I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to outline the process by which an RAF unit was/is granted an official badge, and just what qualifies as an official crest. The reason I ask is that there appear to be a number of significant organisations and units that apparently have no official badge or crest, such as 4 Group Bomber Command (all the other Bomber Command groups were granted one).
On a related note, is anyone familiar with the work of the RAF Heraldry Trust? As far as I’m aware, it’s possible to sponsor a painting of an existing unit crest for inclusion in the heraldic archives at Cranwell. Would it also be possible to sponsor the creation of a badge and also have it recognised as the official crest of that unit??
By: northeagle - 28th February 2011 at 21:45
Graham Simons has it right: the College of Arms clears the badges, devices, colours and motto’s.
However, the rules can also be bent making unofficial/official badges and or motto’s.
Photo shows a Hawker Demon of 607 Squadron: the device was granted the motto was not. The squadron want the word ‘UP’ the herald would not allow it. After some tooing and froing between squadron CO Runciman and the Herald they decided there should be no official motto.
The device was retained but was depicted in the Fighter Command arrowhead turned to the UP position rather than straight ahead: Unofficially 607 Squadron had it’s motto ‘UP’.
By: GrahamSimons - 28th February 2011 at 20:39
As far as I am aware, it’s all done via the Royal College of Heralds in London. explained here:
http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/About/01.htm
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February 28, 2011 at 8:24 pm