Distinguished Flying Cross
1918
Instituted on 3 June 1918 (two months after the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service on), the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to officers and Warrant Officers for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. Recipients were (are) entitled to the post-nominal letters DFC. The stripes on the ribbon were originally horizontal until changed to the diagonal in 1919.