Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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RAF Badges - Nos 201 - 299 Squadrons


The table below shows the badges awarded to each unit, the motto and translation where known, the monarch who authorised it and the general date of the award

No 201 Squadron badge No 202 Squadron badge No 203 Squadron badge No 204 Squadron badge
No 201 Squadron No 202 Squadron No 203 Squadron No 204 Squadron

Motto:  Hic et ubique (Here and everywhere)

Authorised:  King Edward VIII - July 1936

Motto:  Semper vigilate (Be always vigilant)

Authorised:  King George VI - December 1937

Motto:  Occidens oriensque (West and East)

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1937

Motto:  Praedam mari quaero (I seek my prey in the sea)

Authorised: King George VI - March 1939

No 205 Squadron badge  badge No 207 Squadron badge No 208 Squadron badge

No 205 Squadron

No 206 Squadron No 207 Squadron No 208 Squadron

Motto:  Pertama di Malaya (First in Malaya)

Authorised:  King George VI - March 1938

Motto:  Nihil nos effugit (Naught escapes us)

Authorised:  King George VI - March 1938

Motto:  Semper paratus (Always prepared)

Authorised:  King Edward VIII - May 1936

Motto:  Vigilant

Authorised:  King George VI - October 1937

No 209 Squadron badge No 209 Squadron badge No 211 Squadron badge No 212 Squadron badge

No 209 Squadron

No 210 Squadron No 211 Squadron No 212 Squadron

Motto:  Might and Main

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1941

Motto:  Yn y nwyfre yn hedfan (Hovering in the heavens)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1937

Motto:  Toujours a propos (Always at the right moment)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1937

Motto:  Amari ad astra (From the sea to the stars)

Authorised:  King George VI - March 1945

No 213 Squadron badge No 214 Squadron badge No 215 Squadron badge No 216 Squadron badge

No 213 Squadron

No 214 Squadron

No 215 Squadron

No 216 Squadron

Motto:  Irritatus Lacessit Crabro (The hornet attacks when roused)

Authorised:  King George VI - January 1938

Motto:  Ulter in umbris (Avenging in the shadows)

Authorised:  King George VI - March 1938

Motto:  Surgite nox adest (Arise, night is at hand)

Authorised:  King George VI - November 1937

Motto:  CCXVI dona ferens (216 bearing gifts)

Authorised:  King Edward VIII - May 1936

No 217 Squadron badge No 218 Squadron badge No 219 (Mysore) Squadron badge No 220 Squadron badge

No 217 Squadron

No 218 Squadron No 219 (Mysore) Squadron No 220 Squadron

Motto:  Woe to the unwary

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1938

Motto:  In Time

Authorised:  King George VI - December 1937

Motto:  From Dusk Till Dawn

Authorised:  King George VI - June 1941

Motto:  ΚΑΘΟΡΩΜΕΝ ΑΙΣΤΟΙ (We Observe unseen)

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

No 221 Squadron badge No 222 (Natal) Squadron badge No 223 Squadron badge No 224 Squadron badge

No 221 Squadron

No 222 (Natal) Squadron

No 223 Squadron

No 224 Squadron

Motto:  From sea to sea

Authorised:  King George VI - January 1944

Motto:  Pambili Bo (Go straight ahead)

Authorised:  King George VI - December 1941

Motto:  Alae defendunt Africam (Wings defend Africa)

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1939

Motto:  Fedele all'amico (Faithful to a friend)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1938

No 225 Squadron badge No 226 Squadron badge No badge authorised No 228 Squadron badge

No 225 Squadron

No 226 Squadron No 227 Squadron No 228 Squadron

Motto: We guide the sword

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

Motto:  Non sibi sed patriae (For country not for self)

Authorised:  King George VI - June 1939

 

Motto:  Auxilium a caelo (Help from the sky)

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1941

No 229 Squadron badge No 230 Squadron badge No badge authorised No 232 Squadron badge
No 229 Squadron

No 230 Squadron

No 231 Squadron

No 232 Squadron

Motto:  Be Bold

Authorised:  King George VI - Oct 1944

Motto: Kita chari jauh (We seek far)

