English: South Africa instituted its own military orders, decorations and medals in 1952. However, South African equivalents of the British Distinguised Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Force Cross (AFC) were omitted at the time. This omission was only belatedly addressed at the end of the 1966-1989 Border War when the Air Force Command Council proposed the institution of the Air Force Cross (CA).

The decoration was originally intended for award only to aircrew who displayed exceptional courage and leadership during dangerous or critical situations while airborne and where an award for bravery was not really 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 criteria were described in the draft warrant as excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or unusual situations in the air.

• One example that was used in the motivation was an in-flight malfunction in a Canberra B(1) Mk. 12 that 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 with minimal damage while having only trim and rudder as controls.
• Another example was a Dakota C-47 that lost its rudder and elevators when struck by a surface-to-air missile, whose pilot managed to land safely by having his passengers, most of them serving Generals, move forward and backward in the cabin as required to alter the aircraft's centre of gravity.

However, the other three Arms of the Service were quick to jump on the bandwagon, with the result that an Army Cross (CM), a Navy Cross (CN) and a Medical Service Cross (CC) were also instituted simultaneously. The four crosses are identical except for the design of the centre roundels and ribbons. In the process the award criteria were watered down to outstanding ingenuity or skill in the utilisation and control of personnel, weaponry or other equipment in dangerous situations and not necessarily restricted to flying.

The picture is of the final design drawing of the Air Force Cross, photographed when it was ready for submission to the Air Force Command Council for approval. The ribbon was originally intended to be white with a 12 millimetres blue band in the centre, until it was discovered that such a ribbon already existed. A 2 millimetres yellow band was therefore added in the centre.

(I was a Staff Officer at the SADF Personnel Division at the time, with the administration of military orders, decorations and medals as part of my duties, and I worked closely with the State Herald, Citizen Force Major Fred Brownell, in the design and approval of this and several new decorations and medals in 1991. Fred Brownell, incidentally, also designed the new South African National Flag of 1994.)