Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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 |
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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 |
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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: |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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No badge authorised |
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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