| Air Efficiency Award | |
|---|---|
_v1.jpg) First King George VI version | |
| Type | Military long service medal |
| Awarded for | Ten years service |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Presented by | the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India |
| Eligibility | Part-time Air Force officers, airmen and airwomen |
| Post-nominals | AE (officers only) |
| Clasps | Ten years additional service |
| Status | Still current in New Zealand |
| Established | 1942 |
| First awarded | 1942 |
 Ribbon bar | |
| Order of wear | |
| Next (higher) | Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Medal |
| Next (lower) | Volunteer Reserves Service Medal |
The Air Efficiency Award, post-nominal letters AE for officers, was instituted in 1942. It could be awarded after ten years of meritorious service to officers, airmen and airwomen in the Auxiliary and Volunteer Air Forces of the United Kingdom and the Territorial Air Forces and Air Force Reserves of the Dominions, the Indian Empire, Burma, the Colonies and Protectorates.[1][2][3]
The award of the decoration was discontinued in the United Kingdom on 1 April 1999, when it was superseded by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal. The decoration is still being awarded in New Zealand, but between 1951 and 1975 it was superseded by local awards in other Dominions.[2][4]
- In Canada, the Air Efficiency Award was superseded by the Canadian Forces' Decoration in 1951.[5]
- In South Africa, it was superseded by the John Chard Medal in 1952.[6]
- In Australia, it was superseded by the National Medal in 1975.[7]
- ^ "No. 35699". The London Gazette. 11 September 1942. p. 3961.
- ^ a b New Zealand Defence Force - New Zealand Long Service and Good Conduct Medals - The Air Efficiency Award (Accessed 2 August 2015)
- ^ TracesOfWar.com - Air Efficiency Award (AE) (Accessed 3 August 2015)
- ^ Defence and Armed Forces - Guidance - Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (Accessed 3 August 2015)
- ^ McCreery, Christopher (2011). The Canadian Forces' Decoration (PDF). Ottawa: Directorate of Honours and Recognition National Defence Headquarters. pp. 13–14, Long Service Recognition Eligibility Timeline. (Accessed 26 May 2015)
- ^ South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ Medals of Service - Air Efficiency Award Miniature (Accessed 2 August 2015)