Ad Astra Decoration | |
---|---|
Type | Military decoration for bravery |
Awarded for | Excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or critically unusual situations in the air |
Country | South Africa |
Presented by | the State President and, from 1994, the President |
Eligibility | South African Air Force aircrew |
Post-nominals | AAD |
Status | Discontinued in 2003 |
Established | 1991 |
First awarded | 1995 |
SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear | |
Next (higher) | SADF precedence: SANDF precedence: |
Next (lower) | SADF succession: SANDF succession: |
The Ad Astra Decoration, post-nominal letters AAD, was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1991, to reward South African Air Force aircrew members on board aircraft for excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or critically unusual situations in the air. It was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts performed during the period in effect. [1] [2]
The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994 it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
In 1952, when South Africa instituted its own military decorations and medals to replace the British honours which could, until then, be awarded to members of the UDF, equivalents of, amongst others, the British Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Force Cross (AFC) were omitted. This omission was only belatedly addressed near the end of the 1966-1989 Border War, in 1987, when the institution of the South African Air Force Cross was proposed. [3] [7]
As proposed, the Air Force Cross (CA) was intended for award only to aircrew who displayed exceptional courage and leadership during dangerous or critical situations while airborne, where an award for bravery would not be suitable, based on the premise that bravery involves knowingly entering mortal danger from a position of relative safety, as opposed to skillfully reacting to an unforeseen situation of mortal danger. The proposed criteria were described in the draft warrant as excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or unusual situations in the air. [7]
When the other three Arms of the Service subsequently proposed that an Army Cross (CM), a Navy Cross (CN) and a Medical Service Cross (CC) should be instituted simultaneously, the proposed award criteria of all four crosses were amended to outstanding ingenuity or skill in the utilisation and control of personnel, weaponry or other equipment in dangerous situations and, in the case of the proposed Air Force Cross, not necessarily restricted to flying. [7]
Since the requirement for a decoration similar to the British Distinguished Flying Cross still existed, the institution of the Ad Astra Decoration, post-nominal letters AAD, was proposed in 1991. As was originally intended with the Air Force Cross, the criteria were again described in the draft warrant as excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or critically unusual situations in the air. Two of the examples which served as motivation, would without doubt have qualified the respective pilots for the award of the equivalent of a Distinguished Flying Cross, had such a decoration existed in South Africa at the time. [1] [2] [8]
The Ad Astra Decoration was instituted by the State President in 1991. [9]
The decoration could be awarded for excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or unusual situations on board aircraft in flight. A bar, instituted in 1993, could be awarded in recognition of further similar displays of excellent airmanship. The decoration was first awarded in 1995, to Major L.R. Heemstra. [2] [3]
The position of the Ad Astra Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised twice to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration into the South African National Defence Force in 1994 and again with the institution of a new set of awards in 2003.
The Ad Astra Decoration is a five-pointed star in silver-gilt, to fit in a circle 45 millimetres in diameter, with the South African Air Force castle roundel raised in the centre, all struck in one piece, 5 millimetres thick at the centre of the castle, with the star points tapering down to 2 millimetres at the edges. The suspender is an eagle in flight.
The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the words "AD ASTRA" underneath, with an impressed or engraved decoration number. [2]
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with diagonal 4 millimetres wide light blue and white lines, slanted upwards from left to right toward the left shoulder of the recipient. The direction of the slant of the lines was purposely the opposite of that of the British DFC and AFC, at the specific request of the Chief of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Jan van Loggerenberg. [8]
The bar is silver-gilt and has a Protea emblem embossed in the centre. The same bar was used to indicate multiple awards of the Pro Virtute Decoration, Southern Cross Decoration, Pro Merito Decoration and Ad Astra Decoration. [12]
Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003. No suitable new honour was instituted to replace it. [6] [13]
The Nkwe ya Selefera - Silver Leopard, post-nominal letters NS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It is South Africa's second highest military decoration for bravery.
The Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard, post-nominal letters NB, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 2003. It is South Africa's third highest military decoration for bravery.
The Louw Wepener Medal, post-nominal letters LWM, is a South African military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 20 October 1967. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for courageous or heroic deeds in saving lives. The Louw Wepener Medal was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when a new set of decorations and medals was instituted.
The Military Merit Medal, post-nominal letters MMM, is a military decoration which was instituted in the Republic of South Africa on 9 October 1974 as the Chief of the Defence Force's Commendation Medal. It could be awarded to all ranks of the South African Defence Force for service of a high order.
The Southern Cross Decoration, post-nominal letters SD, is a South African military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Republic on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.
The Pro Merito Decoration, post-nominal letters PMD, is a military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.
The Navy Cross, post-nominal letters CN is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Navy for bravery. It was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.
The Pro Virtute Decoration, post-nominal letters PVD, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and exceptional leadership during combat operations in the field.
The Air Force Cross, post-nominal letters CA, is a South African military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Air Force for bravery. The decoration was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.
The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Army for bravery. The Army Cross was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.
The Medical Service Cross, post-nominal letters CC, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Medical Service for bravery. The Medical Service Cross was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.
The Southern Cross Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters SM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.
The Pro Merito Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters PMM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty, and was the non-commissioned officers' version of the Southern Cross Medal of 1975 (SM).
The Cross for Bravery was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Transkei, for award to all ranks as a decoration for bravery.
The Defence Force Merit Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinarily excellent service and particular devotion to duty.
The Distinguished Gallantry Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinary gallantry.
The Star for Bravery in Gold, post-nominal letters SBG, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, who have distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of exceptional bravery in great danger.
The Star for Bravery in Silver, post-nominal letters SBS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of bravery.
The Gold Star for Bravery, post-nominal letters GSB, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of exceptional bravery in great danger.
The Bravery Star in Silver, post-nominal letters BSS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, who had distinguished themselves during "the struggle" by performing acts of bravery.