Air Force Medal

Oval, silver, with curved bar suspender in the form of wings. Obverse - the sovereign's head (GRV) in left profile with full title round the rim and a narrow border of laurel leaves. Reverse - an eagle in flight with, on its back, Hermes the Messenger of the Gods, with Caduceus in left hand and a laurel wreath in right. A narrow border of laurel leaves. Ribbon - white and red in narrow diagonal lines falling to wearer's left. The edge engraved 228527 A.M.2. BARBER. F.W.A. R.A.F.

Barber served in the RNAS from at least May 1917. He was trained in Wireless, bombing and gunnery work at Cranwell, Eastchurch and Leysdown, posted to Longside Airship Station in April 1918 and became part of the crew of H.M.A. SSZ58 in June 1918. The airship was employed in escort duties to convoys along the East Coast. He also appears to have served in the H.M.A. C*5. His unofficial log book records a forced landing on 6th September which probably relates to the award of this AFM. His airship was damaged and loosing height and the crew was ordered to throw overboard all movable equipment to lighten the ship. The airship, approaching land, managed to climb over the cliffs but was then faced with hills topped with tall trees. Barber jumped 35 feet to the ground and although stunned, he managed to secure a mooring rope thereby saving the airship from destruction.