Awarded: March 1945
Blazon: In front of an Anchor Or an Arrow Azure and a Birdbolt Gules the points upwards in saltire
Link: This station, formed as a Naval Flying school in 1911, had the distinction of being the first Naval Air Station to be established. On 10 January 1912 an officer from Eastchurch, Charles Rumney Samson (CMG, DSO & Bar, AFC, 1883-1931) was the first to fly an aeroplane (Short S.27) off the deck of a ship (HMS Africa) at anchor in the River Medway. On 9 May 1912 he repeated the feat using the same aircraft off a moving ship (HMS Hibernia) during the 1912 Naval Review in Weymouth Bay.
Motto: Latin: In varietate Constans – Constant through the changes.
History: Opened as the first Royal Naval Air Station in February 1911 becoming home to the Naval Pilots Training Unit on 1 March 1911. Transferred to RAF control on 1 April 1918 before formally becoming RAF Eastchurch on 15 July 1938, and closed on 9 April 1947.
Sponsored by Richard Clarkson and dedicated to all who served at RNAS Eastchurch and RAF Eastchurch