The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was created in 1918 to honour all officers and warrant officers who showed acts of courage while engaged in active operations from the air. In 1993 all members of the navy with qualifying RAF ranks are eligible to receive the DCF.
It was awarded to air force members who showed bravery and devotion to their fleet by taking on extremely difficult tasks in the line of duty while engaged in air combat or other active operatives.
During WWI about 1,100 DFC medals were given out of which 70 air fleet members received first bars and three received second bars. In WWII when flying was more accepted as a part of warfare, about 20,000 DFC medals were awarded which is the most of any kind during that time period with about 1,500 and 42 receiving first and second bars respectively.
The London Gazette contains citations of both World War recipients, but generally speaking there are not as many citations for those who received the DFC during WWI as there is for WWII.
Since the Second World War the year the recipient was given the DFC medal is engraved near the bottom of the cross on the opposite side.
