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The Royal Air Force Ensign is the official flag which used to represent the Royal Air Force. Image File history File links Royal-Air-Force-Ensign. ...
Image File history File links Royal-Air-Force-Ensign. ...
Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ...
The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...
Early History and Authorisation
The Air Council wanted to introduce a flag which would be flown at RAF stations. However, the Admiralty had the right to veto the introduction of any new flag that was to be flown within the British Empire or on a British vessel. Although the Admiralty were initially opposed to granting the RAF its own flag, after considerable pressure from the Air Council, they reluctantly agreed to the introduction of such a flag, stating that the Air Force should adopt the Union Flag defaced with a suitable device. The Air Council did not welcome the Admiralty's condition as they wished to use the White Ensign with the St George's Cross removed. Whilst the War Office had no objections to this proposed design, the Admiralty certainly did and they rejected the Air Council's suggestion on the basis that the White Ensign was exclusively reserved for Royal Navy use. Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ...
The British Empire was the worlds first global power and the largest empire in history. ...
Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag or Union Jack is the flag most commonly associated with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was also used throughout the former British Empire. ...
The White Ensign. ...
Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ...
The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ...
The Air Council then submitted a design featuring a jack with a white border, but the Admiralty rejected this submission as it was the already in use as the signal to summon a ship's pilot. The Air Council then re-submitted the original design which, unsurprisingly, was rejected once again.
When the situation came to the attention of King George V, he suggested that the matter be referred to the Cabinet. Although papers were drafted, the question was never debated in Cabinet. George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865–20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. ...
The dispute soon became more widely known and various designs were suggested by members of the public. Although none of these suggestions were accepted, the idea that the Roundel (which had been used by both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service) might be adopted was viewed favourably by senior RAF commanders. Air Vice Marshal Sir John Salmond suggested that the Union Flag be placed in the canton in order that the design carry the mark of British authority. The Air Council subsequently agreed upon the design in use today as their preferred option. The Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard then brought the design before King George V who approved the design. The design was then sent to the Admiralty and it was accepted as an Ensign in December 1920. On March 24, 1921, the King signed an Order in Council ratifying its use. For the neolithic monument type, see roundel enclosure. ...
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of World War I. Origin and Early History Formed by Royal Warrant on May 13, 1912, the RFC superseded the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers. ...
The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of World War I. When the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was founded on April 13, 1912 it was intended to encompass all military flying. ...
An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia An Air Vice Marshals command flag Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts...
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond was born on 17 July 1881. ...
Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag or Union Jack is the flag most commonly associated with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was also used throughout the former British Empire. ...
Chief of the Air Staff can also refer to the head of the Canadian Forces Air Command. ...
An air marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia An air marshals command flag Air Marshal is the second most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ...
Bust depicting Marshal of the Royal Air Force the Viscount Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard (February 3, 1873 - February 10, 1956) was the British Chief of the Air Staff during World War I, and was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...
1920 (MCMXX) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...
March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ...
1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...
An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth which is formally made in the name of the Queen by the Privy Council (Queen-in-Council), or the Governor-General or Governor by the Executive Council (Governor-General-in-Council, Governor-in...
Modern Usage The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff of every RAF station during daylight hours. Ordinarily, it is hoisted and hauled down by the station's duty NCO and saluted by the station's orderly officer. The Ensign may also be hoisted or hauled down during a parade. A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or noncom, is a non-commissioned member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...
Rarely, the Ensign may be used in place of the Union Flag. For example, it is flown at the Sovereign Base Area border posts in Cyprus. The UK Sovereign Base Areas are those British military base areas located in countries formerly ruled by the United Kingdom which were retained by it and not handed over when those countries attained independence. ...
As the professional head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff may fly the RAF Ensign.
Restrictions on Use The RAF Ensign may not be carried on a parade, used as bunting or decoration, or draped over a coffin. In the latter case, only the Union Flag may be used at a British military funeral.
Other Air Force Ensigns The following ensigns have been derived from the RAF Ensign: The Royal Australian Air Force Ensign is used by the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia and overseas. ...
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air force arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. ...
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Royal Air Force Ensign
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