Aviator badge

An Aviator Badge is an insignia used in most of the world’s militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation. Also known as a Pilot’s Badge, or Pilot Wings, the Aviator Badge was first conceived to recognize the training that military aviators receive, as well as provide a means to outwardly differentiate between military pilots and the “foot soldiers” of the regular ground forces.

United States

United States Aviator Badge
Type	Badge
Presented by	United States Armed Forces
Status	Currently awarded
Established	Second World War
First awarded	Second World War
Last awarded	On going
Army Precedence
Next (higher)	Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Next (lower)	Astronaut Device

A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States Armed Forces, those being for Air Force, Army, and Naval (to include Marine and Coast Guard) aviation.

Air Force Pilot and Army Aviator Badges are issued in three ratings: Basic, Senior, and Command (Air Force)/Master (Army). The higher degrees are denoted by a star or star with wreath above the badge. Air Force regulations state that the basic rating denotes completion of specified training and that the advanced ratings denote experience levels. The Naval Aviator Badge is issued to pilots upon designation as a Naval Aviator for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators who successfully complete flight training. There is a single badge design regardless of an individual’s further qualifications.

United States Air Force

Main article: Badges of the United States Air Force § Aviation Badges

World War I

The first United States Aviator Badges were issued to members of the Air Service during World War I. The badges were issued in three degrees: Observer (a "US" shield and one left-side wing), Junior Aviator or Reserve Aviation Officer (a "US" shield between two wings), and Senior Aviator (a star over "US" shield between two wings). The Army Air Service also issued a badge for balloon pilots, known as the Aeronaut Badge.

Enlisted Aviators wore their regular rank insignia and the Observer's badge. There were 29 enlisted pilots before the American entry into World War I. The second enlisted aviator, William A. Lamkey, got a discharge and flew for Pancho Villa. The remaining enlisted pilots received commissions in 1917. There were 60 enlisted mechanics who were trained as pilots in France during the war, but they were used for ferrying duties and did not fly in combat. The recruiting and training of enlisted Aviators ended in 1933.

World War II

Command Pilot Badge, World War II U.S. Army Air Forces design and current U.S. Air Force regulation insignia.

Senior Pilot Badge, World War II U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force sample image.

During World War II, with the rise of the Army Air Forces, a second series of aviator badges were issued to include a design that has survived to the modern day. The Pilot Badge was issued in three degrees, including Pilot, Senior Pilot, and Command Pilot. A polished silver colored version of these badges is currently used as the United States Air Force Pilot Badges.

From August 1941 to November 1942, the Enlisted Aviator program was restarted. Candidates had to be at least 18, possess a high school diploma, and have graduated at the top of their high school class. Graduates were rated as Flight Staff Sergeants or Flight Technical Sergeants and wore the same pilot's wings as officers. They were usually assigned to pilots of transport and auxiliary aircraft to free officer pilots to pilot the more prestigious fighters and bombers. Auxiliary pilots received their own special wings to indicate their status and specialty. In November 1942 all enlisted pilots were promoted to Flight Officer rank and enlisted cadets were graded as Flight Officers or Second Lieutenants depending on merit. The qualifying requirements for the Senior Pilot Wings are: Seven (7) years as rated pilot and permanent award of pilot rating. Plus 2000 total hours or 1300 hours primary and instructor flight (refer to U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating for details).

Independent Air Force

In 1947, the U.S. Army Air Forces became its own separate service as the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force use the same pilot's badges as the earlier USAAF design, except that starting in the mid-1990s, they began to be made of chrome metal or sterling silver rather than the dull alloy wings used by the Army Air Forces and Air Force from 1947 to the mid-1990s. The U.S. Air Force currently issues several aviation badges including pilot, combat systems officer (formerly navigator), air battle manager, flight surgeon, flight nurse, non-rated officer aircrew, and enlisted aircrew. The requirements to earn these are listed here.

United States Army

After the creation of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service in 1947, Army Aviation continued to a degree that warranted a new badge for Army Aviators (who piloted light observation and liaison airplanes and helicopters). The result was the creation of the Army Aviator Badge, which is a modified version of the U.S. Air Force Pilot Badge. It comes in three grades: Basic, Senior (7 years' service and 1,000 flight hours, pilot-in-command status), and Master (15 years' service and 2,000 flight hours, pilot-in-command status). The Aviator and Senior Aviator Badges were approved on 27 July 1950 and the Master Aviator Badge was approved on 12 February 1957.

United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard

Main article: United States Naval Aviator

The aviator badge currently used in the Navy has remained virtually unchanged since it was first issued on 13 November 1917. The Naval Aviator Badge is earned by all U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard pilots upon graduation from advanced flight training. Additional aviator badges exist for Naval Flight Officers (USN & USMC), Naval Flight Surgeons, Naval Aviation Physiologists, Naval Flight Nurses, Naval Aviation Observers (USN & USMC) and enlisted Naval Aircrewman (USN, USMC & USCG). Naval Aviators' badges are gold in color. Unlike the Air Force and the Army, the naval services do not employ senior or command/master aeronautical ratings.

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps

NOAA Aviator insignia

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Aviator Insignia is a gold-colored pin, winged, with a central device consisting of a fouled anchor surcharged with a NOAA Corps device. NOAA Corps officer pilots and navigators may wear the NOAA aviator insignia after authorization by the Director of the NOAA Corps.

NASA

Astronaut Device worn on aviation badges of the United States Military

Main article: Astronaut Badge

With the dawn of the Space Age, all of the United States Aviator badges are upgradable to the Astronaut Badge, for those military members who become astronauts.

