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Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force

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Original painting of theNo. 1 School of Technical Trainingbadge, Royal Air Force. The beech tree represents the wood atRAF Haltonwhere the school was first formed.[1]Note the approval signature byKing George VI.The motto translates asGrowing we learn.[2]

Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Forceare the insignia of certain commands, squadrons, units, wings, groups, branches and stations within theRoyal 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 aKing'sorQueen's Crownupon 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 theCollege 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 eitherKing Edward VIIIorGeorge VIwill have simply adopted the Queen's Crown afterher accession in 1952.The number of badges that King Edward VIII signed is limited due to his short time on the throne.

History

[edit]

The first badge adopted by the RAF was the officialRoyal Air Force Badge,and was instituted on 1 August 1918, some four months after the formation of the Royal Air Force.[4]Afterwards, units and squadrons adopted their own insignia and used them in a way similar to a regimental colour. For some squadrons, their unofficial badges would pre-date the formation of the RAF. MostRoyal Flying Corpssquadrons during theFirst World Warwould paint their squadron emblem (or device) upon a shield to hang up in the mess or squadron bar. They often viewed themselves as 'knights of the air' and the badge helped foster a sense of identity on and with the squadron.[5]

In the case of100 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 Squadronhad "..a dragon rampant, with flames issuing from the mouth.." approved by King George VI in August 1940.[7]By 1956, the squadron were atRAF GeilenkircheninGermanyand were looking for a suitable mascot for their squadron based on itsdragoninsignia; they reportedly would settle for aniguana.[8][9]

Until the early 1930s, squadrons and units would use their own informal badges and insignia.[10]In 1935, the process of formalising the badges was undertaken whereby an official heraldic approval would be granted by the ruling monarch of the time. The whole design process would ultimately rest with theChester Heraldas the Inspector of RAF Badges. This has changed over the years and has been filled byClarenceux King of Armsand by theSurrey Herald of Arms Extraordinary.[11]The Inspector of RAF Badges would liaise with squadrons and units to finalise designs that would reflect already adopted insignia or to utilise something suitable to recognise the squadron or unit.[note 2][12][13]An Air Ministry Order (A.8/1936) was issued in January 1936 and detailed the criteria for badges and their ultimate approval via the Chester Herald and the king.[14]In June of the same year, King Edward VIII approved the first raft of badges for numbers4,15,18,19,22,33,201,207,216and604Squadrons.[15]

Sign outside the station headquarters at RAF Cosford; the station badge is at the bottom

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 hisabdicationlasted 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 ofNo. 273 Squadron,their badge was still awaiting final approval after several re-submissions when it had been rejected byAir Command South-East Asiaand by the Inspector of Badges. This hinged upon the proposed use of an AsianFylfot,which strongly resembles aSwastika.The squadron was disbanded in 1945 before being issued a badge due to uncertainty on a design or motto.[20]A campaign in 1996 to have the badge issued for the veterans of No. 273 Squadron was unsuccessful despite the backing of several MP's, and it was finally awarded to the squadron association in principle.[21]If a unit could not adhere to the qualifying heraldic criteria, then a badge would not be issued. Where badges had not been issued or even applied for, a badge of a higher authority could be used instead (RAF CowdeninEast Yorkshireused theStrike Commandbadge as it was an air weapons range,[17]RAF Bridgnorthused the badge of No. 7 School of Recruit Training as that was the station's reason for existence).[22]The rules regarding badges were changed over the years and since 1992, public funds could be used to pay for the badge design where previously money had to be raised by the squadron or unit to pay for the process. Additionally, a unit must have been in existence for five years (and expect to be in existence for another five years) and also have a personnel strength of more than 75.[23][24]

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) fromNo. 90 Signals UnitatRAF Leemingwas re-formed as the Operational Information Services Wing (OISW), it was approved for a close copy version of the formerNo. 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,Reserve,AuxiliaryandAir Training Corps.[26]

Over 800 squadron and unit badges, carved fromWelsh slate,are set into the floor of the central church of the Royal Air Force,St Clements Danes,London.[27]The first carved badge was placed in the floor by its carver, Madge Whiteman, in 1958. Whiteman would go on to carve at least 80 more and the intention at the time was for there to eventually be 1,000 badges set into the floor.[28]In 1996, the RAF Heraldry Trust was set up to paint every badge issued to either Royal Air Force or Commonwealth Air Forces where an approved badge was issued.[29]A vast replica selection of RAF badges adorn the walls of the RAF Club in London.[30]

45 Squadronbadge

Design

[edit]

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 theBlazonin 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. Acrestis 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 isNo. 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 isNo. 607 Squadronas 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

[edit]

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]

The background shapes as adorned on Royal Air Force aircraft to denote the type of role operated by that particular squadron;
A) Fighter/Fighter Reconnaissance,
B) Bomber/Torpedo Bomber,
C) General Reconnaissance/Army Co-operation[46]

One of the first squadrons to be awarded their badge wasNo. 18 Squadron,who had a winged whitepegasusas their insignia which dated back to theFirst World War.When the badge was approved in 1936, the pegasus had been redrawn with a more upright rearing stance and was now painted ingules(which is the colour red in heraldry).[47][48]No. 208 Squadronhad been inEgyptfor 17 years when they asked for approval for their squadron badge. Due to their motto ofVigilantand the nature of their work (observation), they had been using theEye of Horusas their squadron insignia. The Chester Herald informed the squadron that the use of an eye was considered unlucky in English Heraldry, so the squadron adopted theGiza Sphinxas their insignia instead. The badge was approved by King George VI in October 1937.[49][50]Another squadron with associations in Egypt wasNo. 45 Squadron,who had a winged camel on their badge. This represented the fact the squadron was equipped withSopwith Camelaircraft in the First World War and its association with theMiddle-Eastin the Second World War.[34][51]