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1937

Unofficial Motto:  Prepared to Attack

Motto:  Strike

Authorised:  King George VI - January 1942

No 233 Squadron badge No 234 Squadron badge No 235 Squadron badge No 236 Squadron badge
No 233 Squadron No 234 Squadron No 235 Squadron

No 236 Squadron

Motto:  Fortis et fidelis (Strong and faithful)

Authorised:  King George VI - December 1937

Motto: Ignem Mortemque Despuimu (We spit fire and death)

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

Motto:  Jaculamur Humi (We Strike Them to the Ground)

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

Motto: Speculati Nuntiate (Having Watched, Bring Word)

Authorised:  King George VI - June 1943

No 237 Squadron badge No 238 Squadron badge No 239 Squadron badge No 240 Squadron badge

No 237 Squadron

No 238 Squadron

No 239 Squadron

No 240 Squadron

Motto:  Primun agmen in caelo (The vanguard is in the sky)

Authorised:  King George VI - October 1941

Motto:  Ad Finem (To the end)

Authorised:  King George VI - June 1941

Motto:  Exploramus (We seek out)

Authorised:  King George VI - September 1941

Motto:  Sjo-Vordur Lopt-Vordur (Guardian of the sea, guardian of the sky)

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1941

No 241 Squadron badge No 242 (Canadian) Squadron badge No 243 Squadron badge No badge authorised
No 241 Squadron No 242 (Canadian) Squadron No 243 Squadron No 244 Squadron
Motto:  Find and forewarn

Authorised:  King George VI - April 1942

Motto:  Toujour Pret (Always ready)

Authorised:  King George VI - December 1940

Motto:  Swift in pursuit

Authorised:  King George VI - January 1943

 
No 245 (North Rhodesian) Squadron badge No badge authorised No 247 Squadron badge No 248 Squadron badge
No 245 (North Rhodesian) Squadron No 246 Squadron No 247 (China-British) Squadron

No 248 Squadron

Motto:  Fugo Non Fugio (I put to fight, I do not flee)

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

 

Motto:  Rise From the East

Authorised:  King George VI - November 1941

Motto:  Il Faut en Finir (It is necessary to make an end to it)

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

No 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron badge No 250 (Sudan) Squadron badge No 251 Squadron badge No 252 Squadron badge
No 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron No 250 (Sudan) Squadron No 251 Squadron No 252 Squadron

Motto:  Pugnis et Calcibus  (With fists and heels)

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1945

Motto:  Close to the sun

Authorised:  King George VI - May 1942

Motto:  However wind blows

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1945

Motto:  With or on

Authorised: King George VI - September 1945

No 253 (Hyderabad State)Squadron badge No 254 Squadron badge No 255 Squadron badge No 256 Squadron badge
No 253 (Hyderabad State) Squadron No 254 Squadron No 255 Squadron No 256 Squadron

Motto:  Come One, Come All

Authorised:  King George VI - February 1942

Motto:  Fljuga vakta ok Ijosta (to fly, to watch, and to strike)

Authorised:  King George VI - September 1941

Motto:  Ad Auroram (To the break of dawn)

Authorised:  King George VI - October 1942

Motto:  Addimus vim viribus (Strength to strength)

Authorised:  King George VI - March 1948

No 257 (Burma) Squadron badge No 258 Squadron badge No 259 Squadron badge No 260 Squadron badge
No 257 (Burma) Squadron No 258 Squadron No 259 Squadron No 260 Squadron

Motto:  Thay Myay Gyee Shin Shwe Hti (Death or Glory)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1942

Motto:  In medias res (Into the middle of things)

Authorised:  King George VI - June 1945

Motto:  Haya ingia napigane (Get in a fight)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1945

Motto:  Celer et fortis (Swift and strong)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1944

No 261 Squadron badge No badge authorised No 263 Squadron badge No 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron badge
No 261 Squadron No 262 Squadron No 263 Squadron

No 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron

Motto:  Semper contendo (I strive continuously)

Authorised:  King George VI - May 1946

 

Motto:  Ex Ungue Leonem (From his claws one knows the lion)

