Last modified: 2005-06-17 by jonathan dixon
Keywords: australia | air force | raaf | stars: southern cross | queens colour | squadron standard | wattle |
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![{Queen's Colour of the RAAF]](../images/a/au^qcaf.gif)
by Joe McMillan using images by Graeme Bartram, 23 November 2003
The Queen's Colour of the Royal Australian Air Force is a light blue silk flag, presumably 45
inches square, based on other Commonwealth air force colours, with the Union
in the canton, the large seven-pointed Commonwealth star in the lower hoist,
five white stars forming the Southern Cross in the upper fly, and the royal
cipher in gold letters,
ensigned with a St. Edward's crown in color, in the center. The edge of
the field is embroidered with gold leaves, except where the Union canton is
located. The fringe, cord, and tassels are silver and blue and the staff is
surmounted by a gilt crown.
Joe McMillan, 25 January 2002
According to Chapter 12, Annex A of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site, the light blue field is surrounded by a border of golden wattle sprigs (not including the area of
the canton). Gold and crimson fringe, cord, and tassels. Although not
stated in the manual, this flag is 45 inches square, as for the colour of
the RAF in the UK. The finial is a gilt royal crest of England (lion
statant guardant, royally crowned and standing upon a royal crown). The
Queen's Colour is carried in a light blue colour belt edged with
gold-black-gold lace, with the RAAF badge embroidered on it below the royal
cipher.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003
I have found an excellent article about the Queen's Colour of the
Royal Australian Air Force. The URL is: http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4308/story07.htm
Miles Li, 23 January 2002
The Queen's Colours For Schools (Air Force)is
an air force blue flag, 45 inches square, with the badge of the school at
the centre, and the crowned Royal cipher at the canton. Like the Queen's Colour for the RAAF, the whole flag is
bordered by golden wattle branches, has a
gold and sky blue fringe, cord and tassels, and army style crest.
Miles Li, 25 January 2002
Queen's Colour of a Unit - The one shown in the Chapter 12, Annex A of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site, is for the School of Technical Training. It is light blue with a border of gold wattle sprigs all
around, the royal cipher in upper hoist and the unit badge in the center.
Same fringe, finial, etc., as for the Queen's Colour of the RAAF. Queen's
Colours are granted to non-operational establishments or units with at least
25 years of service and only in extraordinary circumstances; they have been
granted to only five organizations other than the RAAF itself.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003
The Queen's Colour is carried in a light blue colour belt like that for the Queen's Colour of the RAAF, with organizational badge in place of RAAF badge.
Joe McMillan, 14 October 2004
The Squadron Standard is for operational squadrons of the RAAF with more than 25
years service or combat distinction. It is as for other Commonwealth air
forces, light blue silk, 32 x 48 inches, with the squadron badge in the
center, flanked by up to eight small white scrolls inscribed with battle
honors arrayed in two diagonal rows. If the standard displays an odd number
of honors, one scroll is placed below the badge. The field of the flag is
bordered by a wreath of roses, thistles, shamrocks, leeks, and wattle in
full color. The
pike is 8 feet 1 inch topped with a gilt eagle, its wings elevated. The
fringe is gold and sky blue, as are the cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 25 January 2002
According to Chapter 12, Annex A of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site, the
field is bordered with embroidered depictions of the plant badges of the
Australian states, the white scrolls edged red and inscribed with battle honors in black lettering. The standard illustrated in the manual is that of 77 Squadron and shows five honors on each side of the
badge. Conditions for grant of a standard are the same as in the RAF--operational squadrons only,
minimum of 25 years of service or especially distinguished achievement.
Squadron standards are considered and treated as equivalent to regimental colours carried by battalions of the Australian Army.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003
The Squadron Standard is carried in a black belt with double rows of gold lace down the edges, with the squadron badge on the centre.
Joe McMillan, 14 October 2004
A squadron standard can be seen at http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/organisation/info_on/units/24_sqn/about.htm.
Herman FMY, 11 May 2005
The Governor General's Banner for the RAAF is for units ineligible for the Queen's
Colour or Squadron Standard but having more than 25 years of distinguished
service. I believe this one is unique to Australia. It is light blue
silk, presumably 45 inches square, with a blue canton bearing the device
from the Governor General's flag (the royal crest of England above a scroll
bearing the name "Commonwealth of Australia"). In the center of the flag is
the badge of the organization, surrounded by the five white stars from the
national flag forming the Southern Cross, and in each corner, pointed
inward, a spray of wattle in gold. Gold fringe; finial is a gold eagle with
wings elevated; gold and blue cord and tassels. (Source
http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/1rtu/history.htm and
http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/avmed/governor.htm.)
Joe McMillan, 25 January 2002
The Governor-General's Banner is carried in a belt the same as that for Squadron Standards - black with double rows of gold lace down the edges, with the unit badge on the centre.
Joe McMillan, 14 October 2004
![[Governor-General's banner for No 1 Recruit Training Unit]](../images/a/au^ggrtu.gif)