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, approved by the reigning monarch of the time, depicts either the Tudor Crown or St Edward's Crown at the top, dependent upon which monarch granted its approval and the disbandment date of the unit.Most units/squadrons and bases had their badges updated to the St Edward's Crown design sometime after the accession of Elizabeth II, (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 Tudor 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 St Edward's Crown. The approval process involves a member of the College of Arms (the Inspector of RAF Badges) who acts as an advisor on the design and suitability of the insignia and motto.
Some badges that have been approved by either King Edward VIII or George VI adopted the St Edward's Crown after Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. The number of badges that King Edward VIII approved is limited due to his short time on the throne. After the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023, the badges will be redrawn with a Tudor Crown.
History The first badge adopted by the RAF was the official Royal Air Force Badge. It was instituted on 1 August 1918, some four months after the formation of the Royal Air Force. 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 pre-dated the formation of the RAF. Most Royal Flying Corps squadrons during the First World War painted their squadron emblem, or device, on 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.
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. 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. 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.
Until the early 1930s, squadrons and units used their own informal badges and insignia. In 1935, the process of formalising the badges was undertaken whereby an official heraldic approval would be granted by the monarch. The whole design process ultimately rested with the Chester Herald as the Inspector of RAF Badges. This has changed over the years and has been filled by Clarenceux King of Arms and by the Surrey Herald of Arms Extraordinary. The Inspector of RAF Badges liaised with squadrons and units to finalise designs that reflected already adopted insignia or to utilise something suitable to recognise the squadron or unit.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. 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. In June 1936, King Edward VIII approved the first raft of badges for numbers 4, 15, 18, 19, 22, 33, 201, 207, 216 and 604 Squadrons.
The badge design and approval process applies to all Royal Air Force units; Regular, Reserve, Auxiliary and Air Training Corps.
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. The Inspector of RAF badges keeps copies which are registered in large albums known as "The Inspector's ordinary copies".
In the case of No. 273 Squadron, their badge was still awaiting final approval after several re-submissions which had been rejected by Air Command South-East Asia and by the Inspector of Badges. This hinged upon the proposed use of a swastika or fylfot. The squadron was disbanded in 1945 before being issued a badge due to uncertainty on a design or motto. A campaign in 1996 to have the badge issued for the veterans of No. 273 Squadron was unsuccessful despite the backing of several MPs, and it was finally awarded to the squadron association in principle.
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 Cowden in East Yorkshire used the Strike Command badge as it was an air weapons range. RAF Bridgnorth used the badge of No. 7 School of Recruit Training as that was the station's reason for existence.
The rules regarding badges were changed over the years and since 1992, public funds could be used to pay for the badge design. Previously, money had to be raised by the squadron or unit to pay for the process. A unit must have been in existence for five years, and expect to be in existence for another five years, and have a personnel strength of more than 75.
Under certain circumstances, badges from defunct units have been resurrected when new units or wings have been formed. 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 differences were that the name of the unit was changed, and the indentations where the unit number used to be on the main badge were removed.
Over 800 squadron and unit badges, carved from Welsh slate, are set into the floor of the central church of the Royal Air Force, St Clement Danes, London. The first carved badge was placed in the floor by its carver, Madge Whiteman, in 1958. Whiteman carved at least 80 more. The intention at the time was for there to eventually be 1,000 badges set into the floor. 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. A selection of replica RAF badges adorns the walls of the RAF Club in London.
Design
The badge consists of five distinct parts; the crown - either the Tudor Crown or St Edward's Crown, dependent on when it was issued, and its periodicity.Squadrons formed during, or just before, the Second World War, were issued with badges that had a Tudor Crown. A large swathe were disbanded at the cessation of hostilities, and so were never issued with an updated badge during the reign of Elizabeth II. the body - a circular frame coloured with RAF blue and with indentations for operationally numbered units, surrounded by a wreath of leavesThe 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. the insignia within the body, known as the Blazon in heraldry, the scroll the motto
RAF Badges are often called 'crests', even by serving members of the military, but they are in fact, heraldic badges. 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, while RAF badges have a crown.
One exception to this is No. 600 Squadron, which has two badges. 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. As this had the appearance of the RAF eagle at the top and not the crown, this could be interpreted as a crest.No. 600 Squadron instituted their own badge in the early 1920s which was based upon the City of London arms with 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 the Second 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 honorary 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.
One of the few squadrons to not have a scroll is No. 607 Squadron, as it does not have a motto. Many mottoes were suggested for 607 Squadron, which have been described as being from "suitable to the ribald."
Squadrons and stations Flying squadrons were 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 to improve its visibility. 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.
One of the first squadrons to be awarded their badge was No. 18 Squadron, which had a winged white pegasus as their insignia which dated back to the First World War. When the badge was approved in 1936, the pegasus had been redrawn with a more upright rearing stance and was now painted in gules, which is the colour red in heraldry.
No. 208 Squadron had been in Egypt for 17 years when they asked for approval for their squadron badge. Due to their motto of Vigilant and the nature of their work (observation), they had been using the Eye of Horus as 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 the Giza Sphinx as their insignia instead. The badge was approved by King George VI in October 1937.
Another squadron with associations in Egypt was No. 45 Squadron, which had a winged camel on their badge. This represented the fact the squadron was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft in the First World War and its association with the Middle-East in the Second World War.