Badge of the Royal Air Force

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Badge of the Royal Air Force

The badge of the Royal Air Force is the heraldic emblem used to represent the Royal Air Force (RAF). It features an eagle superimposed on a circlet, which is surmounted by a crown.

Description

The badge was based on a design by a

garter and buckle. The present plain circlet dates from 26 January 1923 when the badge was registered at the College of Arms and, it being noted that the garter and buckle were heraldically incorrect, a substitution was made.[1]

In

Per Ardua Ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronté head lowered and to the sinister."[2] Although there have been debates among airmen over the years about whether the bird was originally meant to be an albatross or an eagle, the consensus is that it was always an eagle.[1] When the badge was issued by the College of Arms in 1923, they described the bird as being an eagle.[3]

The badge is depicted on the iron gates at the ceremonial entrance to the

£2 coins
minted in 2018 to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force.

  • The RAF badge on Cranwell's gates
    The RAF badge on Cranwell's gates
  • The RAF badge at the Air Forces Memorial
    The RAF badge at the Air Forces Memorial
  • The RAF badge on the Polish War Memorial
    The RAF badge on the Polish War Memorial

Related badges

Numerous Commonwealth air forces have adopted badges that are directly based upon the RAF badge, whilst several other countries' air forces have adopted badges with similar imagery. Several are shown below.

Current

Former

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISSN 0437-2980
    .
  2. ^ Air Ministry Orders A.666/49, 15 September 1949
  3. ISBN 0-85944-012-5
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Insignia of the Royal Air Force.
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