RAF ensign

[europe172]

Sat in Padstow harbour and there a yacht flying the RAF ensign, anyone know who you should be to fly this?

 

[RobbieW]

If its this one...

...its a RAFSA member. If its similar but dark blue and without the roundel behind the eagle, its RAFYC

 

[europe172]

If its this one...
View attachment 119388
...its a RAFSA member. If its similar but dark blue and without the roundel behind the eagle, its RAFYC

No , it has the roundel without the eagle , he is flying the rafsa burgee

 

[sarabande]

err, "wearing" an ensign....

 

[europe172]

err, "wearing" an ensign....

Definition of ensign

1: a flag that is flown (as by a ship) as the symbol of nationality and that may also be flown with a distinctive badge added to its design

 

[Caraway]

Burgee - The burgee takes the next most senior position on the vessel which is the main masthead. Only one burgee may be flown on the vessel. It is now also common practice to fly the burgee at the starboard spreaders, however, no other flag may be flown above the burgee on the same halyard. Motor boats without a mast can fly the burgee from a staff on the bow or over the bridge / wheelhouse.

Special Ensign - A special or privileged Ensign must be worn in accordance with the warrant and permit governing its use and if required by the warrant and permit should never be worn without its corresponding burgee.

flag-etiquette (RYA)

 

[capnsensible]

Oh no, a flag thread. ?




Um, what anchor did the boat have?

 

[capnsensible]

I got a Blue Ensign coz I'm entitled. ???

 

[europe172]

I got a Blue Ensign coz I'm entitled. ???

Yes , but who is entitled to fly the raf ensign ? Wikipedia says an air attachee , whatever that is

 

[Slipstream 34]

Anyone in the crabs who wished they had joined the Senior Service ?.

 

[capnsensible]

To fly that ensign is it necessary to demonstrate the ability to walk sideways?

In two threads I've now insulted two out of four.....

 

[sarabande]

Definition of ensign

1: a flag that is flown (as by a ship) as the symbol of nationality and that may also be flown with a distinctive badge added to its design

That's a Merriam Webster definition, and they are owned by Encyclopedia Britannica, which is owned by a Swiss chappy. The Swiss don't have much of a navy, so one cannot expect them to use difficult technical terms...

 

[davethedog]

I got a Blue Ensign coz I'm entitled. ???

Same here! LOL

 

[europe172]

I don’t know, ask a reasonable question and get baited, I guess he is just a Walter wishing he was in the RAF , perhaps he is ex navy

 

[Neeves]

So am I, (entitled) - they are quite common here - must be annoying to those that are specially entitled, mine has stars - how many stars do you have!

Jonathan.

If I was from NZ my stars would be more pretty, with fancy colours. . . !!!!!

Jonathan

 

[Koeketiene]

So am I, (entitled) - they are quite common here - must be annoying to those that are specially entitled, mine has stars - how many stars do you have!

No stars, but mine does have a crown in it.

 

[JNKScot]

Yes , but who is entitled to fly the raf ensign ? Wikipedia says an air attachee , whatever that is

Are they not the ones that used to be hoisted above the flight deck by an aircraft after landing; the ones you can see, alongside of the Civil Air Ensign, in pictures taken in the 1930s of H.P. 42s, A.W. Atalantas etc. at Croydon?

 

[europe172]

It is this one

 

[nortada]

Sat in Padstow harbour and there a yacht flying the RAF ensign, anyone know who you should be to fly this?

Me.

 

[Slowboat35]

Wiki says...

Use on sea-going craft[edit]
The RAF Ensign was flown by vessels belonging to the RAF Marine Branch including those sea-going craft assigned to the Air Sea Rescue Service.
Although the 1921 Order in Council gave the RAF the authority to display the Ensign as they saw fit, the Admiralty maintained that the Order did not supersede the regulations of the Merchant Shipping Act. In 1947 His Majesty's Customs and Excise took control of an RAF vessel on the basis that the RAF Ensign it displayed was illegal. After the incident, air force vessels continued to display the RAF Ensign.
Modern usage[edit]

The ensign at RAF Honington
The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff of every Royal Air Force station during daylight hours. Ordinarily, it is hoisted and hauled down by the station's duty NCO and saluted by the station's orderly officer. The Ensign may also be hoisted or hauled down during a parade.
As the professional head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff may fly the RAF Ensign. Air Attachés and the Heads of RAF Missions may also fly the RAF Ensign. It is also flown daily from the Ministry of Defence building in Whitehall, London.[2]
In the general British flag precedence, the Royal Air Force Ensign is just below the Royal Navy's White Ensign and just above the Blue and Red Ensigns. The only exception to this rule is when the RAF Ensign is being flown in place of the Union Flag when it takes that flag's precedence.[3]


I'm sure the chances are that the one in Padstow is is actually the RAFYC ensign that has been misidentified, unless the owner of the yacht is one of the Air Staff mentioned above (and I doubt very much that they would use it on a personal vessel). While there are Walts about I doubt many would dare to try such a thing on as they'd be challenged pretty quickly by those who served under it and who would be offended by it's misuse.
Tens of thousands died serving under that ensign and it would be an affont to them and to all who served to have it misused in such a crass manner.


This is the Civil Air Ensign, perfectly acceptable on your own Sunderland or (PBY) Catalina...