Decorations for RAF fighter pilots did not directly correspond to victories. Though becoming an 'ace' generally resulted in a Distinguished Flying Cross, it was by no means a prerequisite; Fighter Command had a very different culture to the Luftwaffe, preferring not to focus on specific individuals but on collective results. Personalities naturally varied, but in general boastfulness ('shooting a line' in RAF parlance) was heavily frowned upon. The September 1942 edition of Flying and Popular Aviation magazine devoted to the RAF, for example, has an article on The Men In Action:

"The men of the RAF are largely inarticulate; they would prefer anonymity; and perhaps the worst of all sins in the RAF is the process known as "shooting a line". [...] To shoot a line is now embarrassing, boring, comic, or in plain bad taste. In this way the RAF has elected to speak even of its most exceptional achievements in terms of understatement."

James Holland and Stephen Bungay, writing about the Battle of Britain, both contrast the British and German attitudes towards individual victories and decorations:

"There was ambition in the RAF too, but striving to improve personal scores was deeply frowned upon. [...] Any kind of boasting was deplored, and anyone who did was immediately accused of 'shooting a line'. Unofficially, a pilot became an 'ace' when he had five confirmed kills. It was an important marker and usually earned a pilot the Distinguished Flying Cross, but a DFC could be earned without a pilot having reached five kills. Certainly there was no cult of the individual." James Holland, The Battle of Britain

"The RAF, in contrast, refused to officially recognise aces and only reluctantly co-operated with press interest in the likes of Tuck, Malan or Bader. [...] In the RAF, DFCs tended to be awarded for 'distinguished service', but the criteria were less explicit. The highest decorations, including the VC, were input-driven [as opposed to the 'output-driven' German system based on victories]. The VC was 'for valor', in other words, extraordinary courage, whether or not it was militarily effective." Stephen Bungay, Most Dangerous Enemy

The general attitude of many fighter pilots is reflected by Geoff Wellum in his autobiography First Light when he is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross: "Oh, yes, one other thing, the King has given me a medal. Couldn't give it to Roy or any of the others of course [at the time DFCs were not awarded posthumously] so, obviously, he had no bloody option but to let me have it. On second thoughts, most of the others already have one."

That's not to say they weren't proud of such awards or completely dismissive, it just wasn't something to be shouted about. Later on, when actually presented with the medal, he writes: "It was a very moving occasion and one which I shall always cherish. The quiet dignity and protocol made a tremendous impression. His Majesty was softly spoken, sincere and quite charming as he pinned what appeared to be the biggest medal in the world on my chest. [...] Mother absolutely lapped it up but Dad was quiet and composed. It was only when he shook my hand after the ceremony and looked me in the eyes that I understood."

The VC, DSO and DFC are operational gallantry medals, awarded for bravery in active operations against the enemy, the VC being the highest award, the DSO below it. The criteria were, as outlined above, inevitably somewhat arbitrary; the only Victoria Cross awarded in Fighter Command was to John Nicolson, for remaining at the controls of his burning Hurricane to attack a Messerschmitt 110. Nicolson was far from an ace (I'm not even sure he was credited with the Bf 110 in the end), and according to Bungay felt burdened by the award, in part because others felt that there were similar cases that did not result in a medal. The AFC is awarded for flying bravery not in active operations against the enemy - test pilots, for example, or meritorious service over time (but not in combat).