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597:
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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.
302:
The
Admiralty requested that the substitution be done with no ceremony and only involve the minimum number of people necessary for the task. On 1 April 1943, exactly a quarter of a century after the foundation of the RAF, an RAF Ensign was substituted for the White Ensign on the west side of the
176:
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.
377:
In the general
British flag precedence, the Royal Air Force Ensign is just below the Royal Navy's White Ensign and just above the Blue and Red Ensigns. The only exception to this rule is when the RAF Ensign is being flown in place of the Union Flag when it takes that flag's precedence.
131:
The RAF Ensign was introduced in 1921 after some opposition from senior members of the Royal Navy. Various countries' air force ensigns have been based upon the RAF's ensign. Currently it is flown from the flagstaff of every
330:
Although the 1921 Order in
Council gave the RAF the authority to display the Ensign as they saw fit, the Admiralty maintained that the Order did not supersede the regulations of the Merchant Shipping Act. In 1947
226:, 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 24 March 1921, the King signed an
386:
The RAF Ensign may not be used as bunting or decoration, or draped over a coffin, except at civilian funerals. In the latter case, only the Union Flag may be used at a
British military funeral.
169:
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
1612:
211:
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.
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283:
that the RAF should be represented on the
Cenotaph by the flying of RAF ensigns on either side of the monument. However, when this request was passed to the Prime Minister,
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1358:
187:
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
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1378:
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335:
took control of an RAF vessel on the basis that the RAF Ensign it displayed was illegal. After the incident, air force vessels continued to display the RAF Ensign.
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1353:
287:, he rejected the proposal, stating his opposition to any change. To make a second attempt at gaining the approval of the Prime Minister, the agreement of the
512:
676:
233:
The official design code for the RAF Ensign is "UNKG0018" and the azure blue used is "NATO stock no.8305-99-130-4578, Polyester
Bunting in Pantone 549C".
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also favoured the new proposal, and although the Prime Minister remained opposed to any change, he acceded to the will of the Cabinet.
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897:
257:, and the RAF itself had only been established for the last seven months of the War. At this time a Union Flag, a White Ensign and a
1607:
1543:
942:
685:
406:
184:, he suggested that the matter be referred to the Cabinet. Although papers were drafted, the question was never debated in Cabinet.
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Following the institution of the RAF Ensign in 1921, there were occasional suggestions that it should be flown on
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532:
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and saluted by the station's orderly officer. The Ensign may also be hoisted or hauled down during a parade.
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The ensigns of the following air forces have been derived from or influenced by the RAF Ensign:
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and the Heads of RAF Missions may also fly the RAF Ensign. It is also flown daily from the
227:
200:
905:
1602:
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1150:
1146:
998:
994:
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658:
546:
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253:. These suggestions were rejected, as the RAF Ensign had not been created until after the
109:
68:
362:
As the professional head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff may fly the RAF Ensign.
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959:
363:
355:
during daylight hours. Ordinarily, it is hoisted and hauled down by the station's duty
157:
156:
had the right to veto the introduction of any new flag that was to be flown within the
113:
79:
303:
Cenotaph, with the change being effected just after dawn. Later the same day at 11:30
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The Air Council did not welcome the Admiralty's condition, as they wished to use the
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1226:
1222:
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1212:
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204:
162:
137:
87:
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had wanted to introduce a flag which would be flown at RAF stations. However, the
311:
guard paraded at the Cenotaph and a wreath was placed underneath the RAF Ensign.
1196:
1192:
843:
262:
254:
219:
149:
1206:
1202:
920:
261:
were flown on one side of the Cenotaph and a Union Flag, a White Ensign and a
258:
208:
170:
166:
83:
371:
17:
816:
188:
199:) might be adopted was viewed favourably by senior RAF commanders.
