Airman's Cross

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Airman's Cross
Vliegerkruis en baton.jpg
The Airman's Cross with ribbon bars
TypeMilitary award
Awarded fordisplay of initiative, courage and perseverance against the enemy during flight in an aircraft
Presented byFlag of the Netherlands.svg Kingdom of the Netherlands
StatusCurrently awarded
First awarded1941
Last awardedMajor M. Duivesteijn
Total735
Precedence
Next (higher)Cross of Merit
Next (lower)Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance (silver or bronze)

The Airman's Cross (Dutch: Vliegerkruis) is an important military decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands created in 1941. The cross is meant for those Dutch military, who displayed during one or more flights in an aircraft, initiative, courage and perseverance against the enemy or during hostile actions. The cross is also awarded to allied pilots, whose actions or performances in the air were of high importance for the Netherlands.

Till 2007 in total of 735 Airman's Crosses are awarded, most recently to an F-16 pilot, Air Force Major M. Duivesteijn. This because of his "exceptional courage and perseverance" at a flight above former Yugoslavia within the framework of NATO Operation Allied Force in 1999. Well-known recipients are also Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, the "Soldier of Orange", and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

The Airman's Cross is the fifth-highest military decoration still being awarded for bravery and has precedence after the Cross of Merit.

Description[]

The Airman's Cross resembles the Dutch Bronze Cross but is worn on a diagonally-striped orange and white ribbon inspired by those of the British Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Force Cross.

The cross is silver with four arms. There is a crowned central medallion bearing an albatross in flight with "INITIATIEF MOED VOLHARDING" (INITIATIVE COURAGE PERSEVERANCE) around the edge of the medallion. The date 1941 appears above the body of the albatross. The reverse is plain.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""