RAF battle honours facts for kids
Imagine a special award for brave actions! Battle Honours are like special badges of honor given to RAF squadrons. The King or Queen gives these awards. They celebrate a squadron's important part in a battle or mission.
The RAF got this tradition from the Army and Navy. This happened when the RAF was formed in 1918. Some squadrons even have honours from when they were part of the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service. Not every mission gets an honour. Only squadrons that fought directly against the enemy can earn one.
In 1943, King George VI said RAF squadrons could get a special flag called a "Standard". This flag is given if a squadron has served for 25 years. This includes time in the RAF, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Naval Air Service, or Royal Flying Corps. Standards can also be given for "outstanding operations" that the King admired. A squadron can sew up to 10 battle honours onto its Standard. This is called "emblazoning the honour".
Contents
Battle Honours from World War I
The First World War (1914-1918) saw many new ways of fighting. Aircraft played a big role for the first time. RAF squadrons earned honours for their bravery in key battles.
- Amiens
- Arras, 1917
- Cambrai, 1917
- East Africa, 1916–18
- Egypt, 1915–17
- Gaza
- Hindenburg Line
- Home Defence, 1916–1918 (protecting Britain)
- Italian Front & Adriatic, 1917–18
- Loos
- Lys
- Mesopotamia, 1915–1918
- Messines, 1917
- Mons
- Neuve Chappelle
- North West Frontier, 1916–1918
- Somme, 1916
- Somme, 1918
- Western Front, 1916–17
- Western Front, 1917–18
- Ypres, 1917
- Megiddo 1918
Battle Honours Between the World Wars
After World War I, the RAF was still busy. They took part in many smaller conflicts around the world. These operations often involved keeping peace or helping British interests.
- Aden 1928, 1929, 1934
- Afghanistan 1919–1920
- Burma 1930–1932
- Iraq 1919–1920, 1923–1925, 1928–1929
- Kurdistan 1919, 1922–1924, 1930–1931
- Mahsud 1919–1920
- Mohmand 1927, 1933
- Northern Kurdistan 1932
- Northern Russia 1918–1919
- North West Frontier 1930–1931, 1935–1939
- North West Persia 1920
- Palestine 1936–1939
- Somaliland 1920
- South Persia 1918–1919
- South Russia 1919–1920
- Sudan 1920
- Transjordan 1924
- Waziristan 1919–1925
Battle Honours from World War II
World War II (1939-1945) was a huge global conflict. The RAF played a vital role in many battles. They fought in the air, supported ground troops, and protected supply routes.
- Anzio and Nettuno
- For helping the Allied landings in Italy in September 1943.
- Arakan 1942–1944
- For fighter, bomber, and transport squadrons helping in the Arakan Offensives (November 1942 to March 1944).
- Arctic 1940–1945
- For operations over the Arctic by Coastal Command squadrons.
- Arnhem 1944
- For squadrons involved in the Allied Airborne Army operations (September 1944).
- Atlantic 1939–1945
- For Coastal Command aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean throughout the war.
- Baltic 1939–1945
- For Bomber and Coastal Commands over the Baltic Sea.
- Battle of Britain 1940
- For fighter squadrons defending Britain (August to October 1940).
- Berlin 1940–1945
- For Bomber Command attacking Berlin.
- Biscay 1940–1945
- For operations over the Bay of Biscay by various commands.
- Biscay Ports 1940–1945
- For operations over the Bay of Biscay ports.
- Bismarck
- For Coastal Command helping against the Bismarck (May 1941).
- Burma 1944–1945
- For operations during the 14th Army's advance in Burma (August 1944 to August 1945).
- Ceylon 1942
- For defending Ceylon against Japanese attacks (April 1942).
- Channel And North Sea 1939–1945
- For ship attacks, anti-submarine, and mining operations.
- Dieppe
- For squadrons taking part in the Combined Operations Dieppe Raid (August 1942).
- Dunkirk
- For covering the evacuation of British and French forces from Dunkirk (May to June 1940).
- East Africa 1940–1941
- For operations during the conquest of Italian East Africa.
