Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force
Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force are the insignia of certain commands, squadrons, units, wings, groups, branches and stations within the Royal Air Force. They are also commonly known as crests, especially by serving members of the Royal Air Force, but officially they are badges. Each badge must be approved by the reigning monarch of the time, and as such will either have a King's or Queen's Crown upon the top of the badge, dependent upon which monarch granted approval and the disbandment date of the unit.[note 1][3] The approval process involves a member of the College of Arms (the Inspector of RAF Badges) who acts as an advisory on all matters pertaining to the design and suitability of the insignia and motto.
Some badges that have been approved by either
History
The first badge adopted by the RAF was the official
In the case of 100 Squadron, their badge incorporated a skull and crossbones insignia that had been liberated from a French "house of ill-repute" in 1918.[6] Some mascots were back formations from the badge rather than supplying the idea for the badge. No. 234 Squadron had "..a dragon rampant, with flames issuing from the mouth.." approved by King George VI in August 1940.[7] By 1956, the squadron were at RAF Geilenkirchen in Germany and were looking for a suitable mascot for their squadron based on its dragon insignia; they reportedly would settle for an iguana.[8][9]
Until the early 1930s, squadrons and units would use their own informal badges and insignia.
When a new badge is granted an approval by the reigning monarch, the unit or squadron is presented with the original goatskin painting signed by the monarch and copies will be made and drawn to the standard set by the original.[13] The Inspector of RAF badges keeps copies which are registered in large albums known as "The inspectors ordinary copies".[16] A badge is 'ensigned' on the top with either a King's or a Queen's Crown; this depends on which particular monarch was ruling at the time.[17] For Edward VIII and George VI, a King's (or Tudor Crown) is used.[18] The number of badges approved by Edward VIII are small in number; the period between his accession to the throne and his abdication lasted only eleven months. As the first batch of badges for the approvals process was completed in July 1936, most badges were approved by his two successors (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II).[19] The granting of a badge is a personal honour between the monarch and unit that has been awarded the badge, and is not conferred upon the RAF as a whole.[5]
Any serving unit could apply for a badge and some did, whereas others did not or had their application thwarted by time; in the case of
Under certain circumstances, badges from defunct units have been resurrected when new units or wings have been formed, but squadron badges are not usually reassigned as normally the squadron just assumes an old number and accepts that badge and motto. When the Force Generation Wing (FGW) from No. 90 Signals Unit at RAF Leeming was re-formed as the Operational Information Services Wing (OISW), it was approved for a close copy version of the former No. 60 Group (Signals) badge; the only difference being the name of the unit was changed, and the indentations where the unit number used to be on the main badge, were removed.[25]
Approval and design of badges extends to all units associated with the Royal Air Force; Regular,
Over 800 squadron and unit badges, carved from
Design
The badge itself consists of five distinct parts;[31]
- the crown - either a Kings or Queen's Crown dependent on when it was issued
- the body - a circular frame coloured with RAF blue and with indentations for operationally numbered units, surrounded by a wreath of leaves[32][note 3][33]
- the insignia within the body (known as the Blazon in heraldry)[34]
- the scroll
- the motto that is inlaid upon the scroll.[35]
RAF Badges are often called 'crests', even by serving members of the military, but they are in fact, heraldic badges.[36][37][38] Crests is a common misnomer and represents just one part of a badge in heraldic terms. A crest is usually atop a coat of arms, and not RAF badges as they ensigned by a crown. In true heraldry, a coat of arms (or badge) can have a crest or not, but a crest cannot exist on its own.[39] One exception to this is No. 600 Squadron, which has two badges,[40] the first was the traditional badge with a sword in front of a crescent moon which reflected the squadron's night-time activities. The second badge, also known affectionately by the squadron as "The Dust-Cart Crest", was the badge of the City of London Arms.[41] As this had the appearance of the RAF eagle at the top and not the crown, this could be interpreted as a crest.[note 4][42][43]
