Miniature circular bronze medal on laterally-pierced lug for ribbon suspension; the face with an American eagle centrally, its wings spread, the tips extending beyond the circumference of the medal, its head turned to the left, six lightning bolts in its talons, the lower two extending beyond the rim of the medal, two intersecting arcs beyond, thirteen stars above, the left-most, central and right-most stars larger than the rest; the reverse with a central rectangular plaque, inscribed ‘FOR MILITARY’ above and ‘MERIT’ below; diameter 22.11mm(0.87 inch): on original ribbon mounted for wear on an American miniature rack. The Medal was instituted on 3 February 1988 by Secretary of the Air Force Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. to be awarded ‘individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force, distinguish themselves by sustained meritorious achievement on board an aircraft while participating in aerial flight’. A good older example.
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