World War One victory medal: 3.A.M.?

[ottomaton]

Hello. I have a World War One victory medal made out to:

199864 3.A.M. J. Parker R.A.F.

Can anybody tell me what the 3AM stands for, or can anybody point me to a list of some of these less obvious abbreviations?

Thanks.

[Aave Johns]

It must be mis-stamped, or that is when he usually got back to the barracks
Any possibility of a photo?

Regards;
Johnsy

[ottomaton]

Any possibility of a photo?

Sure. Keep in mind that I have quite a bit of difficulty getting good focus with the macro lens edge-on. But here's my best:

First the offending letters under 20x:

[ottomaton]

1st half incl. serial:

[ottomaton]

Second half:

[Aave Johns]

At first I thought you must have been getting in at 3 AM. It certainly looks deliberate, I am going to have to pass this one over to more experianced RAF collectors. My knowledge is limited to WW2, good photos though, they show the detail very well.

Regards;
Johnsy

[Tony Farrell]

Air Mechanic 3rd Class. This is a seldom encountered rating/rank - its origins being RNAS rather than RFC.

[ottomaton]

Thank You!

[leigh kitchen]

AM 1, 2 & 3 appear in Howard Williamsons "The Collector And Researchers Guide To The Great War Vol. I under the heading of unit & rank abbreviations on RNAS/RFC /RAF medals, he also states that they were included in an official list of RFC trades in 1917, he states as being "unlikely to appear on medals but will appear in text and records".

[cazna]

Hi
I would suggest that with the R.A. F. the abbreviation is for 3rd class Air Mechanic.

Duncan

[Mons 1914]

The abbreviation is for a 3rd class Air Mechanic in the R.A.F, as stated, a scare rank also .