- Eastern Waters 1941–1945
- For operations over waters east of the Mediterranean and Red Sea.
- Egypt And Libya 1942–1943
- For defending Egypt and conquering Libya.
- El Alamen
- For operations during the retreat to El Alamein (June to November 1942).
- El Hamma
- For supporting the Battle of the Mareth Line (March 1943).
- Fortress Europe 1940–1944
- For attacks on targets in Germany and enemy-occupied Europe.
- France And Germany 1944–1945
- For operations during the liberation of north-west Europe.
- France And Low Countries 1939–1940
- For operations between the start of the war and the fall of France.
- German Ports 1940–1945
- For bombing German ports.
- Greece 1940–1941
- For operations during the Italian and German invasion of Greece.
- Gothic Line
- For supporting the breaking of the Gothic Line (August to September 1944).
- Gustav Line
- For squadrons in operations against the Gustav Line (May 1944).
- Habbaniya
- For units defending RAF Habbaniya (April to May 1941).
- Home Defence 1940–1945
- For defending Great Britain against enemy aircraft and flying bombs.
- Invasion Ports 1940
- For bombing German-occupied Channel ports to stop invasion plans.
- Iraq 1941
- For operations against Rashid Ali's rebellion (May 1941).
- Italy 1943–1945
- For operations over Italy.
- Madagascar 1942
- For South African Air Force squadrons during landings in Madagascar.
- Malaya 1941–1942
- For operations against the Japanese in Malaya and nearby islands.
- Malta 1940–1942
- For squadrons operating from Malta during enemy attacks.
- Manipur 1944
- For supporting besieged forces at Imphal (March to July 1944).
- Mediterranean 1940–1943
- For operations over the Mediterranean area.
- Meuse Bridges
- For bombing operations against crossings of the Meuse river (May 1940).
- Normandy 1944
- For supporting the Allied landings in Normandy (June to August 1944).
- North Africa 1942–1943
- For operations in the campaign in French North Africa.
- North Burma 1943–1944
- For air supply and support in North Burma.
- Norway 1940
- For operations over Norway during the German invasion.
- Pacific 1941–1945
- For operations against the Japanese in the Pacific.
- Rhine
- For supporting the battle for the Rhine crossing (February to March 1945).
- Ruhr 1940–1945
- For Bomber Command attacking the Ruhr Area.
- Russia 1941–1945
- For operations from Russian bases.
- Salerno
- For supporting Allied landings in Italy (September 1943).
- Sicily 1943
- For operations helping to conquer Sicily (July to August 1943).
- South East Europe 1942–1945
- For operations over Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece.
- Special Operations
- For squadrons helping resistance movements in enemy-occupied countries.
- Syria 1941
- For operations over Syria against the Vichy French (June to July 1941).
- The Dams
- For squadrons breaking the Mohne, Eder, Serpe, and Kembs Dams (May 1943 to October 1944). See Operation Chastise.
- Tirpitz
- For operations that sank the Tirpitz.
- Walcheren
- For supporting the capture of Walcheren island (October to November 1944).
Battle Honours After 1945
The RAF has continued to serve in conflicts around the world after World War II. They have earned new battle honours for their bravery and support in these missions.
- Korea 1950–1953
- This honour was for three RAF Sunderland flying boat squadrons. They flew patrols during the Korean War. However, they were not directly involved in fighting the enemy. So, this honour cannot be sewn onto their Standard.
- South Atlantic 1982
- For service during the Falklands War (April to June 1982). Three RAF squadrons can sew this honour onto their Standard: 1, 18 Squadrons, and 63 Squadron RAF Regiment.
- Gulf 1991
- Bosnia 1995
- For RAF support in the air campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. IV(AC) and 6 Squadrons can emblazon this honour.
- Kosovo
- Sierra Leone 2000
- For RAF support during the UK military action in Sierra Leone. 7 Squadron can emblazon this honour.
- Iraq 2003
- For RAF support during the Invasion of Iraq. See Operation Telic.
- Afghanistan 2001-2014
- For RAF support to operations in Afghanistan (Operation Herrick).
