The Pathfinder Badge

The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was instituted in 1918.  It was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the Air Force for displaying courage and devotion to duty while flying on active operations.  Approximately 200 DFMs were awarded to New Zealanders for actions during the Second World War. 

The 1939-1945 Star is the first in a series of eight campaign stars instituted in 1945 to recognise service in the Second World War.  Aircrew who had taken part in operations against the enemy and completed two months (60 days) in an operational unit qualified for the 1939-1945 Star.  The ribbon has three equal vertical stripes of dark blue, red and light blue.  The dark blue symbolises the service of the Navy and the Merchant Navy, the red stripe symbolises the service of the Army, and the light blue stripe symbolises the service of the Air Force.

The Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for flying operations from United Kingdom bases over Europe between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944.  The ribbon is light blue with black edges, with a narrow vertical yellow stripe on each side between the light blue and the black.  The colours and layout symbolise the continuous service of the Air Force by night and day.

The Defence Medal was awarded to British Commonwealth and British Colonial personnel who served outside their home countries in a non-operational area or in an area subject to threat such as air attack.  The centre of the ribbon is flame-coloured, and the edges are green, symbols of the enemy attacks on Great Britain.  Two black stripes represent the blackout in Great Britain.

The War Medal 1939-45 was awarded across the British Commonwealth to all full-time members of the Armed Forces for 28 days' service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 irrespective of where they were serving.  On the obverse of this Medal is the effigy of King George VI.  On the reverse is a triumphant Lion trampling on a dragon symbolising the Axis powers.  The ribbon is the red, white and blue of the (British) Union flag.  There is a narrow central red stripe with a narrow white stripe on either side.  There are broad red stripes at either edge, the two intervening stripes being blue.

The New Zealand War Service Medal was awarded for 28 days' full-time service or six months' part-time service in any of the New Zealand Armed Forces, the New Zealand National Military Reserve or the Home Guard between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.  The medal was the first distinctively ‘New Zealand’ War service medal, which was emphasised by the use of the fern leaf motif on the suspender and the reverse, and the national colours of black and white in the ribbon.