See also

• Badges of the United States Air Force
• Badges of the United States Army
• Badges of the United States Coast Guard
• Badges of the United States Marine Corps
• Badges of the United States Navy
• Aircrew Badge
• Flight Officer Badge
• Naval Aviator Badge
• Navigator Badge
• Observer Badge
• Astronaut Badge
• Military badges of the United States
• Obsolete badges of the United States military

British Commonwealth

The current aviator badge of the Royal Air Force has been in use since the Second World War. The badge consists of a winged crown and wreath, beneath which are the letters "RAF". The Royal Air Force also uses a "half wing" version to denote Aviation Observers.

For the American equivalent, see Aircrew Badge.

An aircrew flying badge (unofficially and incorrectly known as an aircrew brevet – which is actually French for a diploma or certificate) is the badge worn on the left breast, above any medal ribbons, by qualified aircrew in the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army, Indian Air Force, Pakistan Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, South African Air Force and Sri Lanka Air Force. An example of a real pilot brevet (i.e. certificate) is as opposite:<onlyinclude>

Balloon pilot's licence certificate (or "brevet") issued by the Aéro-Club de France to Paul Tissandier in 1904

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force Pilot Flying Badge

In the RAF, the Flying Badge (colloquially referred to as wings), is awarded upon the completion of a significant stage of flying training. Aircrew first undertake Elementary Flying Training, and are then streamed to either fast jet, helicopter, RPAS or multi-engine pipelines. The award of wings usually occurs upon completion of the secondary phase of training; for example, in the fast jet stream, wings are awarded upon completion of the Basic Fast Jet Course (BJFT), currently at RAF Valley; for helicopter pilots, wings are awarded after they complete helicopter training at RAF Shawbury pre-OCU; for RPAS post-FTU (Formal Training Unit) and on the attainment of "Limited Combat Ready" status, and for multi-engine aircrew, wings are awarded upon completion of their Multi-Engine Advanced Flying Training (MEAFT) training at RAF Cranwell. Aircrew, other than RPAS pilots, are then posted to their Operational Conversion Units having gained their wings, but still have a good deal of training and type familiarisation to complete before they are considered operational or front-line aircrew.

Current flying badges

• pilots wear the letters "RAF" in a brown laurel wreath, surmounted by St Edwards crown ( the crown worn by the sovereign at their coronation), with a swift's wing on each side.
• weapons systems officers/operators (Mission Aircrew) wear the letters "RAF" in a brown laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown, with a single swift's wing on one side.

Legacy Mission Aircrew who qualified prior to April 2003, wear a single wing with no crown and a letter or letters (denoting speciality) in a brown laurel wreath, however, they may choose to wear the new WSO/WSOP Flying Badge. Legacy flying badges still in use in the RAF but no longer issued, include:

• "N" for Navigator
• "AE" for Air Electronics Officer/Operator
• "LM" for Air Loadmaster
• "E" for Air Engineer
• "S" for Air Signaller (Airborne Linguist)

For other members of a flying crew, who are not de facto Aircrew (but since 1 Apr 20 have been known as Airborne Specialists) and who come from ground trades/branches but are assigned to flying duties, they are awarded an Airborne Specialist Flying Badge upon completion of a bespoke flying training course, which is a half wing, without crown and 2 letters in the centre. This includes:

• "FC" (fighter controller) flying badge – Air Battle Managers assigned to fly on Sentry AEW.1.
• "AT" (airborne technician) flying badge – Ground Engineers assigned to fly on Sentry AEW.1 and RC-135W Rivet Joint platforms as in-flight technicians.
• "IA" (Airborne imagery analyst) flying badge – Intelligence Analysts assigned to fly on Sentinel R.1 in an Airborne Imagery Analyst role .

RAF Catering Stewards assigned to fly as cabin crew on Voyager KC.1, BAe 146 and HS 125 are awarded the "CC" (cabin crew) badge. This badge is worn on the right sleeve in the same location as the parachute qualification, has two upturned wings (similar to Royal Navy ratings' aircrewman badges) and has cream stitching for the wings, lettering and laurels. Legacy Cabin Crew who qualified with the former "AS" (air steward) badge are still entitled to wear it.

Parachute Jumping Instructors (PJIs) are honorary aircrew and wear an open parachute instead of a letter on a half wing.

Obsolete flying badges

An obsolete bomb aimer's flying badge.

There are also a number of obsolete Mission Aircrew flying badges that are no longer in use such as:

• "AG" for Air Gunner
• "B" for Air Bomber
• "RO" for Radio Observer
• "M" (meteorological observer)
• "QM" (air quartermaster)
• Observers wore a single wing attached directly to the letter "O", this was replaced by the Navigator's badge in 1942.
• RPAS pilots initially had a separate flying badge, similar to traditional pilot wings excepting a light blue wreath, this was withdrawn on 1 April 2019.

Space personnel

Qualified space personnel wear 'UK Space Wings': a silver delta, an orbit ellipse, and a constellation of stars in a blue laurel wreath; with a single silver swift's wing on one side. The constellation is representative of Aries, referencing the date 1 April when UK Space Command was stood up. These badges are similar to flying badges, and are worn on the left breast above medals, but are actually qualification badges.

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm has its own wings design, bestowed in 1925 when it was the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force, featuring albatross wings instead of the wings of an eagle, as per the RAF design. The Fleet Air Arm wings badges also feature a crown and fouled anchor, reflecting the naval aspect of the flying undertaken. They are worn on the left sleeve of naval aviators, above the rank "rings" as opposed to on the left breast of uniforms, like the RAF and Army Air Corps. Unlike the RAF and the Army Air Corps, Naval aircrew are awarded their wings after Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), whereupon they are posted to a frontline squadron, the majority of their flying training complete. Therefore, while a Navy and RAF aircrew might take a similar amount of time to reach an operational squadron, the Naval officer has to wait until he has completed his conversion training to receive his wings.

Royal Naval Observers are awarded their own aircrew flying badge, consisting of shorter wings either side of a fouled anchor surmounted by a Crown.

