[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”24″ text_text_color=”#0c71c3″]<\/p>\n
Unit Badges – What are they?<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Bomber-Command.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/39.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
One element of the ceremonial\/ heraldic attributes of RAF units is that of the unit badge, often referred to (wrongly) as the crest.<\/p>\n
The badge, once awarded, becomes a central part of the unit’s identity, appearing on correspondence, aircraft or other equipment, as the major motif upon the Squadron Standard, and in a host of other uses. All RAF units, from Command size downwards, are entitled to apply for such a badge; however, they must qualify under the following provisions:<\/p>\n
It is obvious that both of these aspects are somewhat subjective, most minor units from World War Two had \u00a0little\u00a0 chance\u00a0 of\u00a0 surviving\u00a0 the inevitable (win or lose) disbandment process – yet this did\u00a0 not\u00a0 stop them putting forward their claims.\u00a0In other instances squadrons which would seem to be likely candidates appear not to have bothered.<\/p>\n
The second criterion is even more ‘arbitrary’, there being no detailed guidance available it was simply a question of put in the request and then wait and see.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
As you will see as you browse the RAF Heraldry Trust collection, a number of World War Two squadrons that ‘should’ have had a badge do not have one, whereas many post-1945 units, especially the non-flying units, have been around quite a long time and have badges. Sadly, it is many of these latter units for which the Trust is having difficulty finding sponsors!<\/p>\n
Unit badges were only recognised as official once they had been accepted by the RAF Inspector of Badges, given sanction by the Chief of the Air Staff, and approved by the Sovereign.<\/p>\n
The general outline of the badge followed a fixed pattern of an edged circle, surmounted by a crown and with a scroll at the base.\u00a0 Up to 11th\u00a0<\/span>November it employed a Tudor crown (often referred to as a King’s crown) – as shown by the 39 Squadron badge on the left, but after that date it used St Edward’s crown (the ‘Queen’s crown) – as shown by the RAF Machrihanish badge on the right.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Far-East-Air-Force.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/RAF-Stn-Machrihanish.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”20″ text_text_color=”#0c71c3″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Getting a Badge<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_text_color=”#000000″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n The initial step was to submit, via the appropriate ‘chain of Command’ a draft sketch\u00a0 of the motif and motto to the RAF Inspector of Badges, at the College\u00a0 of Heralds, including a statement of how the design\/motto were arrived at – i.e. the origin and significance. The Inspector would then\u00a0 make\u00a0 his suggestions as\u00a0 to\u00a0 amendments\u00a0 such\u00a0 that\u00a0 the\u00a0 design\u00a0 followed\u00a0 the precepts of heraldry and the motto made sense. This latter\u00a0 point\u00a0 was important as most chosen\u00a0 mottos\u00a0 were\u00a0 in\u00a0 Latin\u00a0 and\u00a0 few\u00a0 squadrons boasted high grade Latin scholars amongst their number. Along with the draft the unit had to send 15 guineas for the Inspector’s fee!<\/p>\n Mottos and devices had been in use with \u00a0many\u00a0 units,\u00a0 especially\u00a0 the flying squadrons, since the earliest days of the RAF; during the 1920s many units designed, and employed, unofficial\u00a0 squadron\u00a0 badges\u00a0 –\u00a0 in many cases\u00a0 these\u00a0 became\u00a0 the\u00a0 basis\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 official\u00a0 badge.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/113.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#0c71c3″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Example: 39 Squadron<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n The example of 39 Squadron is fairly typical. During the mid-1920s the DH. 9As of 39 Squadron were frequent participants in the annual Hendon Air Pageants; just prior to\u00a0 the\u00a0 1926\u00a0 Display\u00a0 the\u00a0 Squadron\u00a0 Commander, Squadron Leader HV De\u00a0 Crespigny,\u00a0 devised\u00a0 a\u00a0 motif\u00a0 for\u00a0 use\u00a0 on\u00a0 the aircraft. This design is shown at image to the left and on the photograph on the right you can see it on the nose the DH9A.<\/p>\n After consultations with the other pilots it was decided\u00a0 to adopt a bomb, to signify the bombing role carried out by the squadron, but with the addition of wings, the initials ‘RAF’ and\u00a0 a\u00a0 crown\u00a0 (see below); to leave no doubt as to which squadron this belonged\u00a0 to,\u00a0 the number ’39’ was placed within the\u00a0 bomb.<\/p>\n To\u00a0 complete\u00a0 the\u00a0 device\u00a0 a scroll was added with the inscription ‘DIU NOCTUQUE’\u00a0 –\u00a0 the\u00a0 intended translation being ‘By Day and by Night’,\u00a0 to\u00a0 reflect\u00a0 the\u00a0 squadron’s glorious past as a\u00a0 night-fighter\u00a0 unit\u00a0 and\u00a0 its\u00a0 present\u00a0 day\u00a0 role; however, it seems that the Latin was not too good and it was generally read as ‘By God, By Night’, not\u00a0 as\u00a0 intended\u00a0 but\u00a0 no\u00a0 doubt\u00a0 a\u00a0 true reflection of the ‘terrors’ of night operations! With the granting of an official badge in 1936 the motto was changed to ‘DIE NOCTUQUE’, thus ending the ‘error’.