Blazon: In front of a Roundel Bleu Celeste within an Annulet Khaki edged Or and inscribed with the motto “PER ARDUA AD ASTRA” in letters Or and decorated in base with a Sprig of Laurel also Or ensigned by a representation of the Royal crown proper an Eagle volant and affrontee head lowered and to the sinister Or.
Link: The earliest known reference to any aspect of the RAF badge was found in an old War Office file, when the RFC expressed their desire to adopt the motto ‘Per ardua ad astra’ to the Army Council to which they agreed and the King gave his approval. The Admiralty, who were also consulted, raised no objections and the motto was promulgated in Army Orders for April 1913. A ‘crest’ for adoption by the fledgling RAF was approved at an Air Council meeting in August 1918 and was similar to that in use today with the exception that the circlet comprised a Garter and Buckle. It was not submitted to either King or College of Arms for approval. Its original designer is not known, but was thought to have been a clerk at Gieves Ltd (Tailors) and the bird he drew was an albatross. In 1922 the full head-dress came under consideration and the ‘crest’ appeared as an item of this.
The buckle, however, was deemed improper and a plain circlet was substituted. This head-dress and, by implication the badge, was approved by the King and a further Air Council meeting in December 1922 decided this ‘crest’ should become the badge of the RAF. The new badge was submitted to the College of Arms for registration in January 1923 along with a letter stating that the design had received the approval of the King simultaneously with the other details of the RAF uniform.
In 1925 the College of Arms were asked to produce coloured sketches of the badge and whilst it was allowed artistic licence in the drawing, the details of the approved badge should stand. They duly produced a coloured drawing which was placed on file. In spite of several further consultations on matters of design in the years between 1923 and 1949, as far as can be ascertained, the design registered at the College of Arms in 1923 still remains the official badge of the RAF.
A concerted effort was made in 1949 to ‘sort out’ the badge which resulted in an Air Ministry Order (AMO 666/49) being issued in September 1949 showing the official design ( without colours) which was subsequently cancelled and replaced with AMO A274/54 in November 1954 when HM Queen Elizabeth II decided to replace the Tudor crown with the St Edward Crown.
History: The Royal Flying Corps was formed on 13 May 1912 and comprised of a Military Wing intended for co-operation with the Army and a Naval wing allied to the Royal navy. It had a small number of squadrons and a Central Flying School and its personnel came from various Regiments, the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. On 1 July 1914, the Naval Wing became the Royal Navy Air Service which, in turn, was once more incorporated into the Royal Air Force which formed as an independent service on 1 April 1918 and remains current.
Sponsored by the Trustees and Artist of the Royal Air Force Heraldry Trust in Memory of Founding Trustee Mr John P B Brooke-Little CVO, MA, FSA, FHS. 1927 – 2006.