Front

Front

Reverse

Reverse

Internet Image

Internet Image

Canton

Canton

Canton-Reverse

Canton-Reverse

Emblem

Emblem

Emblem-Reverse

Emblem-Reverse

Bottom Left Corner

Bottom Left Corner

Top Right Corner

Top Right Corner

Bottom Right Corner

Bottom Right Corner

Top Left Corner

Top Left Corner

ZFC3287

UK Royal Air Force Ensign.

Sub-collection: Jim Mountain Military Historical Sub-collection

U.K. Royal Air Force Ensign
This is sewn, wool Royal Air Force (RAF) Ensign from World War II, acquired with an POW embroidered RAF Glider pilots wing insignia and several WWII cloth maps of Europe.

The RAF Ensign is used only on RAF installation and bases from freestanding flagpoles, it is never paraded. It was adopted in 1920 after a contentious round of discussion involving the Admiralty, The War Office and the Air Ministry. The Royal Navy, who relented only after King George intervened, initially opposed it.

The Royal Air Force Ensign is flown daily at established RAF stations. It was acquired with other WWII glider related material it is likely that it was from a base associated with the Glider Pilot Regiment.

It has been speculated that the pilot who acquired this flag did so from his duty station, after his release from captivity, as the RAF Glider pilot wing insignia with which it was acquired was made while the pilot was a POW, perhaps one of the glider pilots captured on D-Day.

From the Jim Mountain grouping related to the Royal Air Force Glider Pilot Regiment which included a wool RAF flag; a 7 1/2" x 11" , framed, POW embroidered United Kingdom Army Flying Badge ('Lion With Blue Wings') insignia with text beneath "Army Air Corp (Glider Pilot)" piece measures and 5 air corps maps of Europe.

Provenance: Acquired at auction, Alderfer Auctions, Hatfield, PA, 9 September 2009

ZFC Significant Flag

Sources:



Royal Air Force Ensign, Wikipedia, 18 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Ensign

The Royal Air Force Ensign, Royal Air Force, 18 October 2011, from: http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/theroyalairforceensign.cfm

Glider Pilot Regiment, Wikipedia, 18 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glider_Pilot_Regiment.

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection


RTZFC



Hoist & Fly

Width of Hoist 36
Length of Fly 72

Union/Canton

Width of Union/Canton 16.25
Length of Union/Canton 34

Stripes

Size of Hoist 1.75

Frame

Is it framed? no

Stars

Are there stars on obverse? no
Are there stars on reverse? no

Stripes

Has a Blood Stripe? no

Crest/Emblem

Description of Crest/Emblem RAF Roundel in fly

Nationality

Nation Represented United Kingdom

Fabric

Fabric Wool

Stitching

Stitching Machine

Weave

Type of Weave Plain

Attachment

Comments on Method of Attachmen plain
Method of Attachment Sleeve

Applica

Applique Sides Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation

Documents
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition

Condition Good
Damage Flag is used, worn, frayed at fly corners and slightly soiled.
Displayable yes

Date

Date 1921-1945