboard the aircraft. 2. It can be awarded for two types of accomplishments: - **Single Mission Air Medal**: This is for a specific achievement or act of heroism during a single mission, typically recognized as not meeting the threshold for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). - **Strike/Flight Air Medal**: This is awarded for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight over a designated period. The Air Medal may also be awarded with devices: - **“V” Device**: Denotes the award is for heroic achievement while participating in aerial flight. - **“C” Device**: Indicates the award was for meritorious achievement under combat conditions. ### Notable Recipients Throughout history, the Air Medal has been awarded to numerous service members, including pilots and aircrew involved in critical missions during conflicts like the Vietnam War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Specific names may not be commonly documented, but many recipients are recognized for heroic actions that saved lives or contributed significantly to mission success. ### Citation Guidelines Citations for the Air Medal typically include: - The recipient's name and rank. - The specific duty or task involved. - A detailed description of the actions that warranted the medal. - For awards including devices, appropriate statements are added to indicate valor or combat conditions. Each subsequent award of the Air Medal is denoted by a gold numeral for the Single Mission Air Medal, or a bronze numeral for the Strike/Flight Air Medal, both worn on the ribbon. ### Conclusion The Air Medal remains a crucial recognition of the achievements of the Navy and Marine Corps aircrew members, highlighting their bravery and commitment to flying missions under sometimes dangerous conditions. It honors both individual acts of heroism as well as sustained performance in the air, thereby fostering a spirit of excellence within military aviation.