Air Efficiency Award facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Air Efficiency Award
First King George VI version
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Military long service medal
Eligibility	Part-time Air Force officers, airmen and airwomen
Awarded for	Ten years service
Status	Still current in New Zealand
Clasps	Ten years additional service
Post-nominals	AE (officers only)
Statistics
Established	1942
Order of wear
Next (higher)	Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Medal
Next (lower)	Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
Ribbon bar

The Air Efficiency Award is a special medal. It was created in 1942. Officers could use the letters AE after their name. This award was given for ten years of great service. It went to officers and airmen and airwomen. They served in part-time air forces. These included the Auxiliary and Volunteer Air Forces in the United Kingdom. It also went to those in other British countries.

The United Kingdom stopped giving out this award on April 1, 1999. A new medal, the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, took its place. However, New Zealand still gives out the Air Efficiency Award today. Other countries replaced it with their own awards between 1951 and 1975.

• In Canada, the Canadian Forces' Decoration replaced it in 1951.
• In South Africa, the John Chard Medal took its place in 1952.
• In Australia, the National Medal replaced it in 1975.

Creating the Award

Why the Air Efficiency Award Was Made

The Air Efficiency Award was started by the King. This happened on August 17, 1942. It was a medal for long service. It honored part-time air force members. This included officers, airmen, and airwomen. They served in the UK and other British lands. A special clasp could also be added to the award later.

This award was unique at the time. It could be given to both officers and other ranks. This showed the special bond between aircrew members. At first, people who got the award could not use letters after their name. Later, officers were allowed to use "AE" after their names. This change happened between 1964 and 1982.

Countries That Used the Award

Several British countries adopted the Air Efficiency Award.

• Australia: About 400 Air Efficiency Awards were given here. This happened between 1942 and 1975.
• Canada: Canada started using the award in 1942. It replaced older medals for part-time air force members. These included those in the Royal Canadian Air Force Auxiliary. There was a plan for a "CANADA" bar on the medal. But this never happened. Canadians received the regular British version.
• New Zealand: New Zealand adopted the award in 1942. They still give it out today.
• South Africa: South Africa also used the award. In 1950, they planned a version with two languages. But this never happened. On April 6, 1952, South Africa created its own medals. These replaced all British awards they had used before.

The first people to receive the Air Efficiency Award were announced. This news came out in newspapers on December 25, 1942.

Who Could Get the Award?

How to Qualify for the Medal

To get the medal, you needed ten years of service. At least five of those years had to be active service. This service was in an Auxiliary or Volunteer Air Force. It could be in the UK or other British territories. Even Princes or Princesses of the Royal Family could receive this award.

How to Qualify for a Clasp

A clasp could be added to the medal. This was for another ten years of service. The rules were the same as for the medal. You could earn more clasps. Each one was for another ten years of service.

Counting Service Time

The way service time was counted changed.

• If your service started before September 3, 1939: Time served was counted as one and a half times.
• If you flew with the Royal Air Force during World War II (1939-1945): This time was counted as three times the actual service.
• If you did other duties during World War II: This was normally counted as single time. But if you were part of the Royal Air Force, it was counted as double time.

• If your service started after December 1, 1948: Flying service was counted as one and a half times. Other duties were counted as single time.

Order of Wear

Where the Medal Ranks

Medals are worn in a specific order. This is called the "order of wear." The Air Efficiency Award ranks after the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Medal. It comes before the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.

South Africa's Medal Order

On April 6, 1952, South Africa created its own medals. British awards used before this date were still worn. But they came after all new South African medals. The only exception was the Victoria Cross. Among the British medals, the Air Efficiency Award ranks as shown:

• It comes after the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
• It comes before the Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal.

What the Award Looks Like

The medal is made of silver. It is oval-shaped, about 38 millimeters tall. It is 32 millimeters wide. It has a raised edge on both sides. An eagle in flight hangs from the medal. The eagle looks to its left. It is attached to the medal by a claw and a pin.

Second King George VI version

Second Queen Elizabeth II version

Obverse (Front)

The front of the medal shows the head of the King or Queen. There have been four different versions of the medal.

• First King George VI version: This original version shows King George VI. The words around his head say "GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:". The letters "HP" are below his neck. These are the initials of Thomas Humphrey Paget. He designed this part of the medal.
• Second King George VI version: This version came out in 1949. The King was no longer "Emperor of India." So, the words about India were removed. The King's head looks the same. The new words are "GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX FID: DEF:".
• First Queen Elizabeth II version: This version was made after Queen Elizabeth II became Queen in 1952. Mary Gillick designed her image. This image was also used on coins.
• Second Queen Elizabeth II version: This version came out after her coronation in 1953. The Queen's head looks the same. The words around her head are "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF.".

Reverse (Back)

The back of the medal is smooth. It has the words "AIR EFFICIENCY AWARD" written in three lines.

Clasp

The clasp is also made of silver. It has an eagle with its wings spread out. A crown is above the eagle.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 38 millimeters wide. It has a wide dark green stripe. Then there is a pale blue stripe. These colors are repeated in reverse order. A thin dark green stripe separates them.

When the Award Ended

The Air Efficiency Award was slowly replaced by new medals. This happened in the United Kingdom and some other countries.

• Canada: Canada was the first to create a new medal. This was the Canadian Forces' Decoration. It was first given out on June 7, 1951. However, some members who joined before September 1, 1939, could still get the Air Efficiency Award.
• South Africa: In South Africa, the John Chard Medal replaced it on April 6, 1952. This medal was for all ranks in the Citizen Force. It was given for twelve years of good service.
• Australia: The National Medal replaced it in Australia in 1975.
• United Kingdom: The award stopped being given in the UK on April 1, 1999. The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal took its place. But you could still get the Air Efficiency Award if your service ended before April 1, 1999.

New Zealand is the only country that still gives out the Air Efficiency Award today.