Description
Physical description
medal, ribbon and fitted case of issue
'Cross flory' bearing a Tudor rose and interlaced RAF cypher within a winged central roundel, surrounded by a laurel wreath and surmounted by a crown. The whole over a cross in the form of aeroplane propellers, the horizontal arms of which are obscured by the roundel's wings, which in turn is superimposed upon the principal cross whose horizontal and lower vertical arms terminate with bomb motifs, the upper vertical arm terminating in a rose. Reverse: within a central roundel, the GRI cypher, ornate and interlaced with date '1918', remainder of reverse plain. Suspender: straight bar with laurelled supports. Ribbon colours: white and violet. Ribbon pattern: violet and white diagonal stripes (each 3 mm wide). The date 1945 is engraved on the reverse of the lower vertical arm of the cross.
Label
Second World War Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) awarded to (542562V) Lieutenant J Lewis (South African Air Force) on 23 February 1945 in connection with his active service in 70 Squadron, RAF.
John Lewis was born in Mertha Tydfil on 18 June 1915. He joined the Police in Bridgend, later transferring to the Palestine Police as a sergeant. On the outbreak of war in 1939, he tried to transfer back to the UK but was unable to do so. In the event, he managed to join the South African Air Force and was commissioned as a Lieutenant and was serving with 70 Squadron, RAF when he was awarded his DFC 1945. Mr Lewis returned to Britain after the war and died in 1992. His medal was found amongst his effects and given to his twin sister who donated it to the Imperial War Museum in 2002.
History note
John Lewis was born in Merthatydfil on 18 June 1915. He joined the police in Bridgend, later transferring to the Palestine Police as a sergeant. On the outbreak of war in 1939, he tried to transfer back to the UK but was unable to do so. In the event, he managed to join the South African Air Force and was commissioned as a Lieutenant and was serving with 70 Squadron, RAF when he was awarded a DFC on 23 February 1945. Mr Lewis returned to Britain after the war and died in 1992. His medal was found amongst his effects and given to his twin sister who donated it to the Museum in 2002.
Engraved (on reverse of lower arm)
1945