Awards of
World War IIThe award was established by decree of the President of Poland in exile on July 3, 1945. The Aviation Medal 1939-1945 is intended only for Polish military personnel who fought in the Allied Air Forces in the West during World War II.
According to the award regulations, the Aviation Medal could be awarded:
- for a feat or other heroic action above and beyond the call of duty;
- for at least six months of service in combat aviation units;
- for at least 12 months of service in service aviation units.
The medal could be awarded up to four times; for repeated awards, the length of service requirement was doubled. When awarded a second time, the medal was not issued; instead, the recipient received a certificate confirming the second award and a ribbon bar.
This award was not officially recognized in the Polish People's Republic's awards system. Only after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, on October 16, 1992, was the Aviation Medal 1939-1945 incorporated into the official Polish awards system.
The medal is a perfect circle, 36 mm in diameter, with a silver coating. On the obverse, in the center, is the Polish Air Force badge and a fragment of a checkerboard pattern. The reverse of the award bears the three-line inscription "POLSKA SWEMU OBRONCY" (Poland to its defender). On both sides of the medal, a laurel wreath adorns the edge, entwined at the bottom with a ribbon.
The award is attached to the award ribbon with an eyelet and ring. The award ribbon is a silk moiré ribbon, 37 mm wide, light blue, with two white stripes 7 mm wide, spaced 2 mm from the edges (awards with a 38 mm ribbon and 8 mm white stripes are also available).
The bar for repeated awards is also silver-plated, 5 mm wide, and features an ornament of two oak branches radiating from the center.
The Aviation Medal 1939-45 is worn on the left chest.