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Air Medal (AM)

The Air Medal was instituted on May 11th 1942. On March 9th 1942, the Secretary of War suggested to institute the Air Medal an award to "any person who, while serving in any capacity of the Army of the United States, distinguishes himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight". Using the Distinguished Flying Cross for this purpose would have degraded that decoration. The original institutional text stated that the decoration was to be awarded to "any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard of the United States subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight". On September 11th 1942 this "Executive Order was slightly changed with the words "in any capacity in or with the Army".
The medal was designed by Walker Hancock, who was ordered to temporary duty to the G1 War Department on Camp Livingston, Louisiana, especially to work on the medal.

The Air Medal resembles a Bronze Compass Rose with sixteen points and decorated with a Fleur-de-lis at the top point which holds the suspension ring. On the obverse can be found a downward attacking "American Eagle", clutching a lightning bolt in each talon. The reverse shows a blank raised disk that can bear the recipient’s name and rank.
The ribbon is ultramarine blue with two broad golden orange stripes from top to bottom.

The official criteria are:
- "The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the armed forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight".
- "Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism or for meritorious service".
- "Award of the Air Medal is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crew member or non-crew member flying status which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. However, it may also be awarded to certain other individuals whose combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crew member but who are not on flying status. These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the operational land combat mission or to the mission of the aircraft in flight. Examples of personnel whose combat duties require them to fly include those in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy and those directly involved in airborne command and control of combat operations. Involvement in such activities, normally at the brigade/group level and below, serves only to establish eligibility for award of the Air Medal; the degree of heroism, meritorious achievement or exemplary service determines who should receive the award. Awards will not be made to individuals who use air transportation solely for the purpose of moving from point to point in a combat zone."

Any further awarded Air Medal came in the form of an Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (US Army, US Army Air Force), or Golden Star (US Navy, US Coast Guard and US Navy Marines Corps) that could be worn on the ribbon. Each fifth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster or Golden Star was awarded as a Silver Oak Leave Cluster or Silver Star. The US Army and Navy also awarded a "V" pin (Valour Device) that denoted special acts for heroism involving aerial contact with an enemy force.

Abbott, Earl Leroy "Abby"* January 8th, 1919
† January 24th, 1945

more
Abeles, Afred Beecher (USAF)* June 12th, 1923
† January 23rd, 1945

Grid List
NameDate of birthDate of deathAwards
Ragland, Ralph Eugene03-02-1935 more
Raithel, Stanley O. 26-08-1944
Raoul-Duval, Claude22-10-191910-05-2018more
Rathbone, John A.  
Rauschkolb, Richard Henry12-07-192203-09-1981
Reber, Ehle H.00-00-192023-01-1943
Reed, Allen S. 06-02-1944
Reese, Halmyth C. 26-03-1944
Regan, John J. "Babe"00-00-191725-05-1944
Rehmet, Leland Arnim24-08-192116-04-1944
Reid, Ernest Leroy13-04-192018-09-2015more
Rekas, Joseph Anthony "Joe"18-02-191817-04-1945
Reynold, Thomas F. (Jr)00-00-192102-06-1945more
Reznicsek, Albert "Al"07-11-191129-10-1945more
Riccio, Nicholas V.00-00-1918 
Richard, Armand R. 05-11-1943
Richardson, William J. 18-09-1944
Riddlehoover, Joyce C. 03-03-1944
Ries, Robert E. "Bob"22-01-192129-07-1944
Riesenberger, Richard R. (US AF)07-10-192331-10-1995more
Rigg, Nile R.  
Riordan, Lawrence T.  
Ritchie, William H. 25-07-1943
Roberts, Clifton C. 19-03-1944
Roberts, Ernest S. 00-10-1943
Roberts, Jack E.  
Roberts, Joseph Franklin24-07-192114-01-1987
Roberts, Raymond Clifford 13-12-1943
Roberts, William Herbert21-10-191903-03-2011more
Robinson, McCalvin J., Jr.03-05-192122-02-1944
Roche, Bernard J.13-05-191905-04-1943
Roddenberry, Eugene Wesley "Gene"00-08-192124-10-1991
Romberger, William Melvin (US Navy)16-05-191616-04-2001more
Ropp, George H., Jr.  more
Rose, Robert G. II02-06-192428-12-2009
Roseberry, Joseph E.04-12-192112-04-1945more
Rosenblatt, Charles J.  more
Roskowick, Thomas L.20-11-192428-05-1944
Ross, Charles F. 22-02-1944
Ross, Roberta Schilbach02-05-191728-04-2003
Roush, Virgil B.02-02-192407-01-2012more
Rovero, Aldo J.02-12-1923 more
Rozanoff, Constantin23-08-190503-04-1954
Ruff, Jack P.  
Rupert, Randall B.  
Rushing, Manes M.  
Russell, George E. 25-04-1945
Rzepiejewski, Theodore A.00-00-1919 

Sources