Royal Naval Aircrewmen are awarded a flying badge similar in shape to the Observer wings, with slightly narrower wings and a similar anchor, but with no crown. Both observers and aircrewmen are also issued Wings upon completion of their OCU, like Royal Navy pilots.

All Royal Navy aircrew wear their wings on the left sleeve of the Number 1 dress uniform jacket, above any rank insignia.

British Army

Army Air Corps Pilot Flying Badge

The Army Air Corps pilot wings are awarded upon completion of the basic helicopter course at RAF Shawbury and a subsequent Army course at Middle Wallop Airfield. Aircrew are then dispatched to their OCU to receive type training on either the Apache attack helicopter or the Wildcat battlefield support helicopter.

The Army is unique in the British military in that both Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers can become aircrew and aircraft commanders. The wings are identical for both Officers and Other Ranks, and are worn on the left chest above any medals, similar to the RAF.

In all the services, award of wings does not confer any operational capability – this is declared by a front-line squadron once the student has reached satisfactory standard to allow them to be deployed operationally. This milestone, or 'Combat Ready Status', is the threshold necessary for the award of Flying Pay, a discretionary additional salary bonus for aircrew due to the nature of their work.

Australia

Royal Australian Air Force loadmaster flying badge

Royal Australian Air Force flying badges differ from those in the RAF mainly in having a crown on all Flying Badges (not just on pilot's wings) and in normally having blue wreaths. The pilot's flying badge has the letters "RAAF". A similar twin-wing badge, bearing the Southern Cross, was introduced for officer aircrew in 1998, replacing various single-wing flying badges previously worn by commissioned officers; however NCO aircrew continue to wear the old single-wing badges.

Some RAAF pilots signed a petition in 1998/1999 in protest of non-pilot "officer aircrew" receiving a double wing. It was rumoured that some serving navigators and war veterans who had previously held the soon to be abolished 'half' wing agreed with the protest. The petition ultimately had over 10,000 signatures, but in the end the petition was unsuccessful.

Australian Army flying badges

New Zealand

New Zealand uses similar insignia to the United Kingdom, except the pilot's wings bear the letters "NZ" instead of "RAF" and the single wing of other aircrew still have the letters of the trade they represent. Currently these are air warfare officer and air warfare specialist (both wear AW), air engineer (E), air loadmaster (LM), helicopter loadmaster (HL), flight steward (FS), air ordnanceman (AO), and parachute jump instructor (a parachute). Air electronics operator (AE) and Helicopter crewman (HC) are obsolete.

See also

• Aircrew badge
• Aviator badge
• Parachutist badge
• Pilot licensing and certification

Further reading

• Jefford, Wg Cdr Jeff (2012). "The law, and lore, of RAF flying badges" (PDF). Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal. 52: 103–131.

External links

• Barrass, M. B. (2015). "RAF Flying Badges – Current". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
• Barrass, M. B. (2015). "RAF Flying Badges – Obsolete". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
• "RFC Pilot Brevets in World War Two". World of Military Wings. 2004. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2008.

Belgium

The current aviator badge of the Belgian Airforce is:

Wing/Badge/Brevet of Beligian Air Force Pilot

Germany

1935–1945

Pilotenabzeichen - Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge

The Pilotenabzeichen (Pilot's Badge) of the former Luftwaffe came in three distinct types; bronze, silver (changed to zinc during the war) and gold. It depicts a silver eagle (Silberner Adler) perched atop a swastika (Hakenkreuz), wings open in a landing pose, and surrounded by a wreath with laurel (Lorbeer) and oak (Eichenlaub) branches on the left and right, respectively. Which badge a pilot received depended on how well the pilot did on the final exam.

After 1955

German Aviation Badge in Bronze

In the Bundeswehr the aviation badge (Tätigkeitsabzeichen Militärluftfahrzeugführer) comes in three grades: bronze (Standard Pilot), silver (Senior Pilot) after 1200 flight hours and gold (Command Pilot) after 1800 flight hours. It depicts the Bundesadler surrounded by an oak leaf wreath between two wings. It is worn above the right breast pocket. A total of two Tätigkeitsabzeichen may be worn, one of which can be foreign in which case the foreign one would be worn below the German one.

Israel

The current badge of a pilot in the Israeli defense forces is:

Current badge "wings" of an Israeli Defense Forces pilot

Poland

Polish Air Force
Siły Powietrzne
Military eagle
Founded	de facto: 1917 (1917) de jure: 1918 (1918)
Country	Poland
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	16,500 personnel 261+ aircraft
Part of	Polish Armed Forces
March	Marsz Lotników (March of Aviators)
Engagements	Polish–Ukrainian War Polish–Soviet War World War II Invasion of Poland Western Front Eastern Front War in Iraq War in Afghanistan Operation Inherent Resolve
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Andrzej Duda
Minister of National Defence	Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
Chief of the General Staff	General Wiesław Kukuła
General Commander	Generał broni Marek Sokołowski
Inspector of the Air Force	Generał brygady Ireneusz Nowak
Insignia
Roundel (Air Force checkerboard)
Ceremonial flag
Garrison flag
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-22
Fighter	F-16, MiG-29
Helicopter	Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-2, PZL W-3, PZL SW-4, S-70i
Reconnaissance	PZL M-28
Trainer	PZL-130, M-346
Transport	C-130, C-295, M-28, 737

The Polish Air Force (Polish: Siły Powietrzne, lit. 'Air Forces') is the aerial warfare branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej (lit. 'Aerial and Air Defense Forces'). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 16,425 military personnel and about 475 aircraft, distributed among ten bases throughout Poland.

The Polish Air Force can trace its origins to the second half of 1917 and was officially established in the months following the end of World War I in 1918. During the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939, 70% of its aircraft were destroyed. Most pilots, after the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September, escaped via Romania and Hungary to continue fighting throughout World War II in allied air forces, first in France, then in Britain, and later also the Soviet Union.