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342:
240:
136:
during daylight hours and has been permanently displayed on the
105:
1269:
924:
295:
to the substitution of only one flag was secured. The
319:
The RAF Ensign was flown by vessels belonging to the
351:
The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff of every
1708:
1672:
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1531:
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1413:
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1312:
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958:
74:
63:
55:
279:, succeeded in getting the informal agreement of
148:Ever since the formation of the RAF in 1918, the
1061:Royal Standard of the United Kingdom in Scotland
323:including those sea-going craft assigned to the
165:with the St George's Cross removed. Whilst the
1281:
936:
8:
180:When the situation came to the attention of
32:
1318:
1288:
1274:
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943:
929:
921:
120:in the canton and the Royal Air Force's
805:
396:
1659:Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
811:
809:
31:
1582:List of equipment of the RAF Regiment
7:
1776:
1050:Royal Standard of the United Kingdom
1483:Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service
1723:Combined Cadet Force (RAF section)
25:
817:"United Kingdom: Royal Air Force"
191:(which had been used by both the
1775:
1639:Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
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1241:
1231:
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1118:Flags of the English Interregnum
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333:His Majesty's Customs and Excise
42:
1733:RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
1613:List of serving senior officers
1140:Royal Standard of Great Britain
144:Early history and authorisation
108:which is used to represent the
519:Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing
265:were flown on the other side.
1:
898:"The Royal Air Force Ensign"
112:. The ensign has a field of
1807:Flags of the United Kingdom
1508:RAF Mountain Rescue Service
1503:RAF Search and Rescue Force
952:Flags of the United Kingdom
603:Royal New Zealand Air Force
347:The ensign at RAF Honington
289:First Lord of the Admiralty
27:Flag of the Royal Air Force
1838:
1664:Warrant Officer of the RAF
1359:Operational Training units
1107:Royal standards of England
407:Royal Australian Air Force
293:Secretary of State for War
268:During February 1943, the
1756:
1608:List of notable personnel
1539:Royal Auxiliary Air Force
1405:Satellite Landing Grounds
1303:
1151:Royal Standard of Ireland
575:Royal Malaysian Air Force
533:Royal Jordanian Air Force
94:
50:
41:
37:
1743:RAF Football Association
1644:Air Member for Personnel
1364:Schools / Training units
1072:Royal Banner of Scotland
844:"Royal Air Force Ensign"
449:Royal Canadian Air Force
1654:Air Member for Materiel
1096:Royal Banner of England
869:"British Flag Protocol"
692:South African Air Force
353:Royal Air Force station
197:Royal Naval Air Service
134:Royal Air Force station
1237:Royal Air Force Ensign
904:. 2016. Archived from
348:
325:Air Sea Rescue Service
315:Use on sea-going craft
270:Chief of the Air Staff
246:
216:Chief of the Air Staff
140:in London since 1943.
102:Royal Air Force Ensign
86:in the canton and the
33:Royal Air Force Ensign
1544:RAF Volunteer Reserve
1162:Ireland within the UK
1129:Flag of Great Britain
673:Royal Saudi Air Force
659:Qatar Emiri Air Force
631:Royal Omani Air Force
435:Belgian Air Component
346:
245:The Cenotaph, London.
244:
124:in the middle of the
118:United Kingdom's flag
1577:List of RAF missiles
1560:List of RAF aircraft
1478:RAF Medical Services
1463:RAF Chaplains Branch
776:Zimbabwean Air Force
561:Lithuanian Air Force
421:Bangladesh Air Force
1738:RAF Benevolent Fund
1673:symbols and uniform
1306:Ministry of Defence
706:Sri Lanka Air Force
463:Colombian Air Force
382:Restrictions on use
368:Ministry of Defence
237:Use on the Cenotaph
230:ratifying its use.
