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United Kingdom: Royal Air Force rank flags

Last modified: 2005-03-12 by rob raeside
Keywords: royal air force | united kingdom | raf |
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Flags of rank

All Royal Air Force flags of rank are based on a theme of red stripes on an 'air force blue' background with dark blue borders at the top and bottom. Senior officers have rectangular flags, whereas junior officers' flags are either swallow-tailed or pennant shaped. 'Air force blue' is the distinctive shade of sky blue used by the RAF for its flags and uniforms since its formation in 1918 from the army's Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. Contrary to popular belief, the colour was not chosen to represent the sky - the Royal Air Force was intended to wear khaki uniforms like the army - instead a large order of light-blue cloth for uniforms for the Tsar's bodyguard was on offer at a very reasonable price due to the 1917 revolutions in Russia and was snapped up for the new service (but see rumour note).

Roy Stilling, 9 February 1997

Royal Air Force rank flags are light blue with dark blue edges at the top and bottom, each equal to about 1/7 of the hoist, with combinations of wide and narrow red stripes on the light blue field indicating rank.

Joe McMillan, 5 February 2003

Marshal of the Royal Air Force:

[Marshal of the RAF] by Dean Thomas

This is equivalent to admiral of the fleet in the navy and to field marshal in the army. A wide red stripe between two narrower ones

Air chief marshal:

[Air chief marshal] by Joe McMillan

This is equivalent to admiral in the navy and to general in the army. Two wide red stripes evenly spaced.

Air marshal:

[Air marshal] by Joe McMillan

This is equivalent to vice-admiral in the navy and to lieutenant-general in the army. One wide red stripe.

Air vice-marshal:

[Air vice-marshal] by Joe McMillan

This is equivalent to rear-admiral in the navy and to major-general in the army. Two narrow red stripes.

Air commodore:

[Air commodore] by Joe McMillan

This is equivalent to commodore in the navy and to brigadier-general in the army. Swallowtailed, one narrow red stripe.

Group captain:

[Group captain] by Joe McMillan

This is equivalent to captain in the navy and to colonel in the army. Triangular, one wide red stripe.

Wing commander: