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The History of the RAF Roundel

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Since the introduction of the roundel on Royal Flying Corps aircraft in 1914 it has undergone various changes and modifications depending on the time period and type of aircraft being used and the role it performed. Whilst appearing in various guises during the First and Second World Wars after this period there have been less modifications to the roundel. Read about the history of the Royal Air Force roundel from 1914 to present day with images for each one.

Origins



Aircraft had been used for military purposes in the years preceding the First World War (1914 - 1918) in small numbers, however when war broke out on the 28th July 1914 aircraft would be used on a wide scale for the first time. This brought a new challenge for pilots and ground forces with the need to identify friendly and hostile aircraft quickly.

The First Roundel

The Armee de l'Air (French Air Force) would be the first air force to have national insignia painted on its military aircraft. The colours chosen were the blue, white and red of the French national cockade. These roundels were added to its aircraft from 1912.

French Air Service Roundel

It was during the first months of the First World War that this need to identify quickly became a pressing issue as a number of 'friendly fire' incidents occurred. The first solution implemented by the Royal Flying Corps, the precursor to the Royal Air Force, was to paint the Union Jack on the underside of the lower wing. Whilst at low-level this was adequate in enabling identification of the aircraft by ground forces, at higher altitude less of the flag was visible leading to misidentification.

The solution to this problem was suggested in a memo on the 29th October 1914 circulated by Major General David Henderson, Commanding Royal Flying Corps, British Army in the Field which was to copy a system used by the Armee de l'Air. This was a circle consisting of a red outer ring then white with a blue circle in the middle, the RFC version would have the blue and red reversed and be painted onto the wings only.

On the 12th November 1914 the wing roundel was officially introduced for all Royal Flying Corps aircraft and was followed on the 23rd June 1915 with a decision that the roundel should appear on the fuselage as well, replacing the Union Jack. This has been the standard roundel ever since.

Detailed below are the various roundels used by the Royal Flying Corps, later the Royal Air Force, since they were introduced during 1914.

First World War Roundels



Union Jack (1914 - 1915)
Union Jack (1914 - 1915)
The first means of identifying Royal Flying Corps aircraft was using the Union Jack. However, this ceased due to misidentification at high altitude with the German Maltese Cross.

Royal Flying Corps (1914 - 1918) roundel
Royal Flying Corps (1914 - 1918)
Copying the idea used by the French Air Service of a national cockade in the form of a roundel on aircraft but reversing the colours used by the French on their aircraft.


Royal Flying Corps (1916 – 1918) roundel
Royal Flying Corps (1916 – 1918)
Same colours as the RFC (1914 - 1918) roundel but using brighter versions.



Royal Flying Corps with white outline (1916 – 1918) roundel
Royal Flying Corps with White Outline (1916 – 1918)
After camouflage had been painted onto the aircraft, around the outside of the roundel a white outline was added.


Interwar Years Roundels



night bomber (1918 - 1938) roundel
Night Bomber (1918 - 1938)
As aircraft camouflage changed to help aircraft blend into their surroundings, blue would be the prevalent colour with a red circle in the middle.


Royal Air Force (1920 – 1939) roundel
Royal Air Force (1920 – 1939)
The standard interwar roundel was the same as the one used by the Royal Flying Corps between 1916 – 1918.


camouflaged surfaces (1937 – 1939) roundel
Camouflaged Surfaces (1937 – 1939)
Painted onto all the camouflaged surfaces of an aircraft until March 1939.



upper surfaces (1937 – 1945) roundel
Upper Surfaces (1937 – 1945)
The same design as the night bomber (1918 – 1938) roundel but appearing on top of the wings only.


Second World War Roundels



Royal Air Force (1939 – 1942) roundel
Royal Air Force (1939 – 1942)
Painted on the fuselage of aircraft, until superseded by the next two roundels, but would still be used on the underside of aircraft until 1942.


early war modified (1939 – 1941) roundel
Early War Modified (1939 – 1941)
The standard interwar (1920 – 1939) roundel with a yellow ring added to make identification of friendly aircraft easier.


fuselage (1940 – 1942) roundel
Fuselage (1940 – 1942)
The same as the camouflaged surfaces (1937 – 1939) roundel but painted onto the fuselage only until July 1942.


night flying (1939 – 1942) roundel
Night Flying (1939 – 1942)
Painted on both bombers that operated at night and night fighters on the fuselage.



fuselage and upper surfaces (1940 – 1947) roundel
Fuselage and Upper Surfaces (1940 – 1947)
Used on photo reconnaissance aircraft painted in PRU Blue or 'high altitude' camouflage colours.



fuselage (1942 – 1947) roundel
Fuselage (1942 – 1947)
Also appeared on the top of the wing, if it was a dark colour, of selected aircraft.



underside and fuselage (1942 – 1947) roundel
Underside and Fuselage (1942 – 1947)
Used on aircraft which had light surfaces.



South East Asia Command (1942) roundel
South East Asia Command (1942)
The standard fuselage roundel but with the red inside removed, to avoid confusion with Japanese aircraft, but soon superseded by the next roundel.


South East Asia Command (1942 – 1945) roundel
South East Asia Command (1942 – 1945)
With Japanese aircraft having red on their aircraft this two-tone blue roundel was introduced for aircraft being used in the Far East to make distinguishing between friendly and enemy aircraft easier.


Royal Australian Air Force (1942 - 1945) roundel
Royal Australian Air Force (1942 - 1945)
With Royal Air Force aircraft involved in helping the RAAF defend Australia, they also had the same roundel to aid in identification.


Royal Aircraft Establishment (1945) roundel
Royal Aircraft Establishment (1945)
This was originally selected to be the standard post-war roundel but in 1947 the Vice Chief of the Air Staff rejected it.


Post-War Roundels



Royal Air Force (1947 onwards) roundel
Royal Air Force (1947 onwards)
The current standard RAF roundel.



V-Force (1955 – 1964) roundel
V-Force (1955 – 1964)
Used on the three aircraft that made up the RAF's V-Force, the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant, when they were painted in anti-flash white.


low visibility (1970s onwards) roundel
Low Visibility (1970s onwards)
Used since the 1970s for aircraft painted in traditional camouflage design.



modern low visibility (1990 onwards) roundel
Modern Low Visibility (1990 onwards)
With modern aircraft normally painted in a grey colour this low visibility roundel was introduced.



modern training roundel
Modern Training
Same as the current standard roundel, but with a white outline.



stealth roundel
Stealth Roundel
To be used by the Royal Air Force squadrons operating the F-35B Lightning II. This will differ more from previous roundels as it will be built into rather than painted onto the aircraft.


Squadron Roundels

Some RAF squadrons had what were known as squadron roundels which saw markings or images painted on both sides of the roundel on the fuselage of the aircraft.
No. 23 Squadron roundel
No. 23 Squadron
No. 85 Squadron roundel
No. 85 Squadron
No. 613 Squadron roundel
No. 613 Squadron

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