207:suggested that the
34:
1822:Light blue ensigns
1817:Flags with crosses
1718:Air Training Corps
1634:Chief of Air Staff
1498:RAF Music Services
873:The Flag Institute
822:Flags of the World
720:Sudanese Air Force
645:Pakistan Air Force
617:Nigerian Air Force
477:Egyptian Air Force
349:
277:Sir Charles Portal
247:
193:Royal Flying Corps
1812:Air Force ensigns
1789:
1788:
1618:Personnel numbers
1513:RAF Marine Branch
1493:RAF ground trades
1439:
1438:
1263:
1262:
1256:Diplomatic Ensign
762:Zambian Air Force
589:Myanmar Air Force
321:RAF Marine Branch
285:Winston Churchill
281:Buckingham Palace
274:Air Chief Marshal
98:
97:
16:(Redirected from
1829:
1779:
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1709:associated civil
1473:RAF Legal Branch
1468:RAF Intelligence
1354:Conversion units
1319:
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1247:Civil Air Ensign
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1235:
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1173:Northern Ireland
1171:
1160:
1149:
1138:
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1116:
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1029:Northern Ireland
1027:
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984:Countries of the
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848:britishflags.net
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748:Yemeni Air Force
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734:Syrian Air Force
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505:Indian Air Force
501:
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228:Order in Council
201:Air Vice Marshal
104:is the official
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35:
21:
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1802:Royal Air Force
1792:
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1728:RAF Association
1710:
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1700:Heraldic badges
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1453:Air Force Board
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1297:Royal Air Force
1294:
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911:
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902:Royal Air Force
896:
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866:
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827:
825:
815:
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789:British ensigns
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547:Kenya Air Force
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491:Ghana Air Force
488:
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390:Related ensigns
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110:Royal Air Force
82:field with the
69:Royal Air Force
28:
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22:
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12:
11:
5:
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1518:RAF Air Cadets
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1154:
1143:
1132:
1121:
1110:
1099:
1087:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1074:(1222–present)
1064:
1063:(1801–present)
1053:
1052:(1801–present)
1041:
1039:
1035:
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1031:
1021:
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986:United Kingdom
980:
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975:(1801–present)
973:United Kingdom
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960:United Kingdom
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908:on 3 June 2016
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224:Hugh Trenchard
158:British Empire
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1711:organisations
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1649:Air Secretary
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1444:branches and
1374:Glider units
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1227:Green Ensign
1217:White Ensign
910:. Retrieved
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891:Bibliography
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370:building in
364:Air Attachés
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309:RAF Regiment
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163:White Ensign
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1603:Other ranks
1369:Ferry units
1197:Blue Ensign
1175:(1924–1973)
1164:(1801–1922)
1153:(1541–1800)
1142:(1707–1801)
1131:(1707–1801)
1120:(1649–1660)
1109:(1327–1547)
1098:(1198–1707)
263:Blue Ensign
220:Air Marshal
150:Air Council
88:RAF Roundel
1796:Categories
1748:RAF Museum
1523:Operations
1488:RAF Police
1446:components
1379:Misc units
1313:formations
1207:Red Ensign
795:References
374:, London.
259:Red Ensign
209:Union Flag
171:Royal Navy
167:War Office
90:in the fly
84:Union Flag
56:Proportion
51:RAF Ensign
18:RAF Ensign
1591:personnel
1553:equipment
1426:Squadrons
1344:Squadrons
1315:and units
372:Whitehall
307:a.m., an
255:Great War
154:Admiralty
116:with the
1766:timeline
1690:Roundels
1414:Regiment
1388:stations
1329:Commands
1083:Historic
1009:Scotland
783:See also
291:and the
195:and the
138:Cenotaph
80:sky blue
1781:commons
1761:history
1695:Uniform
1565:current
1431:Flights
1349:Flights
1184:Ensigns
1038:Banners
999:England
297:Cabinet
189:Roundel
122:roundel
64:Adopted
1771:future
1680:Ensign
1570:future
1400:Former
1395:Active
1334:Groups
912:5 June
878:5 June
853:5 June
828:5 June
305:
75:Design
1685:Badge
1421:Wings
1339:Wings
1322:units
1019:Wales
800:Notes
173:use.
914:2016
880:2016
855:2016
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222:Sir
214:The
203:Sir
106:flag
100:The
67:The
357:NCO
126:fly
59:1:2
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20:)
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