History

Main article: History of the Polish Air Force

Origins

Military aviation in Poland started even before the officially recognised date of regaining independence (11 November 1918). The very first independent units of the Polish Air Force, in service to the re-emerging Polish sovereign state, were actually formed before, in 1917, before World War I had come to an end. When the Russian Revolution began and the tsardom gradually lost control of the country, Polish pilots took advantage of the chaos and formed spontaneous aerial units in areas of present-day Belarus, south Ukraine, and by the Kuban river. Up until that point Polish pilots had only flown as members of Russian, German or Austro-Hungarian militaries. The first known air force units in service to the re-emerging Polish state were: I Polski Oddział Awiacyjny (1st Polish Aviation Squad) in Minsk formed on 19 June 1917, the 1st and 2nd Aviation Units of the 2nd Corps, the aerial fleet of the 4th Rifle Division, as well as the Samodzielny Polski Oddział Awiacyjny (Independent Polish Aviation Squad) in Odesa.

Establishment

Polish Air Force fighters, 1919

Poland was under German and Austro-Hungarian occupation until the armistice, but the Poles started to take control as the Central Powers collapsed. Initially, the Polish air force consisted of mostly German and Austrian aircraft, left by former occupiers or captured from them, mostly during the Greater Poland Uprising. These planes were first used by the Polish Air Force in the Polish-Ukrainian War in late 1918, during combat operations centered around the city of Lwów (now Lviv). On 2 November 1918 pilot Stefan Bastyr performed the first combat flight of Polish aircraft from Lwów.

When the Polish-Soviet War broke out in February 1920, the Polish Air Force used a variety of former German and Austro-Hungarian, as well as newly acquired western-made Allied aircraft. Most common at that time were light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, among most numerous were French Breguet 14 bombers, German LVG C.V reconnaissance aircraft, British Bristol F2B scouts and Italian Ansaldo Balilla fighters.

After the Polish-Soviet War ended in 1921, most of the worn out World War I aircraft were gradually withdrawn and from 1924 the air force started to be equipped with new French aircraft. In total in 1918–1924 there were 2160 aircraft in the Polish Air Force and naval aviation (not all in operable condition), in which there were 1384 reconnaissance aircraft and 410 fighters. From 1924 to 1930 the primary fighter of the Polish Air Force was the SPAD 61 and its main bombers were the French produced Potez 15 and the Potez 25, which was eventually manufactured in Poland under license from Aéroplanes Henry Potez.

The first Polish-designed and mass-produced aircraft to serve in the country's air force was a high wing fighter, the PWS-10, first manufactured in 1930 by the Podlasie Aircraft Factory.

Inter-war years

American volunteers, Merian C. Cooper and Cedric Fauntleroy, fighting in the Polish Air Force as part of the Polish 7th Air Escadrille, known as the "Kościuszko Squadron", 1920

In 1933, Zygmunt Pulawski's first high wing, all-metal aircraft, the PZL P.7a, was designed and produced, with 150 entering service. The design was followed by 30 improved PZL P.11a aircraft and a final design, the PZL P.11c, was delivered in 1935 and was a respectable fighter for its time; 175 entered service and it remained the only Polish fighter until 1939, by which time foreign aircraft design had overtaken it. Its final version, the PZL P.24, was built for export only and was bought by four countries. A new fighter prototype, the PZL.50 Jastrząb (Hawk), similar to the Seversky P-35 in layout, was curtailed by the Nazi invasion and the PZL.38 Wilk twin-engine heavy fighter remained a prototype.

As far as bombers are concerned, the Potez 25 and Breguet 19 were replaced by an all-metal monoplane, the PZL.23 Karaś, with 250 built from 1936 onwards, but by 1939 the Karas was outdated. In 1938 the Polish factory PZL designed a modern twin-engine medium bomber, the PZL.37 Łoś (Elk). The Łoś had a bomb payload of 2580 kg and a top speed of 439 km/h. Unfortunately, only about 30 Łoś A bombers (single tailfin) and 70 Łoś B (twin tailfin) bombers had been delivered before the Nazi invasion.

As an observation and close reconnaissance plane, Polish escadres used the slow and easily damaged Lublin R-XIII, and later the RWD-14 Czapla. Polish naval aviation used the Lublin R-XIII on floats. Just before the war, some Italian torpedo planes, the CANT Z.506, were ordered, but only one was delivered, and it was without armament. The principal aircraft used to train pilots were the Polish-built high-wing RWD-8 and the PWS-26 biplane. In 1939, Poland ordered 160 MS-406s and 10 Hawker Hurricane fighters from abroad, but they were not delivered before the outbreak of the war.

1939

A PZL.43 tactical bomber

See also: Polish September Campaign

On 1 September 1939, at the beginning of the invasion of Poland, all the Polish combat aircraft had been dispersed to secondary airfields, contrary to a commonly-held belief, based on German propaganda, that they had all been destroyed by bombing at their airbases. The aircraft destroyed by German bombers on the airfields were mostly trainers. The fighters were grouped into 15 escadres; five of them constituted the Pursuit Brigade, deployed in the Warsaw area. Despite being obsolete, Polish PZL-11 fighters shot down over 170 German aircraft. The bombers, grouped in nine escadres of the Bomber Brigade, attacked armoured ground columns but suffered heavy losses. Seven reconnaissance- and 12 observation escadres, deployed to particular armies, were used primarily for reconnaissance. Part of the Polish Air Force was destroyed in the campaign; the surviving aircraft were either captured or withdrawn to Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia or Sweden, whose air forces subsequently employed these aircraft for their own use (in the case of Romania until 1956). A great number of pilots and aircrew managed to escape to France and then to Britain, where they played a significant part in the defence of the United Kingdom against Nazi invasion, during the Battle of Britain. Prior to the conflict Poland also bought 234 planes abroad. First of them were on delivery when the conflict started. These were Hawker Hurricane (14 planes), Morane-Saulnier 406 (120 planes) and Fairey Battle (100 planes). The ship SS Lassell with 14 Hawker Hurricanes on board left Liverpool on 28 August 1939, deliveries from France were also on way when the conflict broke out.

