Roundel
Aroundelis a circular disc used as a symbol. The term is used inheraldry,but also commonly used to refer to a type ofnationalinsignia used onmilitary aircraft,generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours. Other symbols also often use round shapes.
Heraldry
[edit]Inheraldry,aroundelis a circularcharge.Roundelsare among the oldest charges used incoats of arms,dating from at least the twelfth century. Roundels in British heraldry have different names depending on theirtincture.[2]Thus, while a roundel may beblazonedby its tincture, e.g.,a roundel vert(literally "a roundel green" ), it is more often described by a single word, in this casepomme(literally "apple", from the French) or, from the same origins,pomeis—as in "Vert; on a cross Or five pomeis".[3]
One special example of a named roundel is thefountain,depicted asa roundel barry wavy argent and azure,that is, containing alternating horizontal wavy bands of blue and silver (or white).
Military aircraft
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TheFrench Air Serviceoriginated the use of roundels on military aircraft during theFirst World War.[1]The chosen design was the French nationalcockade,whose colours are the blue-white-red of theflag of France.Similar national cockades, with different ordering of colours, were designed and adopted as aircraft roundels by their allies, including the BritishRoyal Flying CorpsandRoyal Naval Air Service,and (in the last few months of the war) theUnited States Army Air Service.After the First World War, many otherair forcesadopted roundel insignia, distinguished by different colours or numbers of concentric rings.
The term "roundel" is often used even for those military aircraft insignia that are not round, like theIron Cross-Balkenkreuzsymbol of theLuftwaffeor thered starof theRussian Air Force.[citation needed]
Flags
[edit]Among national flags which display a roundel are theflags of Bangladesh,Belize,Brazil,Burundi,Dominica,Ethiopia,Grenada,India,Japan,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Laos,Mongolia,Namibia,Niger,North Korea,North Macedonia,Palau,Paraguay,Rwanda,South Korea,Republic of China (Taiwan),Tunisia,andUganda.
Flags forBritish Overseas Territoriesused a BritishBlue Ensigndefacedwith a white roundel displaying thearmsorbadgeof the dependency until 1999. The same pattern is still used for all the states of Australia exceptVictoria.
In popular culture
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- The roundel, especiallythat used by the Royal Air Force,has been associated withpop artof the 1960s, appearing in paintings byJasper Johnsand British artistSir Peter Blake.It became part of the pop consciousness when British rock groupThe WhoworeRAF roundels(andUnion Flags) as part of their stage apparel at the start of their career. Subsequently it came to symboliseModsand theMod revival.
- Some ofPaul Weller's material involves the use of a roundel in psychedelic colours and in particular this featured in the design of his albumStanley Roadcreated with the aforementionedSir Peter Blakewho was also responsible for designing the BeatlesSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Bandalbum cover and art.
- Ben Harper's albumFight for Your Minduses roundels from several air forces as graphics in the liner notes.
- In the British television seriesDoctor Who,the circular decorations on the interior walls of theTARDIScontrol room are known as roundels.[4]
Examples
[edit]Military aircraft roundels
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Other roundels
[edit]Some corporations and organizations make use of roundels in their branding.
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Winnipeg Jets,a CanadianNHLpro hockey team -
Don Valley Parkwayshield -
Logo of theTarget Corporation -
Logo ofTide
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ab"What is the origin of the RAF roundel?".Royal Air Force Museum. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-02.Retrieved2014-10-04.
In December 1914 the RFC followed the example of their French Allies and adopted red, white and blue circles...
- ^Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1909).A Complete Guide to Heraldry.Gutenberg.org. p. 151.
- ^Scottish Public Register vol. 32, p. 26
- ^Russell, Gary (2006).Doctor Who: The Inside Story.London: BBC Books. p. 86.ISBN0-563-48649-X.
References
[edit]- Donald, David, ed. (1986).The Pocket Guide to Military Aircraft and the World's Air Forces.Temple Press Aerospace. pp. 136–189.ISBN0-600-55002-8.
- Smith, Whitney(1975).Flags: Through the Ages and Around the World.McGraw Hill.pp.24, 342.ISBN0-07-059093-1.
