Aces in Thread

Every squadron of the Royal Air Force carries its own identity in the form of a distinctive badge, often referred to as a crest. These embroidered insignia are more than decoration – they are compact pieces of history, shaped by tradition, service, and the personalities behind them.

In the years leading up to the Second World War, such patches were commonly worn on coveralls, marking out affiliation and pride. Many designs echo the earliest days of aviation, when markings were painted directly onto aircraft, often improvised, sometimes personal, but always meaningful.

No. 48 Squadron offers one of the most intriguing examples. Its red triangle, still central to the crest today, traces back to the First World War, when pilots would paste Bass beer bottle labels onto their aircraft while on operations. What began as a small, human touch became permanent heraldry. Behind that symbol sits an extraordinary record. Formed in 1916 and deployed to France in 1917 as the first squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighter, No. 48 Squadron counted 32 aces among its ranks. It drew pilots from both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service, with a belief at the time that naval aviators were among the very best, given the added challenge of landing on a moving ship at sea.

Other crests are tied to defining moments. No. 617 Squadron, forever linked to the Dambusters raid of 1943, bears the image of a breached dam, a direct reference to its wartime legacy. In contrast, the Air Operations School adopts a bee and honeycomb, reflecting the complexity and coordination found in nature itself.

Collectors are often drawn to the craftsmanship as much as the stories. Early UK-made silk examples, with their fine detail and texture, are particularly desirable. Some favour pieces that show signs of service wear, valuing the connection to those who wore them, while others prefer pristine examples, a preference often seen among American collectors.

Each crest tells its own story – a blend of symbolism, history, and identity, preserved in thread.