Strength of Polish Air Force on 1 September 1939

PZL.37 Łoś medium bomber

PZL.23 Karaś light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
PZL P.11	Poland	Fighter		175	Combat formations consisted of 140
PZL P.7	Poland	Fighter		105	Combat formations consisted of 30
PZL.23A	Poland	Light bomber		35
PZL.23B	Poland	Light bomber		170	Combat formations consisted of 120
PZL.43	Poland	Light bomber		6	Combat formations consisted of 6
PZL.46 Sum	Poland	Light bomber		2	Combat formations consisted of 1
PZL.37 Łoś	Poland	Medium bomber		86	Combat formations consisted of 36
LWS-6 Żubr	Poland	Medium bomber		15
Surveillance
Lublin R XIII	Poland	Spotter		150	Combat formations consisted of 55
RWD-14 Czapla	Poland	Reconnaissance		60	Combat formations consisted of 40
RWD 8	Poland	Reconnaissance		550	Combat formations consisted of 20
PWS-16	Poland	Reconnaissance/trainer		15	Combat formations consisted of 15

1940 (France)

Main article: Polish Air Forces in France

The emblem of the No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron featuring the designation of the GC I/145

After the fall of Poland, the Polish Air Force started to regroup in France. The only complete unit created before the German attack on France was the GC I/145 fighter squadron, flying Caudron C.714 light fighters. It was the only unit operating the C.714 at the time. The Polish pilots were also deployed to various French squadrons, flying on all types of French fighters, but mostly on the MS-406. After the surrender of France, many of these pilots managed to escape to Britain to continue the fight against the Luftwaffe.

1940–1947 (United Kingdom)

See also: Polish Air Force in Great Britain

Following the fall of France in 1940, Polish units were formed in the United Kingdom, as a part of the Royal Air Force and known as the Polish Air Force (PAF). Four Polish squadrons were formed:

• 300 Squadron and 301 Squadron flew bombers,
• 302 Squadron and 303 Squadron flew Hawker Hurricane fighters.

The two Polish fighter squadrons first saw action in the third phase of the Battle of Britain in August 1940, with much success; the pilots were battle-hardened and Polish flying skills had been well learned from the invasion of Poland. The pilots were regarded as fearless, sometimes bordering on reckless. Nevertheless, success rates were very high in comparison to UK and Empire pilots. 303 Squadron became the most efficient RAF fighter squadron at that time. Many Polish pilots also flew individually in other RAF squadrons.

As World War II progressed, a further twelve Polish squadrons were created in the United Kingdom:

• No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron (bomber, then Coastal Command),
• No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron (bomber),
• No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron (fighter),
• No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron (night fighter),
• No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron (fighter),
• No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron (reconnaissance, then fighter),
• No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron (fighter),
• No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron (fighter),
• No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron (fighter),
• No. 318 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron (fighter-reconnaissance),
• No. 663 Polish Air Observation Post Squadron (air observation/artillery spotting),
• and the Polish Fighting Team also known as "Skalski's Circus", attached to 145 Squadron RAF.

The Polish squadrons in the RAF memorial at St. Clement Danes Church in London

The fighter squadrons initially flew Hurricanes, then switched to Spitfires, and eventually to North American Mustangs. 307 Squadron, like other night fighter squadrons (such as 410 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force), flew Boulton-Paul Defiants, Bristol Beaufighters and finally de Havilland Mosquitoes. The bomber squadrons were initially equipped with Fairey Battles and Vickers Wellingtons. 300 Squadron was later assigned Avro Lancasters, 301 Squadron Handley Page Halifaxes and Consolidated Liberators and 305 Squadron, de Havilland Mosquitoes and North American Mitchells. 663 Squadron (air observation/artillery spotting) flew Auster AOP IIIs and Vs. After the war, all equipment was returned to the British, but only some of the pilots and crews actually returned to Poland, with many settling in the United Kingdom, some of whom returned to Poland in 1989 after the fall of communism.

1943–1945 (Soviet Union)

See also: Air Force of the Polish Army

Along with the Polish People's Army (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie) in the USSR, the Polish People's Air Force (Ludowe Lotnictwo Polskie) was created, in defence of the Soviet Union against Nazi invasion. Three regiments were formed in late 1943:

• the 1st Fighter Regiment "Warszawa", (equipped with Yak-1 and Yak-9 aircraft),
• the 2nd Night Bomber Regiment "Kraków" (flying Polikarpov Po-2 aircraft – produced in Poland as the CSS-13 from 1949 onwards),
• and the 3rd Assault Regiment (flying Ilyushin Il-2 aircraft) were formed.

During 1944–5, further regiments were created, coming together to form the 1st Mixed Air Corps, consisting of a bomber division, an assault division, a fighter division and a mixed division. After the war, these returned to Poland and gave birth to the air force of the People's Republic of Poland.

1949–1989

In 1949, the Li-2sb transport aircraft was adapted into a bomber and in 1950, Poland received Petlyakov Pe-2 and Tupolev Tu-2 bombers from the Soviet Union along with USB-1 and USB-2 training bombers. In 1950 also, the Yak-17 fighter came into service, as did the Ilyushin Il-12 transport and the Yak-18 trainer. From 1951 onwards, the Polish Air Force was equipped with Yak-23 jet fighters and MiG-15 jets, along with a training version, the MiG-15 UTI, and later, in 1961, the MiG-17.