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/39-sqn-unofficial.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/DH9a-J7818-39-sqn-626.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n Squadrons were very proud of their badges and whilst never perhaps the same as the ‘Regimental Family’ concept in the Army, they did form a focus within the unit and a matter of pride (and banter) between units. The badge was used and displayed in all manner of ways.<\/p>\n The photograph to the right shows the 39 Squadron badge painted on the wall of the aircrew crew room at Wyton in the late 1970s, whilst – not at all connected with badges – four of the aircrew (the author included) pose with ‘Kon Tiki’, one of the Squadrons ‘mascots’, which is about to be moved to a new location.<\/p>\n The photographs below show:<\/p>\n Left: The Squadron Winged Bomb motif (from the Badge) used on the tail of one of the Canberra PR.9s<\/p>\n Centre:\u00a0Christmas menu 1941, with badge at top centre, and Martin Maryland, menu (seems good!) and then ‘images of Egypt’, as the Squadron was in the Middle East. This makes a menu like this an interesting document! We are collecting such documents – so if you have any, please send them to historian@rafht.co.uk.<\/p>\n Right: Handing over\u00a0of the Squadron Standard June 1982; the badge is the centre piece of the Standard, surrounded by the Battle Honours, although a Squadron often has more Battle Honours than those displayed on the Standard.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/39-sqn-Tiki-678.jpg”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/canberra-PR9-XH171.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/39-sqn-menu-1241.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/39-sqn-standard-hand-over-682.jpg”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#0c71c3″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n How to Get a Badge … continued<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/112.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/42.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n To further illustrate the selection of a motif, two further\u00a0 examples: No 112 Squadron decided to use a black cat,\u00a0 the\u00a0 motif\u00a0 being\u00a0 chosen because of\u00a0 the\u00a0 speed\u00a0 of\u00a0 movement\u00a0 of\u00a0 this\u00a0 animal,\u00a0 and\u00a0 thus\u00a0 by implication the squadron, but also because the squadron had been based at Helwan, an ancient capital of Egypt and one where the cat\u00a0 had\u00a0 been worshipped – the Egyptology was a little awry but\u00a0 the\u00a0 principle\u00a0 was correct. No 240 Squadron elected to use a winged Viking helmet as\u00a0 its recce duties took it over the\u00a0 northern\u00a0 waters\u00a0 once\u00a0 sailed\u00a0 by\u00a0 the Vikings, this concept being reinforced by an Icelandic\u00a0 motto\u00a0 –\u00a0 “Sjo Vordur Lopt Vordur – Guardian of the sea and air.”<\/p>\n The stories behind the motifs are often somewhat hidden, although for each badge we include a comment in the Link to indicate why the motif was chosen, as this was part of the discussion with the Chester Herald. However, seldom is the full story known, and we would appreciate insights from anyone who may know specific details! One exception to this is the file that Ken found when researching for his Bomber Command book. The file contained the correspondence between the CO of 171 Squadron and the Chester Herald concerning the Squadron Badge.<\/p>\n Click on the 171 Squadron badge to go the story.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n The unit number was placed at the opposite mid points of the outer circle, the remainder of the text within the circle varying dependent upon the type of unit involved. However,\u00a0 in\u00a0 general\u00a0 terms the text was to include the word\u00a0 SQUADRON\u00a0 (or\u00a0 unit\u00a0 designation\u00a0 as appropriate) and the words ROYAL\u00a0 AIR\u00a0 FORCE\u00a0 (or\u00a0 AUXILIARY\u00a0 AIR\u00a0 FORCE). Numerous changes were made to this, with, for example, the addition of squadron role (e.g. Torpedo Bomber).<\/p>\n The name we show in the badges in this record are those at the time of the award, although in most cases the unit will have changed its role, and the name on the badge, in subsequent years. The main ones to feature when badges were awarded (most in the 1937-1944 period) were:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/171.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” url=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/2016\/06\/17\/171-sqn-norfolks-secret-squadron\/ “] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Unit Badges – What are they? One element of the ceremonial\/ heraldic attributes of RAF units is that of the unit badge, often referred to (wrongly) as the crest. The badge, once awarded, becomes a central part of the unit’s identity, appearing on correspondence, aircraft or other equipment, as the major motif upon the Squadron […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2177"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2177"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9399,"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2177\/revisions\/9399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rafht.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n