Royal Australian Air Force Officer Distinguishing Flags

Last modified: 2016-03-05 by ian macdonald
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• RAAF Officer Distinguishing Flags
  • Marshal of the RAAF
  • Air Chief Marshal
  • Air Marshal
  • Air Vice Marshal
  • Air Commodore
  • Group Captain
  • Wing Commander
  • Squadron Leader
  • Junior Officer

• Air Force Staff Flags
• Air Force Flags
• Australia
• Other Australian Flags

Chapter 11, Annex J of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site, depicts "RAAF Officer Distinguishing Flags," all 2:3.

The distinguishing flag of the officer commanding, or the officer temporarily commanding a base or independent unit is flown at the masthead at all times. It is only to be replaced by the Queen's Personal Flag for Australia, Royal Standards of Members of The Royal Family, or The Governor-General, whenever such personages are on the base or unit.

by Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

Marshal of the RAAF - Horizontal stripes, 1 unit dark blue, 1 unit light blue, 2 units red, 1 unit light blue, and 1 unit dark blue (making the flag 6 units hoist by 9 units fly) with five dark blue six-pointed stars arranged in a pentagon on the light blue and red area.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

No Australian has ever held this rank, so this flag is theoretical only.
Miles Li, 22 November 2003

The Duke of Edinburgh (a British subject) does hold this rank, but as a member of the Royal Family he uses his personal banner of arms in all situations when the flag of the MRAAF would ordinarily be used.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

Air Chief Marshal - Horizontal stripes, 1 unit dark blue, 1 unit light blue, 2 units red, 1 unit light blue, and 1 unit dark blue (making the flag 6 units hoist by 9 units fly) with four stars horizontally on the red stripe.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

Air Marshal - Horizontal stripes, 1 unit dark blue, 1 unit light blue, 2 units red, 1 unit light blue, and 1 unit dark blue (making the flag 6 units hoist by 9 units fly) with three stars horizontally on the red stripe.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

Air Vice Marshal - Horizontal stripes, 1 unit dark blue, 1 unit light blue, 2 units red, 1 unit light blue, and 1 unit dark blue (making the flag 6 units hoist by 9 units fly) with two stars horizontally on the red stripe.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

Air Vice Marshal - Horizontal stripes, 1 unit dark blue, 1 unit light blue, 2 units red, 1 unit light blue, and 1 unit dark blue (making the flag 6 units hoist by 9 units fly) with one star on the red stripe. Note that this flag is not swallowtailed as in the British RAF
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

Group Captain - Swallowtailed, light blue with dark blue stripes top and bottom (each 1/6 of hoist) and four narrow red horizontal stripes evenly spaced on the light blue.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 22 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003

Wing Commander - Light blue, 2:3, swallowtailed; dark blue stripes along the top and bottom, each 1/6 of hoist in width, three narrow red horizontal stripes on the light blue field.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003

Squadron Leader - Light blue triangle, 2:3, with dark blue stripes along the upper and lower edges, and three narrow horizontal stripes across the light blue area, red, dark blue, and red.
Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003

by Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003

Junior officer - Narrow light blue triangle, bordered as for squadron leader, with a single narrow red horizontal stripe across the center. Source: Chapter 11, Annex J, of the RAAF Manual of Ceremonial, AAP 5135.002, which is downloadable at this Air Cadet Corps site.
Joe McMillan, 23 November 2003