Air Crew Europe Star

This medal was awarded for operational flying from the UK over Europe, between the period 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944. This period covers the outbreak of war to the start of D-Day. This medal was issued to those who took part in the Dambuster raid in May 1943.

RAF aircrew had to complete 2 months service to be awarded this medal. They also had to have been awarded the 1939 - 1945 Star. Some Army personnel were awarded this medal, if they had served on air crew duties for 4 months. Two months of this period had to have been operational flying over Europe and include at least one operational sortie.

Time spent as a POW did not count towards this medal, unless they had already completed the qualification period for the 1939 - 1945 Star.

The medal is a 6 pointed star with the Royal Cipher "GRI VI" in the centre, surmounted with a crown and the inscription "THE AIR CREW EUROPE STAR". The rear, as with all World War II medals is plain and unnamed.

The ribbon is 1.25" with a broad central light blue strip, with black borders and narrow inner yellow stripes, which represent continuos service by day and by night.

Due to the limitation on the number of stars that you could be issued, there are 2 clasps that could be issued with this medal "ATLANTIC" and the "FRANCE AND GERMANY". Only one clasp could be worn, for which the second star had been awarded. When the ribbon alone was worn, a silver rose emblem was worn, which denoted the award of a bar.

This is probably one of the rarer medals from the Second World War.