The badge ofNo. 22 Squadronhas a red disc (torteaux) with aMaltese Crossand the symbol forpi.This is because whenNo. 7 Squadronand 22 Sqn were stationed together during the First World War, 22 Sqn would take off directly over the 7 Sqn Lines (accommodation) and the fraction 22/7 approximates to pi.[52]No. 81 Squadronbadge has ared star(mullet) ofRussiaas its insignia. TheRussiansawarded the squadron the star when they tookHawker Hurricanesout toMurmanskto train theSovietcrews during the Second World War.[53]

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 Evalhad 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 theA15(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 forRAF Waddingtonconsists of a small part ofLincoln 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 Marhamwas awarded their new badge which depicted a blue bull as its insignia and the motto ofDeter.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 theBlue Danube,the RAF's first atomic bomb.[60]

Mottoes

[edit]

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 wasStrike hard, strike sure,whilst Fighter command had the motto ofOffence 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.[61][62]No. 617 Squadron'smotto isAprès moi le délugewhich translates from the French as "After me, the flood".[63]This reflected the reason that the squadron was created; tobomb the damsin the Ruhr Valley.[64]King George VI approved the badge for 617 Squadron in March 1944, some ten months after theDambusters Raid.[note 6][65][66]Most mottoes are written inLatinorEnglish,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]

No. 100 Squadronhad their badge awarded in 1938 whilst posted toRAF Seletar[89]and opted to have the motto (Sarang tebuan jengan dijolok;"Never stir up a hornets nest" ) written inMalaysian.[90][91]The squadron blazon was traditionally askull and crossbones(which it retains on its badge) with the mottoBlood and Bones.While the squadron was posted toRNAS DonibristleinFife,they replaced the skull and crossbones motif with abulldogand the mottoNemo me impune lacessit,( "No-one provokes me with impunity" ),[92]but reverted to the old motif and motto soon afterwards.[93][94]

RAF 102 Squadronbadge

Other badges were also approved for locational reasons;No. 240 Squadronhad a badge adorned with aVikinghelmet and the motto ofSjo vordur lopt vordurwhich isIcelandicfor "Guardian of the sea and air". Badges were also approved for the squadrons in the non-UK range (IE squadrons in the 300–399 and 400–499 ranges - theArticle XV squadrons)[95]such asNo. 330 Squadronwho had aViking Longshipand the motto ofTrygg havet,which was inNorwegian,appropriately enough, (as it was a Norwegian Squadron) meaning "Guarding the seas."[96][97][note 13]The badges approved toDominion(orCommonwealth) crews would traditionally incorporate insignia with a connection to the homeland to which the crews flying the aircraft belonged to.No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadronhad their badge approved in August 1941 with aBateleur eagleand the motto ofHlabezuluwhich derives fromShonameaning "The stabber of the sky."[98][99]Badges were issued to non-flying units such as theIraq Levies,who had a badge approved by King George VI in 1949 that had two crossedKhanjaras its insignia and the motto ofReady.[100][101]

Heraldic terminology

[edit]

The component elements of badges are described – with regard to stances, positions, actions,attitudesandtinctures(colours) – by the use ofheraldic 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
[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^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.
  2. ^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 Squadronsubmitted their original badge, it was politely refused. It clashed with the design of theNo. 1 Squadronbadge and also had a number within the main body of the badge; for squadrons, the number would go on the circular frame.
  3. ^The type of outer leaves also denoted the country of origin; British units had laurel leaves, maple leaves forCanadiansquadrons, protea flower forSouth Africa,Wattle forAustraliaand fern forNew Zealand.
  4. ^No. 600 Squadron instituted their own badge in the early 1920s which was based upon theCity of London armswith the addition of the RAF eagle above it. When the RAF Squadrons were advised to apply for their badges, the squadron assumed theirs would go through. The Inspector of RAF Badges would not agree to the RAF eagle being on the badge and suggested a Wren instead. The squadron did not like this and so the matter was forgotten about and the squadron carried on without a badge. After many casualties and postings in theSecond World War,the squadron was in North Africa with a new Commanding Officer (CO) who was unaware of the disagreement with the Inspector of RAF Badges. He applied for, and was approved, a badge with the sword and the crescent moon, which was signed by King George VI. After the war when the squadron was reformed, they reverted to using the old badge. At dinner with the Queen (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) when she became honoraryAir 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.
  5. ^Delve, writing inThe military airfields of Great Britain, East Midlands: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire,states the extended length to be 9,000 feet (2,700 m).
  6. ^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 wasApres nous le delugeas uttered byMarie Antoinette,so it had a royal connection. Unfortunately, the Chester Herald disapproved of the negative connotations of the original statement. It was changed toApres moi le delugewhich 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."
  7. ^Was reformed in 1941 with mostlyCzechoslovakmembers
  8. ^The squadron formed at Kirec, in what wasMacedonia,in 1918
  9. ^The badge is based upon theArms of Otrantowhere the squadron was formed.
  10. ^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
  11. ^The squadron was largely crewed byNew Zealandersand had aTiki(Maori lucky ornament) as its insignia. Was disbanded in 1945 but the badge, honours and squadron plate were transferred to theRoyal New Zealand Air Force.
  12. ^The squadron was paid for by members of the British expatriate community inArgentina.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.
  13. ^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)

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[edit]
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Sources

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Further reading

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  • Holiss, B R.Knights of the sky: the link between the heraldry and history of the Royal Air Force.Newport Pagnell: Enthusiast.OCLC18359586.
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