Poland Poland Air Force Medal, Type I

[Riley1965]

Air Force Medal, Type I.

Established in 1945.

It was awarded to all Air Force Personnel on active duty during the war. 4,434 medals were awarded.

The medal is silver with the French ball suspension ring. The Obverse: The center has the Polish Air force insignia, Checkerboard squares enameled in red and white. The insignia is surrounded by an oak leaf wreath. The Reverse has the words POLSKA SWEMU OBRONCY surrounded by an oak leaf wreath.

The medal is worn on a pale blue ribbon with a white stripe near each of the edge of the ribbon.

The medal is 36mm in diameter.

It may be awarded up to four times. Each additional award is noted by the addition of a bar with oak leaves on it.

Enjoy,

Doc

[Riley1965]

And the Reverse...

Doc

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Hi Doc,

A nice piece. Basically, the medal was awarded for half-year service in a combat zone or one-year service outside combat zone. For each successive bar the length of service was doubled. The reverse reads: "Poland to her defender". Just a small correction, if you don't mind: this is the second type, the the first type being without enamel. The enameled type started to be manufactured (I don't have access to references at the moment, so this can be not too precise) in ca. 1960s.

Cheers,

Lukasz

Edited January 26, 2007 by Lukasz Gaszewski

[Riley1965]

Lukasz,

This came straight from Prof. Wesolowski and the text and description straight from his book. This is a Type I. Type II has no enamel. I've been mentored by Doc Wes for some time now. If he says it's a Type I then it is a Type I.

Doc

Edited January 26, 2007 by Riley1965

[Ed_Haynes]

Lukasz,

This came straight from Prof. Wesoloski and the text and description straight from his book. This is a Type I. Type II has no enamel. I've been mentored by Doc Wes for some time now. If he says it's a Type I then it is a Type I.

Doc

And he can't be wrong? Just like Paul & Paul couldn't be wrong on Soviet motherhood medals? Oops.

[Riley1965]

Hello Ed,

I'm going by what he said and his book. It seems that anytime I post a Polish medal Mr. Lukasz finds something wrong with the information. I'll take Doc Wes' word over Mr. Lukasz's any day.

Doc

[Riley1965]

Hello Ed,

I'm going by what he said and his book. It seems that anytime I post a Polish medal Mr. Lukasz finds something wrong with the information. I'll take Doc Wes' word over Mr. Lukasz's any day.

Doc

Mr. Lukasz,

Please see page 45, Fig. 105 in "Polish Orders, Medals Badges and Insignia Military and Civilian Decorations 1705-1985" by Zdzislaw Wesolowski.

Doc

Edited January 26, 2007 by Riley1965

[Riley1965]

I did make a mistake. I placed a person over the evidence. I have great respect for both Doc Wes and Mr. Lukasz. In this case I must stand by the evidence from Doc Wes. In the near future I'll have the Type II to compare. Until then I'll try to remember that it's the evidence NOT the personality.

Doc

[Riley1965]

Lukasz,

You have my sincere apology!!! After getting a vague response from Doc Wes I am left with "egg on my face". I concede to your statement and this is the TYPE II. I have always respected your expertise just as I respect Doc Wes'. Thank You for setting me straight. Ed, You Too!! It seems that there is an error in Doc Wes' book ala Paul and Paul's Motherhood medal in their book. Lukasz I won't dismiss your comments and would appreciate them in future posts.

Doc

[Kristof]

Hello my friend,

I am a Polish military airforce collector and I would like to tell you about this Polish airforce military medal. There was only one type of this medal officially and it was established in July 1945 approved by the Polish government in exile. The medal was without enamel. All the recipients of this medal received only ID for this medal and they bought them from the local jewellers. The size of this medal can vary from 36-38mm. A long time after the war some of the jewellers produced this medal with an enamel (white and red Polish insignia). Mr Wesolowski called this medal type 1 but this is incorrect. This is a jewellers invention and your particular model that you received from him was produced in the late 80s.

Regards Kristof

Air Force Medal, Type I.

Established in 1945.

It was awarded to all Air Force Personnel on active duty during the war. 4,434 medals were awarded.

The medal is silver with the French ball suspension ring. The Obverse: The center has the Polish Air force insignia, Checkerboard squares enameled in red and white. The insignia is surrounded by an oak leaf wreath. The Reverse has the words POLSKA SWEMU OBRONCY surrounded by an oak leaf wreath.

The medal is worn on a pale blue ribbon with a white stripe near each of the edge of the ribbon.

The medal is 36mm in diameter.

It may be awarded up to four times. Each additional award is noted by the addition of a bar with oak leaves on it.

Enjoy,

Doc

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Doc,

If I may add, its nice to see a member admit he was mistaken and publicly recognise the fact without being bitter, another reason that puts the quality of the membership of the G.M.I.C. way up above others.

There is a virtual beer waiting for Lucasz & you in the Lounge, where you can discuss the finer points of the hobby

Kevin in Deva

[Riley1965]

Kristof,

Thank You for the explanation!!! I relied on Doc Wes' book and e-mails and a phone call to him, as it was a medal I hadn't dealt with. I am very Loyal, to a fault, to those who have been mentors in my Collecting and research. Gentlemen like Doc Wes, Ed Haynes, Paul Schmitt, Paul McDaniel and a few others have been my mentors. It's hard for me to stray from their Books, Research & Guidance. I need to be more open to other's ideas.

Doc

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Hello Doc, hello All,

I haven't been posting for a couple of days. As promised, here is a photo of the non-enameled type of the Air Force Medal. Enjoy!

Obverse:

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

And reverse:

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

And for comparison: another example of the enameled type (can you see the difference between this and Doc's medal?).

Lukasz

[Riley1965]

Lukasz,

Interesting that the enamel squares are in different locations. Thanks for posting!!!

Doc