Ad Astra Decoration
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Ad Astra Decoration, post-nominal letters AAD, was instituted by the
Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
in 1991, to reward
South African Air Force "Through hardships to the stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment ...
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.South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters
(Accessed 28 April 2015)

(Accessed 30 April 2015)


The South African military

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).
(Accessed 30 April 2015)
Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975 Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
/ref>


Motivation

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. Air Force Cross (CA) (as approved) - Summary 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. When the other three Arms of the Service subsequently proposed that an
Army Cross The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), 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 ...
(CM), a
Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
(CN) and a
Medical Service Cross The Medical Service Cross, post-nominal letters CC (Crux Curationis), 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 Medica ...
(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.


The Ad Astra Decoration

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. Ad Astra Decoration, First draft design - Summary * One such incident was an in-flight malfunction in a Canberra B(1) Mk. 12, which disabled the aircraft's control column. In spite of advice from the ground to ditch the aircraft, since the pilot would be unlikely to be able to land it safely, he managed to land it at
Air Force Base Waterkloof Air Force Base Waterkloof is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is situated on the outskirts of Pretoria, and is the SAAF's busiest airbase. The base's name, ''Waterkloof'', is Afrikaans. It means ''Water Ravine'' in English. Despite ...
with minimal damage, while having only trim, rudder and engine power adjustments as controls. * Another example was a Dakota C-47, which lost its rudder and elevators when struck by a surface-to-air missile, whose commander managed to land safely at Air Force Base Grootfontein by having his passengers, most of them serving General- and Flag Officers, move forward and backward in the cabin as required, to alter the aircraft's centre of gravity.


Institution

The Ad Astra Decoration was instituted by the State President in 1991.South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour
(Accessed 1 May 2015)


Award criteria

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.


Order of wear

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. ;South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994: *Official SADF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the
Pro Virtute Medal The Pro Virtute Medal, post-nominal letters PVM, was a South African military decorations, military decoration for bravery that was instituted by the South Africa, Republic of South Africa in 1987, but never awarded. The decoration was intended ...
(PVM). ** Succeeded by the
Army Cross The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), 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 ...
(CM). *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Pro Virtute Medal (PVM). ** Succeeded by the Army Cross (CM).Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993 ;South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994: *Official SANDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Distinguished Gallantry Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana. ** Succeeded by the Army Cross (CM) of the
Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Medal for Valour in the Prisons Service of the Republic of Bophuthatswana. ** Succeeded by the Army Cross (CM) of the Republic of South Africa.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, ;South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003: *Official SANDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Nkwe ya Boronse (NB) of the Republic of South Africa. ** Succeeded by the Army Cross (CM) of the Republic of South Africa. *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Mendi Decoration for Bravery, Bronze (MDB) of the Republic of South Africa. ** Succeeded by the Army Cross (CM) of the Republic of South Africa.


Description

;Obverse 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. ;Reverse The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the words "AD ASTRA" underneath, with an impressed or engraved decoration number. ;Ribbon 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 Lieutenant General Jan van Loggerenberg was a former South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force. He joined the Air force in 1954 and obtained a BMil degree from the South African Military Acad ...
. ;Bar 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 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 an ...
,
Southern Cross Decoration 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 ...
,
Pro Merito Decoration 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 servi ...
and Ad Astra Decoration.


Discontinuation

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.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 26778, Pretoria, 17 September 2004


References

{{South African military decorations and medals Military decorations and medals of South Africa Courage awards 1991 establishments in South Africa Awards established in 1991