Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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
If you would like to commission any of the missing badges (including those marked *) please contact RAF Heraldry Trust for further details.
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Laarbruch | Lakenheath | Labuan | Leconfield |
Motto: Eine feste burg (A firm fortress) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1962 |
Based on Support Command badge |
Motto: Strike and support Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - February 1966 |
Motto: Extenebris ad luce (From darkness to light) Authorised: King George VI - April 1944 |
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Leeming |
Leuchars |
Lichfield | Lindholme |
Motto: Straight and true Authorised: King George VI - April 1942 |
Motto: Attack and protect Authorised: King George VI - 1951 |
Motto: Esingulis communitas (Out of separate individuals a commonwealth) Authorised: King George VI - December 1950 |
Motto: Guided steel Authorised: ? |
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Linton on Ouse | Little Rissington* |
Locking |
Long Benton |
Motto: A flumine inpugnamus (From the river we strike) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - August 1954 |
Based on No 3 Flying Training School |
Motto: Docemus (We teach) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1977 |
Motto: Volens et potens (Willing and able) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - June 1955 |
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Lossiemouth | Lubeck |
Luqa |
Lyneham |
Motto: Thoir an aire (To be watchful) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - May 1974 |
Motto: J'y suis j'y reste (Here I am and here I stay) Authorised: King George VI - May 1947 |
Motto: Mitjar qatt mirbuii (An airfield never beaten) Authorised: King George VI - February 1945 |
Motto: Support-Save-Supply Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1955 |
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Macrihanish |
Manston |
Marham |
Martlesham Heath |
Motto: Airm a dhion adhna fairgeachan (Arms to defend the sea) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - May 1975 |
Motto: Arise to protect Authorised: King George VI - December 1948 |
Motto: Deter Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1957 |
Motto: Omnia acta bene facta (All deeds well done) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - March 1960 |
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Mauripur | Masirah | Medmenham | Middleton St George |
Motto: This was not authorised but was a design used by the station |
Motto: Al-i' timad'ala al-nafs (The reliance is on one's own self) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - January 1961 |
Motto: Serve and support Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - March 1960 |
Motto: Shield and deter Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1958 |
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Middle Wallop |
Mildenhall | Moreton-in-Marsh* | Mount Batten |
Motto: Viam demonstramus (We show the way) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - July 1953 |
Based on Support Command badge |
Motto: Resolute Authorised: Possibly unofficial |
Motto: In honour bound Authorised: King George VI - February 1942 |
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See RAF Station Bahrein |
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Mount Pleasant | Muharraq* | Neatishead* | Negombo |
Motto: Defend the right Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - ? |
Motto: In Sole Laborate (Work in the sun) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - June 1958 |
Motto: Caelum Tuemur (We watch over the sky) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - June 1958 as No 271 Signals Unit (renamed 8 March 1963) |
Motto: Serve to unite Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - November 1954 |
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Newton |
Nicosia | Nornhorn | North Coates |
Motto: Docemus et discimus (We teach and we learn) Authorised: King George VI - July 1945 |
Motto:
In quadrivio paratus (Ready at the cross-roads) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - June 1955 |
Motto: ? (Scoring wins) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - February 1985 |
Motto: Guide to attack Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1958 |
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North Front | North Luffenham |
Northolt |
Norton |
Motto: Guard the gateway Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1956 |
Motto: Swift to reply Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1962 |
Motto: Aut portare aut pugnare prompti (Ready to carry or fight) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1962 |
Motto: Test and prove Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - 1953 |
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Oakhanger | Odiham | Old Sarum | Ouston |
Motto: Ultra Tellurerem Dico (I speak the truth) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - July 1974 |
Motto: Promise and fulfil Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1982 |
Motto: Semper inter primos (Ever amongst the first) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1963 |
Motto: Persist Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - 1953 |
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Patrington |
Pembroke Dock |
Penang* |
Port Ellen* |
Motto: Check Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - January 1958 as No 336 Signals Unit (renamed 1 Jan 1959) |
Motto: Gwylior gorllewinor awyr (To watch
the west from the air) Authorised: King George VI - January 1948 |
Based on Far East Air Force Badge |
Motto: Air muir is air tir (From land and sea) Authorised: King George VI - July 1943 |
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Portreath* |
Pucklechurch |
Rheindahlen |
Rudloe Manor* |
Based on No 1 Air Control Centre badge |
Motto: Alert Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - June 1958 |
Motto: Zealous in support Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - July 1975 |
