Requirements for award of Air Crew Europe Medal Ixer 1283378

HI,
I am researching a crash near my home address on 20/9/1941 and have the medals for John Howard Ixer, 1283378. He was shot down by a night fighter whilst approaching to land at RAF Croughton. He was flying with 16 OTU from Upper Heyford. As far as I can ascertain he had no previous operational flying.

I am assuming he would have been awarded Air Crew Europe under criteria Special Awards & Premature Termination: as below?

Help please?

Thank you.

Kevin


The specific criteria and exceptions were highly structured:

• Basic RAF/RN Qualification: 60 days of service posted to an operational unit engaged in flying from UK bases over Europe, with at least one operational sortie flown during that period.
• Army Personnel: 4 months of service on aircrew duties, with at least 2 months spent on operational flying over Europe and at least one operational sortie.
• Operational Training Units (OTUs): Time served at an OTU could count if the crew member was required to fly an operational sortie involving a definite risk of enemy action.
• The specific criteria and exceptions were highly structured: [1]
  • Basic RAF/RN Qualification: 60 days of service posted to an operational unit engaged in flying from UK bases over Europe, with at least one operational sortie flown during that period.
  • Army Personnel: 4 months of service on aircrew duties, with at least 2 months spent on operational flying over Europe and at least one operational sortie.
  • Operational Training Units (OTUs): Time served at an OTU could count if the crew member was required to fly an operational sortie involving a definite risk of enemy action.
  • Special Awards & Premature Termination: The medal was awarded regardless of service duration if the recipient earned a gallantry medal, was Mentioned in Despatches, or if their service was cut short due to death, disability, or wounding.
  • Timeline Closes: The eligibility cutoff date was midnight on June 5, 1944 (the day before the D-Day Normandy invasion). After this date, operational flying over Europe qualified for the France and Germany Star. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  The medal was awarded regardless of service duration if the recipient earned a gallantry medal, was Mentioned in Despatches, or if their service was cut short due to death, disability, or wounding.
• Timeline Closes: The eligibility cutoff date was midnight on June 5, 1944 (the day before the D-Day Normandy invasion). After this date, operational flying over Europe qualified for the France and Germany Star. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

 

If you are NOK why don’t you test your theory by applying for the medal?

Apply for or replace a medal or veterans badge

Forum member RAFCommands (Ross) may have an informed view about the scenario you’ve outlined.

Good Luck

Steve

 

Members of the British Medals Forum will be able to steer you in the correct direction.

British Medal Forum - Index page

Jim

 

Thank you