The Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for flying operations from United Kingdom bases over Europe between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944. A person must first be entitled to the 1939-45 Star before qualifying for the Air Crew Europe Star.
The six pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words "The Air Crew Europe Star".
British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic Star nor the France and Germany Star would be awarded to a recipient of the Air Crew Europe Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Atlantic Star or the France and Germany Star was denoted by the award of the appropriate clasp to the Air Crew Europe Star.
The Air Crew Europe Star was issued unengraved to New Zealand service persons, as were other Second World War campaign medals awarded for service for New Zealand.
The ribbon is light blue with black edges, with a narrow vertical yellow stripe on each side between the light blue and the black. The colours and layout symbolise the continuous service of the Air Force by night and day.