Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

RAF Non-Commissioned Ranks

Technician Trades 1950 - 1964

NCO ranks were adapted mainly from those used by the RFC.  After WW2 new NCO ranks were introduced to differentiate between Technical and Non-Technical trades and between ground trades and NCO aircrew.  Until 1950 all ground tradesmen wore the same rank badges, however in that year an additional rank structure was introduced and during this period there were two separate rank structures - 'Technical' and 'Command'. It was quite normal to move between the two structures while still being within a Technical trade.

The Technician ranks indicated levels of technical qualifications (as tested by Trade Boards) and did not indicate 'command' capabilities, whilst the Command ranks indicated levels of command authority (as determined and recommended by Officer appraisal of various functions - Squadrons, Radio Servicing Flights, Aircraft Servicing Flights, etc.)

Leading   Aircraftman/woman		Introduced in 1918 as a trade classification.  It became a part of the RAF disciplinary rank structure on 1 January 1951.
Senior Aircraftman /woman		Introduced on 1 January 1951 as an intermediate rank between LAC and Junior Technician.
Junior Technician  (1950 - 1964)		Introduced in 1950 as a new rank lower than Corporal. trades.  The rank was retained in 1964, but the badge was changed to that shown on the next page.
Corporal Technician  (1950 - 1964)		Introduced in 1950 for Corporals in Technical trades.  Corporal Technicians reverted to traditional rank badge in 1964.
Senior Technician (1950 - 1964)		Introduced in 1950 for Sergeants in Technical trades.  Senior Technicians reverted to the rank of Sergeant in 1964.
Chief Technician  (a: 1950 - 1952) (b: 1952 - 1964)	a) b)	Introduced in 1950 for Flight Sergeants in Technical trades.  Chief Technicians were retained in 1964, but as a new rank between that of Sergeant and Flight Sergeant.
Flight Sergeant (a: 1950 - 1951) (b: 1964 - present)	a)   b)	Introduced in 1918 for all trades. Replaced by rank of Chief Technician in 1950 but re-introduced as intermediate rank between Chief Technician and Warrant Officer in 1964. Queen's Crown replaced the Kings Crown in 1952.
Master Technician		Introduced in 1918 as the senior Non-Commissioned rank.  Became the only Warrant rank in 1939. In 1950 Warrant Officers in Technical trades were renamed Master Technicians.  They reverted to the rank of Warrant Officer in 1964.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, it is likely that the crown on RAF badges will be changed from St Edward's (Queen's) Crown to the Tudor (King's) Crown.

Air Ministry Order A342/41 dated 13 May 1941, described the relative ranks of the RAF to those of the Free French Air Force: -

This entry was last updated on 14/06/25^©

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