Authorised:  King George VI - October 1941

Motto:  We Defy

Authorised:  King George VI - August 1940

No badge authorised

No 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron badge No 267 Squadron badge No 268 Squadron badge
No 265 Squadron No 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron No 267 Squadron No 268 Squadron
 

Motto:  Hlabezulu  (The stabber of the sky)

Authorised:  King George VI - October 1941

Motto:  Sine mora (Without delay)

Authorised: King George VI - June 1944

Motto:  Adjidaumo (Tail in the air)

Authorised: King George VI - November 1941

No 269 Squadron badge

No 270 Squadron badge

No 271 Squadron badge No 272 Squadron badge
No 269 Squadron No 270 Squadron No 271 Squadron No 272 Squadron

Motto:  Omnia vidermus (We see all things)

Authorised:  King George VI - April 1937

Motto: Petamus

No official badge authorised but this was the squadron's preferred design

Motto:  Death and life

Authorised: King George VI - November 1944

Motto:  On, on

Authorised: King George VI - November 1944

No badge authorised

No 274 Squadron badge No 275 Squadron badge No 276 Squadron badge
No 273 Squadron No 274 Squadron No 275 Squadron No 276 Squadron
 

Motto:  Supero (I overcome)

Authorised: King George VI - July 1942

Motto:  Non interibunt (They shall not perish)

Authorised: King George VI - February 1945

Motto:  Retreive 

Authorised:

No 277 Squadron badge No 278 Squadron badge No 279 Squadron badge No 280 Squadron badge
No 277 Squadron No 278 Squadron No 279 Squadron No 280 Squadron
Motto:  Quaerendo servamus (We save by seeking)

Authorised:  King George VI - July 1942

Motto:  Ex mare ad referiendum (From out of the sea to strike again)

Authorised: King George VI - September 1942

Motto:  To see and be seen

Authorised: King George VI - January 1943

Motto:  We shall be there

Authorised: King George VI - April 1944

No 281 Squadron badge

No badge authorised

No 283 Squadron badge No 284 Squadron badge
No 281 Squadron No 282 Squadron No 283 Squadron No 284 Squadron
Motto:  Volamus servaturi (We fly to save)

Authorised:  King George VI - January 1943

  Motto:  Attende et vigila (Be alert and on guard)

Authorised: King George VI - February 1945

Motto:  From the deep

Authorised: King George VI - October 1945

No 285 Squadron badge No 286 Squadron badge No 287 Squadron badge No 288 Squadron badge
No 285 Squadron No 286 Squadron No 287 Squadron No 288 Squadron
Motto:  Respice finem (Consider the end)

Authorised:  King George VI - November 1944

Motto:  Praesidia nostra exercemus (We exercise our defences)

Authorised: King George VI - April 1944

Motto:  C'est en forgeant (Practice makes perfect)

Authorised: King George VI - March 1945

Motto:  Honour through deeds

Authorised: King George VI - June 1945

No badge authorised

No badge authorised

No badge authorised

No badge authorised

No 289 Squadron No 290 Squadron No 291 Squadron No 292 Squadron
       
No 293 Squadron badge No 294 Squadron badge No 295 Squadron badge No 296 Squadron badge
No 293 Squadron No 294 Squadron No 295 Squadron No 296 Squadron
Motto:  Ex aere salus (Safety from the air)

Authorised: King George VI - July 1945

Motto:  Vita ex undix abreta (Life snatched from the waves)

Authorised: King George VI - December 1944

Motto:  In caelo auxilium (Aid from the skies)

Authorised: King George VI - June 1945

Motto:  Prepared for all things

Authorised: King George VI - April 1945

No badge authorised

No 298 Squadron badge

No badge authorised

 
No 297 Squadron No 298 Squadron No 299 Squadron  
  Motto:  Silent we Strike

Authorised: King George VI - June 1945

   

All badges on this page are Crown Copyright and have been produced by Mary Denton on behalf of the RAF Heraldry Trust and are displayed on this page with the permission of the RAFHT.  Mary Denton and the RAFHT have probably completed half of the 'official' badges authorised but are still looking for sponsorship for the remaining badges. The work continues and details can be found on their website.

© Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Directorate of Intellectual Property Rights

This page was last updated on 17/10/23

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