Based on Signals Command badge |
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St Athan* |
St Eval | St Mawgan* | Salalah* |
Motto: Y siafft i flaen y bicell (Shaft for the spearhead) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - March 1971 |
Motto: Faith in our task Authorised: King George VI - October 1949 |
Motto: Vigila (Keep watch) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1958 |
Motto: Nusoor fee ard sadeeoa (Eagles in a friendly land) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - August 1966 |
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Sandwich | Saxa Vord | Scampton | Sek Kong* |
Motto: We take our toll Authorised: ? |
Motto: Praemoneo de periculuis I give advanced warning about danger) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - January 1960 as No 91 Signals Unit (renamed) |
Motto: Armatus non lacessitur (An armed man is not attacked) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1958 |
Based on RAF Hong Kong badge |
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Seletar | Shaibah* | Sharjah | Shawbury* |
Motto:
We watch all around Authorised: King George VI - March 1940 |
Based on No 84 Sqn badge |
Motto: Min al-barr ila al-sama (From the land to the sky) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - August 1962 |
Motto: Doceo duco volo (I teach, I guide, I fly) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1986 |
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South Cerney |
Spadeadam | Staxton Wold* | Steamer Point* |
Motto: Steadfast Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1952 |
Motto: Si vis parem para bellum (If you seek peace be ready for war) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1976 |
Motto:
Vigilamus et defendimus (We watch and we ward) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1978 |
Motto: Pro plurimus adasto (I stand ready on behalf of many) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - 1954 |
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Stornoway | Stradishall | Swanton Morley* | Syerston |
Motto: Lead and guide Authorised: King George VI - February 1945 |
Motto: Vires de caelo (Strength from the sky) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1955 |
Motto: Steadfast to serve Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1980 |
Motto:
Praesta in officus (Excel in duties) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - January 1967 |
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Sylt* | Ta kali | Tangmere | Tengah |
Motto: Unswerving Authorised: King George VI - January 1948 |
Motto: Equites nostri arma summunt (Our knights take up their arms) Authorised: King George VI - January 1943 |
Motto: Attack to defend Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - July 1953 |
Motto: Chergas (Alert) Authorised: King George VI - Febriuary 1951 |
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Thatcham* | Thorney Island | Topcliffe | Turnhouse |
Based on Support Command badge |
Motto: Fly to assist Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - September 1971 |
Motto: Qui operit caelum (Who covereth the heavens)Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - February 1957 |
Motto: Doriens Defende (In striking, defend) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - November 1954 |
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Upavon |
Upper Heyford* | Upwood | Uxbridge* |
Motto: In principio et semper (In the beginning and always) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1961 |
Based on Support Command badge |
Motto: Pro aris et focis (For health and home) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - December 1955 |
Motto:
Juventutem formamus (We form youth) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1953 |
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Valley | Waddington | Wartling | Waterbeach |
Motto: In adversis Perfugium (Refuge in adversity) Authorised: ? |
Motto: For faith and freedom Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - 1953 |
Motto: Detecta Destruantur (Let that which has been found be destroyed) Authorised: ? |
Motto: Flores Virtute Capesso (In courage I aim at the highest) Authorised: ? |
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Wattisham | Watton | West Drayton* | West Kirby* |
Motto: Supra Mare Supra Terramque (Above
the sea and above the land) Authorised: King George VI - August 1940 |
Motto: Adjutores multorem (In support of many) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - November 1965 |
Motto: Protect Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - November 1972 |
Motto: Strive to equal Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - April 1952 but withdrawn when Air Ministry realised there wasn't a separate SHQ only the resident No 5 School of Recruit Training |
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West Malling | West Raynham | Wildenrath | Wittering |
Motto: Portam custodimus (We guard the gate) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - July 1952 |
Motto:
Probitate et labore (By honesty and toil) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - July 1967 |
Motto: Immer Bereit (Always ready) Authorised: ? |
Motto: Strength is freedom Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - August 1955 |
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Woodbridge* | Woodvale* | Wythall* | Wyton |
Based on Support Command badge |
Based on Support Command badge |
Motto: Seek hear and guide Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - August 1955 |
Motto: Verum exquiro (Seek the truth) Authorised: Queen Elizabeth II - October 1956 |
All badges on this page are Crown Copyright and have been produced by Mary Denton on behalf of the RAF Heraldry Trust, being displayed on this page with the permission of the RAFHT, except those marked *. 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.
*These badges have been produced by Dave Clifford.
'X' indicates that a copy of the badge as been located and is awaiting sponsorship
© Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Directorate of Intellectual Property Rights
This page was last updated on 07/05/24