Medal, Commemorative
Object number2018.74.4 a-f
Date1944-1945
MediumBronze; Fabric; Metal; Enamel; Paperboard; Leather; Satin; Velvet
Credit LineIn honor of John R. McCullough
DescriptionAir Medal set comprised of Air Medal, ribbon bar, lapel pin, spare ribbon swatch, box, and box clip.
Air Medal commemorative medal. Bronze medallion suspended from fabric ribbon. Medallion is 16-pointed compass rose surmounted by diving eagle holding lightning bolts in talons; top of medallion has fleur-de-lis which mounts to suspension ring; reverse of medallion is undecorated. Grosgrain ribbon has vertical stripes, from viewer's left to right: blue, golden orange, blue, golden orange, and blue; bottom of ribbon is threaded through the suspension ring. Top of ribbon has metal bar with locking pinback.
Air Medal ribbon bar. Horizontal silver metal bar wrapped with grosgrain ribbon: ribbon has vertical stripes from left to right: blue, golden orange, blue, golden orange, and blue. Reverse has locking pinback.
Air Medal lapel pin. Rectangular gold-tone metal bar with vertical enamel stripes on front, from left to right: blue, golden orange, blue, golden orange, and blue. Enameled bar is mounted on circular gold-tone backer featuring rectangular hole at center.
Spare Air Medal ribbon swatch. Square swatch of grosgrain fabric with vertical stripes, from left to right: blue, golden orange, blue, golden orange, and blue. Top and bottom edges are unfinished and fraying.
Air Medal clamshell box. Rounded rectangular case. Dark blue textured leather exterior. Hinge along rear short side. Top of case has gold applied double wavy line border and name of medal at center. Sides have gold applied double bands. Interior top is lined with cream satin fabric and interior bottom is lined with tan velvet; interior bottom has places to hold the medal decoration. V-shaped metal clip lined with tan velvet on the front; clip inserts into box in the bottom section of the box at the rear.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a): 3.188 x 1.688 x 0.438 in. (8.1 x 4.3 x 1.1 cm)Height x Width x Depth (b): 0.438 x 0.438 x 0.313 in. (1.1 x 1.1 x 0.8 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (c): 0.5 x 0.688 x 0.25 in. (1.3 x 1.7 x 0.6 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (d): 1.375 x 1.438 x 0.063 in. (3.5 x 3.7 x 0.2 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (e - closed): 1.25 x 3.5 x 6.563 in. (3.2 x 8.9 x 16.7 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (e - opened): 7 x 3.5 x 7.125 in. (17.8 x 8.9 x 18.1 cm)
Length x Width x Depth (f): 0.563 x 0.5 x 0.5 in. (1.4 x 1.3 x 1.3 cm)
Inscriptions(e)
Front/top face of box has gold text at center "AIR MEDAL".
Historical NotesJohn R. McCullough entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in June 1944 and served with the Eighth Air Force as a navigator in a B-17 "Flying Fortress" through the late war in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe campaigns. For "courage, coolness, and skill" in bombing attacks on military and industrial installations in Germany, he was eventually awarded an Air Medal and four bronze oak leaf clusters.
Related institution
United States Army Air Corps
Previous owner
John R. McCullough Jr.
Related institution
Eighth Air Force
On View
Not on view
1945