One of the few squadrons to not have a scroll is No. 607 Squadron as it does not have a motto.[44] Many mottoes were suggested for 607 Squadron, which have been described as being from "suitable to the ribald."[45]
Squadrons and stations
Flying squadrons were additionally expected to display their badge (or the main insignia/blazon from it) on their aircraft. This was also to be enhanced by the addition of a white shape behind the badge or insignia that would aid in seeing the badge and the particular shape would denote the role of the squadron; either a fighter, bomber or reconnaissance squadron, though some doubled up on their role. Non-flying units would display their badge on a sign either at the entrance to the base or outside the station headquarters.[46]
One of the first squadrons to be awarded their badge was
The badge of
Squadrons would often use insignia reflecting where they had served, RAF stations would more often than not use a local landmark or item particular to that area. RAF St Eval had a church in the middle of their badge (St Uvelus) which, when the airfield was being built, was under threat of demolition.[54] It survived and became a repository for remembrance of fallen comrades. It also acted as a sign to crews that they were nearly home.[55] RAF Scampton's badge has a bow and arrow insignia. This represented the airfield (the arrow) and the moving of the A15 (the bow) so that the runway could be extended to 10,000 feet (3,000 m)[note 5][56] which necessitated the bow formation of the road at the eastern end of the airfield.[57][58] The station badge for RAF Waddington consists of a small part of Lincoln Cathedral, again a focussing point for crews returning from active missions. The badge was not approved until 1954 by Elizabeth II.[59]
Other stations had badges designed to reflect their role. In 1957, RAF Marham was awarded their new badge which depicted a blue bull as its insignia and the motto of Deter. The motto indicated their base's new role in the nuclear deterrent role and the bull symbolised that deterrence. The colour blue is thought to have a been a nod towards the Blue Danube, the RAF's first atomic bomb.[60]
Mottoes
Mottoes convey the spirit of the unit or squadron; for commands and training stations, this was usually about what the intended output of that particular role was. Both Bomber and Fighter Commands had badges where the blazon and motto reflected that role. Bomber Command's motto was Strike hard, strike sure, whilst Fighter command had the motto of Offence defence. Elements of both blazons and mottoes were included in the Strike Command badge that superseded both Bomber and Fighter Command when they were combined as Strike Command in 1968., though other languages were used;
Unit | Motto | Language | Translation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
No. 14 Squadron | أنا نشر الأجنحة بلدي وابقي على وعد | Arabic | I spread my wings and keep my promise | [67] |
No. 257 Squadron | Thay myay gyeeshin shwe hti | Burmese | Death or Glory | [68] |
No. 268 Squadron | Ajidaumo | Chippewa
|
Tail-in-the-air | [69] |
No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment | Cuneiform | Swift and sudden | [70][71] | |
No. 68 Squadron | Vždy připraven | Czech | Always ready | [note 7][72] |
No. 3 Group RAF | Niet zonder arbyt | Dutch | Nothing without labour | [73] |
RAF Cosford | Seul le premier pas coute | French | Only the beginning is difficult | [74] |
RAF Machrihanish | Airm a dhionadh na fairgeachan | Gaelic | Arms to defend the seas | [75] |
No. 150 Squadron | Αιει Φθανομεν | Greek | Always ahead | [note 8][76][77] |
No. 224 Squadron | Fidelle all' amico | Italian | Faithful to a friend | [note 9][78][79] |
No. 185 Squadron | Ara fejn hu | Maltese | Look where it is | [note 10][80][81] |
No. 75 Squadron | Ake ake kia kaha | Maori
|
For ever and ever be strong | [note 11][82][83] |
No. 160 Squadron | Api soya paragasamu | Sinhalese
|
We seek and strike | [63] |
No. 164 Squadron | Firmes Volamos | Spanish | Firmly we fly | [note 12][84][85][86] |
RAF Eastleigh | Shupavu na thabiti | Swahili | Tough and strong | [87] |
RAF Pembroke Dock | Gwylio'r gorooewin o'r awyr | Welsh | To watch the west from the air | [88] |
Other badges were also approved for locational reasons;
Heraldic terminology
The component elements of badges are described – with regard to stances, positions, actions, attitudes and tinctures (colours) – by the use of heraldic blazon. The most common terms used are listed below.[102] For example, No. 102 Squadron badge (shown on the right) is described as "On a demi-terrestrial globe azure & dark blue a lion rampant guardant gules holding in the forepaws a bomb sable".[103]
Heraldic term | Meaning | Heraldic term | Meaning | Heraldic term | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Addorsed
|
Wings spread, back to back | Erased
|
Torn off (usually at the neck) | Plate | White roundel |
