Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force

Malcolm Hobart

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Aviation
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN:
  9781848848948
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783469031
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

Throughout the relatively short yet highly distinguished history of the Royal Air Force there has been a tendency for the men and women of the Service to be overshadowed by the glamour of the aircraft.Nonetheless it is surprising that there has never before been a complete record of the uniforms and badges of the RAF and its predecessor, the Royal Flying Corps. Malcolm Hobart and Pen and Sword Books have cooperated to rectify this serious omission with this superbly color illustrated and comprehensive collector's guide. Badges of rank and trade are all depicted not only for the flying arms but for ground staff. This valuable addition to our Collector series also covers the RAF Reserves and Auxiliary Service, Air Training Corps and the Royal Observer Corps.

CHAPTER ONE

THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS 1912-1918

Uniform Notes

When The Royal Flying Corps emerged from the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers, on the 13th May 1912, the uniforms worn were either standard Army or Naval patterns. In the spring of 1913, permission was granted by King George V to dress the new military Flying Corps in a distinctive uniform with new badges. This decision was not to be made official however until the publication of Army Order 378 of November 1913.

The new service uniform for officers consisted of a Khaki folding cloth cap, similar to the later adopted RAF (FS) forage cap, being boat shaped with two brass buttons at the front and the RFC badge on the forward right side,(as viewed). The tunic was Khaki and double breasted with a high stand or fall collar and cut in a similar style to a lancer’s jacket, with hidden buttons, and worn with Bedford cord breeches. Puttees with brown ankle boots were worn, although some officers continued to wear their Army service boots. The Sam Browne belt was also retained. Potential flyers were being seconded from Army regiments and many of them retained their uniforms, with the addition of RFC cap and collar badges. Warrant Officers wore officers’ uniforms with the Sam Browne belt, but with airmen’s cap and uniform badges. Other Ranks’ uniform closely resembled the officers’ uniform, but with jacket and breeches in serge material. Puttees and black ankle boots were worn.Due to the dirty nature of an air mechanic’s job blue “boiler suit” overalls were found to be most practical for working dress.

Tropical dress consisted of a single breasted jacket without belt or skirt pockets in Khaki drill. Worn with long shorts which could be turned up and secured by a single button on the outer side of the leg. On the lower leg Khaki puttees with service boots were the main footwear. Tropical helmets or more rarely side hats were worn.

A full dress uniform was devised and authorised at the same time, but few seem to have been manufactured or worn.

For officers the uniform consisted of a dark blue cap with leather peak and scarlet band. The jacket was single breasted with eight buttons and scarlet high standing collar, edged in dark blue braid. The rear skirts were adorned with a button and three pieces of Russian braid in dark blue, on each side. Pointed scarlet cuffs peaked at six inches from the sleeve edge and gilt twisted cord epaulette were attached to the shoulders. A dark blue three inch Petersham belt was worn, which was fastened by three gilt wire toggles.

The Other Ranks Uniform was essentially the same but with detail variations. The main ones being seven buttons on the jacket front and shoulder boards bearing brass RFC titles.Rank badges were in gold lace for chevrons with embroidered gold badges.

Trousers for both officers and men were dark blue with a two inch (50mm) scarlet stripe down the outer seams and worn with black shoes or boots.

Women’s Legion

The formation of the Women’s Legion in 1915, which allowed the Army to recruit women, for non combat military duties, allowed many of the ladies to serve in the Royal Flying Corps. Their duties ranged from clerical to motorcycle dispatch riders. These women wore a loose fitting light Khaki coat, which had skirt pockets and was fastened by two RFC buttons and a cloth waist belt. The hat worn followed the fashion of the time and was “pudding Basin” in shape,with narrow brim. For normal duties skirts were long and full, but when more freedom was required, such as motorcycle riding, Light Khaki cord breeches were worn. Shoulder titles appeared on the upper arm and were the same as airmen’s. Buttons for the above uniform were brass, with raised RFC letters and Kings Crown above.

Royal Flying Corps Badges

OFFICERS SERVICE DRESS

Cap Badge

The Royal Flying Corp cap badge closely followed the design of the Royal Engineers, from which it was formed. It consists of a laurel wreath broken at the top by a Kings Crown. The centre containing a monogram of the letters RFC, the monogram is pierced. For Officers the badge is made of bronze and is 1.5 inches (40mm) in size.

Collar Badges

These are replicas of the cap badge and about two thirds in size. They were worn in pairs on the step of the collar of the 1916 pattern jacket and sometimes on the stand-up collar of the 1908 jacket.

Shoulder Titles

Worn on the shoulder epaulettes of the jacket. These were brass capital letters ‘RFC’ connected at the top and bottom. The title being slightly curved in form.

Rank Badges

Being derived from the military wing of the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers, the RFC followed the same rank structure, showing pips, crowns etc, on the shoulder straps of the RFC ‘maternity’ jacket and the cuffs of the 1908 Army tunic.

Flying Badges

Army Order 40 of February 1913 authorised what was to become the most sought after and recognisable of all flying badges,the pilots’ wings. The design has changed littl...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Dedication
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER ONE - THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS 1912-1918
• CHAPTER TWO - THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
• CHAPTER THREE - THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 1920 – PRESENT
• CHAPTER FOUR - CEREMONIAL, MESS DRESS AND BANDS
• CHAPTER V - BADGES 1920 – PRESENT
• CHAPTER SIX - AIRCREW BADGES
• CHAPTER VII - DISTINCTION & TRADE BADGES
• CHAPTER VIII - MISCELLANEOUS BADGES
• CHAPTER IX - AUXILIARY & RESERVE FORCES
• Chapter X - CIVIL AIR GUARD, UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRONS, AIR TRANSPORT AUXILIARY, FERRY COMMAND
• CHAPTER XI - AIR DEFENCE CADET CORPS
• Chapter XII - THE ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS
• Suggested Reading
• Acknowledgments