F021 Air Medal how rare is it to get?

Question

Now that I've identified my father's Navy Air Medal (the F021) from Vietnam, I'm just wondering how common or rare it was to get that medal? Is it awarded to a lot of people? Also, is there some way I can find out exactly why he was awarded that medal?

Answer 1

If you aircrew in a combat theater it isn't that rare... I got the Air Medal with 4 Strike/Flight numerals during my 9 months in the Persian Gulf in 1990-91. Read on for further information...

The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942. The Air Medal is retroactive to September 8, 1939.

The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service. Award of the Air Medal is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crew member or non-crew member flying status which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. However, it may also be awarded to certain other individuals whose combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status, or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crew member but who are not on flying status. These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the operational land combat mission or to the mission of the aircraft in flight.

Examples of personnel whose combat duties require them to fly include those in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy and those directly involved in airborne command and control of combat operations. Awards will not be made to individuals who use air transportation solely for the purpose of moving from point to point in a combat zone
The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps has two types of Air Medals awards: "individual" for singular meritorious acts and "strike/flight" for participation in sustained aerial flight operations. Bronze Strike/Flight numerals denote "strike/flight" awards.

Answer 2

the citation for that medal reads in part for performing duty involving flying over territory where the enemy may have been. lots of us got that medal in Vite Nam. if you flew in the navy in Nam you most likely got it.i know a fellow who got 26 of them