Affrontée | Full fronted | Fess(e) | Horizontal partition or display | Potent | Crutch - often with four arms |
Argent | Metal - white or silver | Fimbriated
|
With an outline of a different tincture | Purpure | The colour purple |
Azure | The colour blue | Fracted | With fruit | Quadrate | Square on the junction of a cross |
Base | At the bottom of the display | Guardant | Head towards the observer | Queued | Two tails with the same root |
Bend | Diagonal partition or display | Gules | The colour red | Rampant
|
Upright in profile with hind legs on the ground |
Charged | Placed on | Hurt | Blue Disc | Sable | The colour black |
Close | With closed wings | Issuant | Appearing from (to issue) | Salient
|
A beast standing on its hind legs about to pounce |
Conjoined | Joined together | Mask | Face of an animal affrontée | Saltire | A diagonal cross |
Couped
|
Neck cut off straight | Mullet
|
A five pointed star shape | Seax | Scimitar with a notch on the back of the blade |
Cubit Arm
|
An arm cut off at the elbow | Ogress | Circle, usually on a shield | Sinister | To the right (as you look at the badge) |
Demi | Half | Or | Metal - yellow in colour and represents gold | Torteaux
|
A red roundel |
Dexter | To the left (as you look at the badge) | Pale | Vertical partition or display | Vert | The colour green |
Displayed | Subject is Affrontée, head turned, wings and legs spread | Passant | Walking with three paws on the ground | Voided | The centre removed |
Eradicated | Uprooted with the roots showing | Pile | Wedge shape | Volant | Flying horizontally |
Gallery
-
Badge in the floor at St Clements Danes
-
Inside St Clements Danes church; the black spots on the floor are the badges
-
No. 35 Squadron badge
-
No. 64 Squadron badge
-
No. 238 Squadron badge
-
Royal Indian Air Force badge
Notes
- ^ Most units/squadrons and bases had their badges updated to the Queen's Crown sometime after her accession, (although in some cases many years elapsed before the badge was updated). Most of the flying units were disbanded after the Second World War, so their badges retained the King's Crown. Queen Elizabeth II promulgated an order in October 1954 detailing that all current badges in use, and from that date on, were to use the Queen's (or St Edward's) Crown.
- ^ This would also mean refusing badges if they did not meet with the standard or infringe on other already existing and approved badges. In 1937, 6 Squadron submitted their original badge, it was politely refused. It clashed with the design of the No. 1 Squadron badge and also had a number within the main body of the badge; for squadrons, the number would go on the circular frame.
- ^ The type of outer leaves also denoted the country of origin; British units had laurel leaves, maple leaves for Canadian squadrons, protea flower for South Africa, Wattle for Australia and fern for New Zealand.
- Air Commodore, the squadron presented her with the "Dust-Cart Badge" and maintained that it was their official badge. The Queen promised to "have a word with the King about it." The King duly signed the 'old' badge and approved it (despite the apparent apoplexy of the Chester Herald who maintained it was not heraldic), and so the squadron has two badges. Only the dust-cart badge is used, which has no motto like 607 Squadron.
- ^ Delve, writing in The military airfields of Great Britain, East Midlands : Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, states the extended length to be 9,000 feet (2,700 m).
- ^ Wg Cdr Gibson held a competition amongst the aircrew for a badge for the squadron. When the King and Queen visited the squadron, they were shown the 'proofs' and they both chose the same badge and it was duly despatched to the Chester Herald for approval. The design was unproblematic, but the original motto chosen was Apres nous le deluge as uttered by Marie Antoinette, so it had a royal connection. Unfortunately, the Chester Herald disapproved of the negative connotations of the original statement. It was changed to Apres moi le deluge which again, the Chester Herald disapproved of because a Greek philosopher had said it to show selfishness. The aircrew, by now tired of the situation, politely informed the Chester Herald that the King had approved the badge some months before, so the Herald was going against the King's wishes. Soon after, a letter arrived from the Herald stating that he had no idea that the King had approved the badge and that he did not want to interfere with the King's prerogative. The description of the badge was; "On a roundel, a wall in fesse, fractured by three flashes of light-ning[sic] in pile and issuant from the breach, water proper."
- ^ Was reformed in 1941 with mostly Czechoslovak members
- ^ The squadron formed at Kirec, in what was Macedonia, in 1918
- ^ The badge is based upon the Arms of Otranto where the squadron was formed.