As well as Soviet-produced aircraft, from 1952 onwards Soviet MiG-15 and later MiG-17 fighters were produced under licence in Poland as the Lim-1, Lim-2 and later the Lim-5. A domestic ground attack variant of the Lim-5M was developed as the Lim-6bis in 1964. The only jet bomber used by the Polish Air Force during this period was the Ilyushin Il-28, from 1952 onwards. Poland used only a small number of MiG-19s from 1959, in favour of the MiG-21 from 1963 onwards, which became its main supersonic fighter. This aircraft was used in numerous variants from MiG-21F-13, through MiG-21PF and MF to MiG-21bis. Later, the Polish Air Force received 37 MiG-23s (1979) and 12 MiG-29s (1989).

The main fighter-bomber and ground attack aircraft after 1949 was the Il-10 (a training version, the UIl-10, entering service in 1951). From 1965 onwards, Poland also used a substantial number of Su-7Bs for bombing and ground attack, replaced with 27 Sukhoi Su-20s in 1974 and 110 Sukhoi Su-22s in 1984.

Propeller-driven training aircraft, the Junak-2 (in service since 1952), the TS-9 Junak-3 (in service since 1954) and the PZL TS-8 Bies (since 1958) were later replaced by a jet trainer, the domestically built TS-11 Iskra. Another Polish jet trainer, the PZL I-22 Iryda, was used for some time but, because of continuing problems, all machines were returned to PZL for modification and did not resume service. The Yak-12 was used as a multirole aircraft from 1951, the An-2 from 1955 and subsequently the Wilga-35 P.

Transport aircraft used by the Polish Air Force during this period included: the Il-14 (first in service in 1955), the Il-18 (first in service in 1961), the An-12B (first in service in 1966), the An-26 (first in service in 1972), the Yak-40 (first in service in 1973) and the Tupolev Tu-154. A number of helicopters were used by the Polish Army: the SM-1 (a Mil Mi-1 manufactured under licence), which was a multirole helicopter, in operation since 1956; the Mil Mi-4, multirole, since 1958; the PZL SM-2, multirole, since 1960; the Mil Mi-2 and Mil Mi-8 (later also Mil Mi-17), multirole, since 1968 and the Mil Mi-24, a combat helicopter, since 1976. Also the Mil Mi-14, an amphibious helicopter, and the Mil Mi-6, both used as transports.

In 1954, the Polish Air Force was merged with the Air Defence Force, creating the Air and Country Air Defence Forces (Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Przeciwlotniczej Obszaru Kraju  – WLiOPL OK), a military organisation composed of both flying and anti-aircraft units. In 1962, the WLiOPL OK were separated back again into their two original component bodies: the Air Force (Wojska Lotnicze) and the Country Air Defence Force (Wojska Obrony Powietrznej Kraju).

Present-day operations

Polish Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 at ILA Berlin Air Show, 2016

After political upheaval and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and a consequent reduction in the state of military anxiety in the whole of Europe, the Polish Air Force saw reductions in size. On 1 July 1990 the Polish Air Force and the Air Defence Force were merged again (Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej – WLiOP or WLOP). The attack capability of this force consisted primarily of MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-29s, Su-20s and Su-22s. The remaining Lim-6bis were withdrawn in the early 1990s, followed soon afterwards by the withdrawal of the remaining Su-20 aircraft. The small number of remaining MiG-23s were withdrawn by 1999. Throughout the 1990s, Poland had not purchased any new combat aircraft and only managed to acquire further MiG-29s from the Czech Republic in 1995 and from Germany in 2004. MiG-21s were finally withdrawn from service in 2003. In 2004, the only remaining combat aircraft flown by the WLiOP were the MiG-29 and the Su-22. As of 2010, the fleet of Su-22s is in need of modernization to retain any value as a combat aircraft and its future is unclear.

In 2002, the F-16C/D Block 52+ from the American company Lockheed Martin was chosen as a new multirole fighter for the WLiOP, the first deliveries taking place in November 2006 and continued until 2008 under Peace Sky program. As of 2011 the Polish Air Force has three squadrons of F-16s: two stationed at the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań and the 10th Tactical Squadron at the 32nd Air Base near Łask. The acquisition of the US F-16 was not without fierce competition from European aerospace companies; the sale was hotly pursued by the French company Dassault, with their Mirage 2000 and by the Swedish company Saab, with the JAS 39 Gripen. The Polish Block 52+ F-16s are equipped with the latest Pratt and Whitney F-100-229 afterburning turbofan engines, and the avionics suite includes the APG-68(V)9 terrain mapping radar system and the ALQ-211(V)4 electronic warfare suite. All Polish F-16s can carry modern US precision ordnance, ranging from the JDAM/JSOW to the latest in export-certificate-authorized air-to-air weaponry (including the AIM-120C-5 and AIM-9X).

In 2020, Poland placed an order for 32 F-35 Lightning II fighters (pictured in USAF livery)

In the aftermath of the presidential Tu-154 crash in 2010 and later Polish-led investigation, the 36th Special Aviation Regiment, responsible for transporting the President and the Polish Government, was disbanded, while the defense minister resigned. A new unit, the 1st Air Base, replaced the 36th regiment. Between June 2010 and December 2017 most official flights were served by two leased Embraer E-175 operated by the LOT Polish Airlines. On 14 November 2016 the Defense Ministry ordered two Gulfstream G550 VIP planes. On 31 March 2017 a deal with Boeing Company was signed to supply two Boeing Business Jet 2 and one Boeing 737-800 for the head of state and the government transport.

On 27 February 2014 Poland signed a €280 million contract with Alenia Aermacchi for 8 M-346 Master advanced training jets. The first two Masters arrived in Poland accompanied by Team Iskry on 14 November 2016.

On 11 December 2014 Polish officials signed a contract with the United States for the purchase of 70 AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Stand off Missile, for US$250 million. Also contained in the contract are upgrades to the fleet of Polish F-16s to be completed by Lockheed Martin.

