Uniforms of the Royal Air Force
Many Commonwealth air forces' uniforms are also based on the RAF pattern, but with nationality shoulder flashes.
Media related to Flight suits of the Royal Air Force at Wikimedia Commons Aircrew-specific uniforms are officially designated as Number 14 Dress by the RAF.
The current mess dress for men consists of a high waisted blue-grey single-breasted jacket fastened at the front by a single link of two RAF buttons connected by a link clip, white marcella shirt, bow tie, waistcoat or cummerbund and blue-grey trousers.
For women, mess dress currently consists of the same style high waisted blue-grey single-breasted jacket and white marcella shirt as men, a small bow tie and cummerbund and a straight ankle length blue-gray skirt, worn with patent-leather court shoes and barely-black tights or stockings.
Officers serving on Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons in Scotland may wear the Douglas Grey tartan with their mess dress.
This uniform was modified in 1928 when the shoes were replaced by boots and overalls with gold lace and bright blue stripes were introduced.
This modified form of the uniform lasted until 1934 when it was replaced by a version similar to the current men's mess dress.
From the 1970s and prior to the introduction of current women's mess dress in 1996, female officers wore a royal blue"Empire line" dress made of crimplene material with a loose mandarin neck, long sleeves and an ankle length hem.
It was designed to resemble the original flying helmet and it consisted of a leather skull cap trimmed with black rabbit fur.
Group Captain the Duke of York (later King George VI) wore RAF full dress at his wedding to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923.
Today the blue-grey full dress uniform is no longer worn, except in a modified form by RAF bandsmen.
It consists of a white tunic with stand collar, matching trousers, blue-grey peaked cap and black leather shoes.
With the establishment of the Royal Air Force as an independent service on 1 April 1918, orders were issued detailing new uniform patterns.
Major General Mark Kerr designed the first officer uniform which was largely pale blue with gold braid trimmings.
It has been suggested that the pale blue colour was adopted as the cloth had been intended for use by the Imperial Russian Cavalry and, following their disbandment after the Bolshevik Revolution it became available at low cost.
New recruits into the newly formed Royal Air Force were often issued with the dark khaki Army Pattern General Service Tunic.
Later in 1918 a belted khaki uniform was adopted for other ranks, and it was these tunics that first carried the RAF eagle badges on each shoulder.
Another distinction was that while the British Army shod its men only in ankle-high boots the RAF after 1945 also issued its airmen with ordinary shoes for everyday working wear.
Despite the rainy British climate, the only weather protection for airmen outdoors was either their heavy winter overcoats or the rectangular ground sheets issued for all soldiers' use on campaign.
The constellation is representative of Aries, referencing the date 1 April when UK Space Command was stood up.
On 24 September 2014, the RCAF announced it would return in part to pre-unification RAF-styled insignia; however, with the exception of Private being retitled Aviator (Aviateur in French), rank titles would remain unchanged.
[10] Cadets of the ATC and CCF (RAF) Sections wear the uniforms of the Royal Air Force.
From 1941 until 1996, the Royal Observer Corps wore RAF uniforms, with a midnight blue beret, ROC cap badge, rank titles, insignia and tunic buttons.
During the 1980s, ROC personnel were authorised to wear the RAF field service cap or WRAF pillbox style hat in place of the beret whilst in working dress.
As with the ROC stable belt introduced during the same period, these additional uniform items were purchased privately at the expense of the individual.
