RAF battle honours

Battle Honours are awarded by the Sovereign to Royal Air Force squadrons to commemorate the squadron's role in a particular operation.

This practice was inherited by the RAF from its Army and Navy predecessors upon its creation in 1918. Several squadrons therefore carry honours awarded when they were a part of the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service. Battle honours are not awarded for every operation conducted by British forces and not every squadron taking part in an operation is entitled to emblazon the honour on their standard, only those involved in contact with the enemy.

In 1943, King George VI approved the award of a Standard to RAF squadrons who have 25 years of service in either the RAF, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Naval Air Service or Royal Flying Corps. Standards can also be awarded to units which have "earned the King's appreciation for outstanding operations". A squadron can embroider the names of up to 10 battle honours on its standard, known as "emblazoning the honour".

Below is lists of battle honours which may be claimed by RAF squadrons.

First World War Battle honours

Inter-War Battle Honours

Second World War Battle honours

For operations in support of the Allied landings in Italy 9–16 September 1943.
For operations by fighter, bomber and transport squadrons in support of the First and Second Arakan Offensives, November 1942 to February 1943 and November 1943 to March 1944.
For operations over the Arctic by squadrons of Coastal Command based in Iceland, Russia and Shetland.
For squadrons participating in the operations of the Allied Airborne Army, 17–26 September 1944.
For operations by aircraft of Coastal Command and others employed in the coastal role over the Atlantic Ocean from the outbreak of war to VE Day.
For interception operations by fighter squadrons over Britain, August to October 1940.
For bombardment of Berlin by aircraft of Bomber Command.
For operations over the Bay of Biscay by aircraft of Coastal and Fighter Commands, and of Bomber Command loaned to Coastal Command between the fall of France and VE Day, 25 June 1940 to 8 May 1945.
For squadrons participating in the Combined Operations Dieppe Raid (Dieppe, France) on 19 August 1942.
For operations covering the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and the French from Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo), 26 May to 4 June 1940.

Post 1945 Battle honours

Limited to the three RAF Sunderland flying boat squadrons which flew patrols during the Korean War but were not involved in confrontation with the enemy. Not authorised to be emblazoned. See Korean War.
For service in latitudes between 35° and 60° South during the period 2 April to 14 June 1982. Three of the RAF squadrons involved (Nos. 1, 18 Squadrons and 63 Squadron RAF Regiment) have the right of emblazonment. See Falklands War.
For operations against Iraqi invasion forces in Kuwait January–March 1991. See Gulf War
RAF participation in, or direct support to, the allied air campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the period 24 March to 20 June 1999. Nos 1, 9, 14 and 31 Squadrons have the right to emblazonment, Nos 7, 8, 23, 51, 101 and 216 Squadrons do not.
RAF support of Invasion of Iraq. See Operation Telic

References

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