On 28 May 2019, the Polish Minister of Defence announced that Poland had sent a request for quotation for the acquisition of 32 F-35A aircraft. On 11 September 2019, the Department of Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that Poland had been cleared to purchase 32 F-35A fighters, along with associated equipment, for an estimated cost of $6.5 billion. On 27 September 2019 the US Congress approved the sale. On 31 January 2020, Poland signed a $4.6 billion deal for 32 F-35 fighters.

On 8 March 2022, the Polish government offered to transfer its entire MiG-29 fleet to the US government via Ramstein Air Base as lethal aid to the Ukrainian air force against the ongoing Russian invasion in return for aircraft of corresponding operational capabilities (most likely F-16s). The exchange was eventually not carried out.

Equipment

See also: List of retired Polish Air Force aircraft

See also: List of Polish military aircraft

Aircraft

An F-16C with conformal fuel tank

A Mi-17 on display at the Radom Air Show in 2013

A C-130 on approach

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29	Soviet Union	multirole	MiG-29A	13
			MiG-29UB	6	Used for conversion training
Sukhoi Su-22	Soviet Union	fighter-bomber	M4	12
			UM3K	6
F-35 Lightning II	United States	stealth multirole	F-35A		32 on order
F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	multirole	F-16C	36
			F-16D	12	Used for conversion training
T-50 Golden Eagle	Republic of Korea	light multirole	FA-50GF	12	36 PL variants on order
AEW&C
Saab 340	Sweden	AEW&C		1	1 on order
Transport
Boeing 737	United States	VIP transport	800	1
			BBJ2	2
CASA C-295	Spain	transport		16
PZL M28 Skytruck	Poland	transport		23
C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical airlifter	C-130E	5
			C-130H	3	2 on order
Gulfstream G550	United States	VIP transport		2
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	utility	Mi-8/17	11
PZL Mi-2	Poland	liaison		17
PZL W-3 Sokół	Poland	utility		15
Trainer Aircraft
PZL SW-4	Poland	rotorcraft trainer		24
Alenia M-346	Italy	advanced trainer		16
Diamond DA42	Austria	multi engine trainer		3
PZL-130 Orlik	Poland	trainer		27
Robinson R44	United States	rotorcraft trainer		3
Guimbal Cabri G2	France	rotorcraft trainer		6
UAV
MQ-9 Reaper	United States	UCAV	MQ-9A	—	leasing unspecified number
Bayraktar TB2	Turkey	UCAV		12	12 on order.

Note: Three C-17 Globemaster IIIs are available through the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary.

Air Defence

A pair of mobile SPZR Poprad anti-aircraft systems

Name	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
SPZR Poprad	Poland	SHORAD	2 launchers
Patriot PAC-3	United States	IBCS	2 batteries	4 on order
PSR-A Pilica	Poland	SHORAD		22 on order
CAMM	United Kingdom	SHORAD		44 on order
PPZR Grom	Poland	MANPADS
PPZR Piorun	Poland	MANPADS
S-200 Vega	Soviet Union	SAM	1 battery
S-125 Neva	Soviet Union	mobile SAM system	51 units

Radars

The 3rd Wrocław Radio Engineering Brigade has several radar types under its command including the Italian made RAT-31DL a AESA system, and the Polish made NUR-15 radar which provides a 3D picture of the controlled airspace. The NUR-31 a mobile unit, employing a medium-range airspace control radar.

Structure

Pyry

Osówiec

Warszawa-Okęcie

Świdwin

Malbork

Mińsk Mazowiecki

Poznań

Łask

Powidz

Kraków-Balice

Dęblin

Radom

Sochaczew

Olszewnica Stara

Gdynia

Bytom

Skwierzyna

Mrzeżyno

Wrocław

Sandomierz

Brzoskwinia

Roskosz

Wronowice

Łabunie

Lipowiec

Szypliszki

Chruściel

Chojnice

Jarocin

Koszalin

Grójec

Zakopane

Babki

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Polish Air Force locations in 2018:
MiG-29A/UB F-16C/D 52+ Su-22M4/M3K other flying units
Air Defense Missile unit
Radar unit
NUR-12M long-range radar stations
RAT-31DL long-range radar stations
Command and Control Centre
Other units