- ^ The badge was designed whilst the squadron was in Malta and the blazon of the dragon on the badge signifies the defence against the attacks on the island
- ^ The squadron was largely crewed by New Zealanders and had a Tiki (Maori lucky ornament) as its insignia. Was disbanded in 1945 but the badge, honours and squadron plate were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
- ^ The squadron was paid for by members of the British expatriate community in Argentina. The squadron was crewed by mainly Argentine volunteers who had British ancestry. The motto and insignia were suggested by the Argentine Ambassador to Britain in 1942; the insignia is of a British lion with a sun rising behind, to represent Argentina.
- ^ The Squadron was disbanded by the RAF in November 1945 and transferred to the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The squadron still operates to date with the same motto (Trygg havet) but the insignia has changed. (No. 330 Squadron RNoAF)
References
- ^ "No.1 School of Technical Training". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 41.
- ISSN 0015-3710.
- ^ "The Royal Air Force Badge". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ OCLC 69224300.
- ^ Dunne, Lynn (17 December 2007). "War Veteran sees red with replica Squadron Flag". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 201.
- ^ "50 years ago: 1 June 1956". flightglobal.com. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 203.
- ^ Pitchfork 2008, p. 53.
- ^ Congden 1987, p. 52.
- ISBN 978-1-84415-391-6.
- ^ a b "Naval, Military and R.A.F. Insignia - College of Arms". www.college-of-arms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- ^ Pitchfork 2008, p. 12.
- ^ Pitchfork 2008, p. 192.
- ^ Congden 1987, p. 55.
- ^ a b "Badges, Standards and Battle Honours". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ Smith 1974, p. 10.
- ^ "207 Squadron Royal Air Force History - home page alt". www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ "273 Squadron (Badge) (Hansard, 12 June 1996)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 12 June 1996. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ "RAF Heraldry Trust, An update to the Trust Activities, August 1998". www.griffon.clara.net. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 95.
- ^ Legate, Bryan. "Heraldic Badges in the RAF | Blog | RAF Museum". www.rafmuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- OCLC 69224300.
- ^ "The Unit | 90 Signals Unit | Royal Air Force". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "New Air Cadet Formation Badges". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "St Clement Danes Central Church Of The RAF | Imperial War Museums". www.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "Her Majesty The Queen Approves A Unit Badge For No 8 Raf Force Protection Wing Headquarters | The Insight Online". www.theinsightonline.co.uk. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Unit Badges | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
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- ^ Pine 1983, pp. ix–xiii.
- ^ "600 Squadron RAuxAF | Royal Air Force". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
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- ^ "600 Squadron's two badges". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
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- ^ OCLC 829719558.
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- ^ "Chinook Centenary Specials Event". airshowspresent.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 194.
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- ^ "45 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Congden 1987, p. 56.
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- ^ "617 Squadron". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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- ^ "DAMBUSTERS ANNIVERSARY TAIL ART REVEALED | Flypast". www.flypast.com. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 108.
- ^ "257 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 6.
- ^ "No.1 Armoured Car Company | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 227.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 262.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 149.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 212.
- ^ "Machrihanish | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 269.
- ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- ^ "224 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 74.
- ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2.
- ^ "185 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ "75 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ Whitaker, Stuart (29 September 2016). "75 Squadron marks a century since its formation". NZ Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 80.
- ^ "164 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
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- ^ "Eastleigh | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 94.
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- ^ "100 Squadron". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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- ^ Pine 1983, p. 195.
- ISSN 1361-4231.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 215.
- ^ "102 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
Sources
- Ashworth, Chris (1989). Encyclopaedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
- Congden, Phillip (1987). Per Ardua Ad Astra: a Handbook of the Royal Air Force. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 0-906393-89-2.
- Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of Mottoes. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- Pitchfork, Graham (2008). The Royal Air Force Day by Day. Stroud: Sutton. ISBN 978-0-7509-4309-3.
- Smith, Peter C (1974). Royal Air Force Squadron Badges. Cambridgeshire: Balfour. ISBN 0-85944-012-5.
Further reading
- Holiss, B R. Knights of the sky: the link between the heraldry and history of the Royal Air Force. Newport Pagnell: Enthusiast. OCLC 18359586.