The badge of the Royal Air Force is the heraldic emblem used to represent the Royal Air Force (RAF). It features an eagle superimposed on a circlet, which is surmounted by a crown.
Former Badge of the Royal Air Force during Queen Elizabeth II's Reign
The badge was based on a design by a tailor at Gieves Ltd of Savile Row in London. It was first used in August 1918, and the original circlet showed a garter and buckle. The present plain circlet dates from 26 January 1923 when the badge was registered at the College of Arms and, it being noted that the garter and buckle were heraldically incorrect, a substitution was made.[1]
In heraldic terms, the badge is blazoned as: "In front of a circle inscribed with the motto Per Ardua Ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronté head lowered and to the sinister."[2] Although there have been debates among airmen over the years about whether the bird was originally meant to be an albatross or an eagle, the consensus is that it was always an eagle.[1] When the badge was issued by the College of Arms in 1923, they described the bird as being an eagle.[3]
The badge is depicted on the iron gates at the ceremonial entrance to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, at the entrance to the Air Forces Memorial in Surrey, and on the Polish War Memorial in London. It was also featured on the reverse of a special series of £2 coins minted in 2018 to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force.
The RAF badge on Cranwell's gates
The RAF badge at the Air Forces Memorial
The RAF badge on the Polish War Memorial
Related badgesedit
Numerous Commonwealth air forces have adopted badges that are directly based upon the RAF badge, whilst several other countries' air forces have adopted badges with similar imagery. Several are shown below.
^ ab"Cranwell Heraldry Part One: The Royal Air Force Badge". The Heraldry Gazette. Slough: The Heraldry Society (97): 2. September 2005. ISSN 0437-2980.
^Smith, Peter C. (1974). Royal Air Force squadron badges (1 ed.). St. Ives [Cambs.]: Balfour Publications. p. 12. ISBN0-85944-012-5.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Insignia of the Royal Air Force.
(archived on 30 April 2009)
December 15, 2023
badge, royal, force, badge, royal, force, heraldic, emblem, used, represent, royal, force, features, eagle, superimposed, circlet, which, surmounted, crown, former, during, queen, elizabeth, reign, contents, description, related, badges, current, former, also,. The badge of the Royal Air Force is the heraldic emblem used to represent the Royal Air Force RAF It features an eagle superimposed on a circlet which is surmounted by a crown Former Badge of the Royal Air Force during Queen Elizabeth II s Reign Contents 1 Description 2 Related badges 2 1 Current 2 2 Former 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editThe badge was based on a design by a tailor at Gieves Ltd of Savile Row in London It was first used in August 1918 and the original circlet showed a garter and buckle The present plain circlet dates from 26 January 1923 when the badge was registered at the College of Arms and it being noted that the garter and buckle were heraldically incorrect a substitution was made 1 In heraldic terms the badge is blazoned as In front of a circle inscribed with the motto Per Ardua Ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronte head lowered and to the sinister 2 Although there have been debates among airmen over the years about whether the bird was originally meant to be an albatross or an eagle the consensus is that it was always an eagle 1 When the badge was issued by the College of Arms in 1923 they described the bird as being an eagle 3 The badge is depicted on the iron gates at the ceremonial entrance to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell at the entrance to the Air Forces Memorial in Surrey and on the Polish War Memorial in London It was also featured on the reverse of a special series of 2 coins minted in 2018 to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force nbsp The RAF badge on Cranwell s gates nbsp The RAF badge at the Air Forces Memorial nbsp The RAF badge on the Polish War MemorialRelated badges editNumerous Commonwealth air forces have adopted badges that are directly based upon the RAF badge whilst several other countries air forces have adopted badges with similar imagery Several are shown below Current edit nbsp Indian Air Force nbsp Royal Malaysian Air Force nbsp Royal Netherlands Air Force nbsp Royal Norwegian Air Force nbsp Pakistan Air Force nbsp Sri Lanka Air ForceFormer edit nbsp Royal Indian Air Force 1932 1950 See also editHeraldic badges of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force EnsignReferences edit a b Cranwell Heraldry Part One The Royal Air Force Badge The Heraldry Gazette Slough The Heraldry Society 97 2 September 2005 ISSN 0437 2980 Air Ministry Orders A 666 49 15 September 1949 Smith Peter C 1974 Royal Air Force squadron badges 1 ed St Ives Cambs Balfour Publications p 12 ISBN 0 85944 012 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Insignia of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force badge archived on 30 April 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Badge of the Royal Air Force amp oldid 1184440974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
