The Distinguished Flying Cross - Gallantry in the air 

The Distinguished Flying Cross is part of the trinity of 'location based' gallantry medals just below the Victoria Cross and the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross in the honours hierarchy.   It can be awarded to all ranks and all services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air.  Its sister medals are the Military Cross (for exemplary gallantry on land) and the Distinguished Service Cross (for exemplary gallantry at sea).

Its history

The distinguished flying cross was instituted towards the end of world war one in 1918.  Like its counterparts, the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross, it could only be awarded to particular ranks.  Specifically, only warrant officers and officers of the Royal Air Force were eligible to receive the award. It was later made available to equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy and Army who undertook acts of valour in the air.

The equivalent award for the other more junior ranks for acts of valour in the air in the face of the enemy was the Distinguished Flying Medal.  However, in 1993 a review of the honours system was made by the British military and government.  One of the key outcomes of this was the removal of rank distinctions for gallantry awards.  In light of this, the Distinguished Flying Medal was discontinued and the Distinguished Flying Cross became available to all ranks of all services for exemplary gallantry in the air in presence of the enemy.