Royal Air Force Ensign
RAF Roundel in the fly |
The Royal Air Force Ensign is the official
The RAF Ensign was introduced in 1921 after some opposition from senior members of the Royal Navy. Various countries' air force ensigns have been based upon the RAF's ensign. Currently it is flown from the flagstaff of every
Early history and authorisation
Ever since the formation of the RAF in 1918, the
The Air Council then submitted a design featuring a jack with a white border, but the Admiralty rejected this submission, as it was the already in use as the signal to summon a ship's pilot. The Air Council then re-submitted the original design which, unsurprisingly, was rejected once again.
When the situation came to the attention of
The dispute soon became more widely known and various designs were suggested by members of the public. Although none of these suggestions were accepted, the idea that the Roundel (which had been used by both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service) might be adopted was viewed favourably by senior RAF commanders.
The
The official design code for the RAF Ensign is "UNKG0018" and the azure blue used is "NATO stock no.8305-99-130-4578, Polyester Bunting in Pantone 549C".[1]
Use on the Cenotaph
Following the institution of the RAF Ensign in 1921, there were occasional suggestions that it should be flown on The Cenotaph. These suggestions were rejected, as the RAF Ensign had not been created until after the Great War, and the RAF itself had only been established for the last seven months of the War. At this time a Union Flag, a White Ensign and a Red Ensign were flown on one side of the Cenotaph and a Union Flag, a White Ensign and a Blue Ensign were flown on the other side.
During February 1943, the
The Admiralty requested that the substitution be done with no ceremony and only involve the minimum number of people necessary for the task. On 1 April 1943, exactly a quarter of a century after the foundation of the RAF, an RAF Ensign was substituted for the White Ensign on the west side of the Cenotaph, with the change being effected just after dawn. Later the same day at 11:30 a.m., an RAF Regiment guard paraded at the Cenotaph and a wreath was placed underneath the RAF Ensign.[1]
Use on sea-going craft
The RAF Ensign was flown by vessels belonging to the
Although the 1921 Order in Council gave the RAF the authority to display the Ensign as they saw fit, the Admiralty maintained that the Order did not supersede the regulations of the Merchant Shipping Act. In 1947
Modern usage
The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff of every
As the professional head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff may fly the RAF Ensign.
In the general British flag precedence, the Royal Air Force Ensign is just below the Royal Navy's White Ensign and just above the Blue and Red Ensigns. The only exception to this rule is when the RAF Ensign is being flown in place of the Union Flag when it takes that flag's precedence.[3]
Restrictions on use
The RAF Ensign may not be used as bunting or decoration, or draped over a coffin, except at civilian funerals. In the latter case, only the Union Flag may be used at a British military funeral.
Related ensigns
The ensigns of the following air forces have been derived from or influenced by the RAF Ensign:[citation needed]
-
Colombian Air Force
-
Qatar Emiri Air Force
See also
- British ensigns
References
- Notes
- ^ a b "United Kingdom: Royal Air Force". Flags of the World. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Royal Air Force Ensign". britishflags.net. Retrieved 5 June 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "British Flag Protocol". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- Bibliography
- "The Royal Air Force Ensign". Royal Air Force. 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.