Armed Forces General Command

• Armed Forces General Command, in Warsaw
  • 1st Tactical Aviation Wing, in Świdwin
    • 21st Tactical Air Base, in Świdwin
      • 40th Aviation Squadron, with Su-22M4/UM3K
    • 22nd Tactical Air Base, in Malbork
      • 41st Aviation Squadron, with MiG-29
    • 23rd Tactical Air Base, in Mińsk Mazowiecki
      • 1st Aviation Squadron, with FA-50GF
  • 2nd Tactical Aviation Wing, in Poznań
    • 31st Tactical Air Base, in Poznań-Krzesiny
      • 3rd Aviation Squadron, with F-16C/D 52+
      • 6th Aviation Squadron, with F-16C/D 52+
    • 32nd Tactical Air Base, in Łask
      • 10th Aviation Squadron, with F-16C/D 52+
    • 16th Airfield Maintenance Battalion, in Jarocin
  • 3rd Transport Aviation Wing, in Powidz
    • 1st Transport Aviation Base, at Warsaw-Okęcie Air Base
      • Aviation Squadron, with Gulfstream G550, Boeing 737-800
      • Helicopter Squadron, with W-3 Sokół
    • 8th Transport Aviation Base, at Kraków-Balice Air Base
      • 12th Aviation Squadron, with M28B Skytruck
      • 13th Aviation Squadron, with CASA C-295M
    • 33rd Transport Aviation Base, in Powidz
      • 14th Aviation Squadron, with C-130E/H Hercules
      • 7th Special Operations Squadron, with Mi-17 and S-70i
    • 1st Search and Rescue Group, in Świdwin, with W-3 Sokół
    • 2nd Search and Rescue Group, in Mińsk Mazowiecki, with W-3 Sokół
    • 3rd Search and Rescue Group, in Kraków, with W-3 Sokół
  • 4th Training Aviation Wing, in Dęblin
    • 41st Training Air Base, in Dęblin
      • Aviation Squadron, with M-346A Master
      • Helicopter Squadron, with SW-4 Puszczyk, Mi-2
    • 42nd Training Air Base, in Radom
      • Aviation Squadron, with PZL-130 Orlik
    • Training and Endurance Centre, in Zakopane
    • Rescue and Parachute Training Centre, in Poznań
  • 3rd Radiotechnical (Radar) Brigade, in Wrocław
    • 3rd Radiotechnical Battalion, in Sandomierz
      • 110th Long Range Radiolocating Post, in Łabunie, with RAT-31DL
      • 360th Long Range Radiolocating Post, in Brzoskwinia, with NUR-12M
    • 8th Radiotechnical Battalion, in Lipowiec
      • 184th Long Range Radiolocating Post, in Szypliszki, with RAT-31DL
      • 211th Long Range Radiolocating Post, in Chruściel, with RAT-31DL
      • 144th Long Range Radiolocating Post, in Roskosz, with NUR-12M
    • 31st Lower Silesian Radiotechnical Battalion, in Wrocław
      • 170th Long Range Radiolocating Post, in Wronowice, with NUR-12M
    • 34th Radiotechnical Battalion, in Chojnice
  • 3rd Air Defense Missile Brigade, in Sochaczew
    • 32nd Air Defense Missile Squadron, in Olszewnica Stara
    • 33rd Air Defense Missile Squadron, in Gdynia
    • 34th Air Defense Missile Squadron, in Bytom
    • 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron, in Skwierzyna
    • 36th Air Defense Missile Squadron, in Mrzeżyno
    • 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron, in Sochaczew-Bielice, with Patriot PAC-3
    • 38th Air Defense Security Squadron, in Sochaczew
  • Centre for Radioelectronic Combat Reconnaissance and Support ″Lieutenant Colonel Jan Kowalewski″ (CRiWWRE)
  • Air Force Training Center, in Koszalin
  • Aviation Engineering Training Centre, in Dęblin
    • Air Force Non Commissioned Officer School, in Dęblin
  • Head of the Armed Forces Air Traffic Service, in Warsaw

Armed Forces Operational Command

Armed Forces Operational Command, in Warsaw

• Air Operations Centre – Air Component Command, in Warsaw-Pyry, reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Uedem in Germany
  • Mobile Air Operations Command Unit, in Babki
  • 22nd Command and Control Centre, in Osówiec
  • 32nd Command and Control Centre, at Kraków-Balice Air Base
  • 1st Air Operations Coordination Centre, in Gdynia
  • 2nd Air Operations Coordination Centre, in Kraków
  • 4th Air Operations Coordination Centre, in Szczecin

Ranks and insignia

Main article: Polish Armed Forces rank insignia

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Polish Air Force																															Various
	Marszałek Polski		Generał		Generał broni		Generał dywizji		Generał brygady		Pułkownik		Podpułkownik		Major		Kapitan		Porucznik			Podporucznik									Podchorąży

Other ranks

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Polish Air Force
	Starszy chorąży sztabowy			Starszy chorąży			Chorąży				Młodszy chorąży						Starszy sierżant						Sierżant				Plutonowy	Starszy kapral	Kapral						Starszy szeregowy	Szeregowy

Qualification badges

The current aviator badge of the Polish Air Force has been in use since the 1920s. The badge is called gapa and represents silver eagle in flight with gold laurel wreath in the bill. Navigator/Observer badge (below) represents the same eagle, but in gold with added lightning bolts. The gapa is worn in the usual place on the upper left breast above the pocket, but unlike other air forces it is suspended on a chain. It adorned the uniform of Polish Air Force officers in the RAF during World War II along with their RAF wings. In the combat version (for at least 7 flights in combat conditions) the badge has a green laurel wreath.

Badge	Pilot	Observer
Air Forces
	Pilot	Observer
Abbreviation	pil.	obs.

See also

• Stefan Stec, creator of the Szachownica Lotnicza Polish national military aircraft insignia
• Stanisław Targosz, former commander-in-chief of the Polish Air Force
• Team Iskry
• Orlik Team
• List of aircraft of Poland, World War II
• Polish Land Forces Aircraft
• Polish Naval Aviation
• Polish Special Forces Aircraft

Bibliography

• Comas, Matthieu (September 2000). "Les bombardiers polonais de Lyon-Bron" [The Polish Bombers of Lyon-Bron]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (90): 30–32. ISSN 1243-8650.
• Morgała, Andrzej (1997). Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1918–1924 [Military aircraft in Poland 1918–1924] (in Polish). Warsaw: Lampart. ISBN 83-86776-34-X.
• Nelcarz, Bartolomiej & Peczkowski, Robert (2001). White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918–1939. Ottringham, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 1-902109-73-2.

Further reading

• Air Forces Monthly, May 1999 (for details of reorganisation from regiments into squadrons)

External links

• Official website of Polish Air Force
• Polish Air Force history
• Polish Air Force unit insignias, gallery of badges with annotation

South Africa

File:SAAF Aviator Badge.gif

SAAF Pilot Wings

The current aviator badge of the South African Air Force has been in use since 2002, when South Africa adopted a new coat of arms. Like the RAF, the SAAF also has a half-wing version of the badge, in this case for navigators. The aviator and navigator badges comes in three grades: bronze, silver and gold. Reserve force aviator badges have a light blue inlay around the coat of arms as appose to the dark blue of permanent air force aviators.

Spain

Air Force Pilot

Army Aviator

Naval Aviator

Guardia Civil Aviator

National Police Corps Aviator