- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: May 1945
- Country: Great Britain, Australia
The Air Crew Europe Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945. It was awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for service in the Second World War. No-one could be awarded more than five (now six) campaign stars and no-one could be awarded more than one clasp to any one campaign star.
The Air Crew Europe Star commemorated flying operations from the United Kingdom over Europe and was intended primarily for award to air crew. The strategic bombing campaign against German industrial cities, military installations and a wide variety of other targets continued throughout World War Two and made a decisive contribution to Allied victory.
The Air Crew Europe Star Design
The set of nine campaign stars was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They are six–pointed stars, struck in yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 millimetres diameter circle.
The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher “GRI VI”, surmounted by a crown and the inscription “THE AIR CREW EUROPE STAR”. The reverse is plain and usually shows no engraving.
Find This Campaign Medal
More WW2 British Campaign Medals
During World War II (1939–1945) British campaign medals were awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and civilians for active service in specific military campaigns or operations. These included:
The Arctic Star
The Arctic Star is a military campaign medal which was instituted for service on the Arctic Convoys north of the Arctic Circle in WW2.
The France and Germany Star
The France and Germany Star is a military campaign medal awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served during WW2.
The Pacific Star
The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.
The India Service Medal
The India Service Medal – 1939-1945 is a Commonwealth campaign medal awarded to Indian Forces for three years service in India in WW2.
The Africa Star
The Africa Star is a military campaign medal awarded to those who served in the Second World War specifically in North Africa.
The Atlantic Star
The Atlantic Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Burma Star
The Burma Star is a military campaign medal for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Burma Campaign.
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal 1939-1945 is a campaign medal awarded to members of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces for home service.
