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Spread your wings
By Andrew Stackpool and SQNLDR Phil Wade
Volume 49, No. 18, October 04, 2007 |
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One of the oldest Air Force customs is the award of ‘Wings’ to those members who have attained a prescribed flying proficiency.
King George V approved the first flying badge to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1913. Since then, other forms of wings (or brevets) for officer and airmen aircrew have appeared and, in time, many have since retired. While there are those who view this process as a breach of traditions often born in times of war, these wings have frequently changed over the decades to reflect the changes as the Air Force itself and the nature of Air Power has evolved into its present form.
CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd recently said: “Since the early beginnings of the Air Force, many different badges and brevets have been commissioned and decommissioned, as the operational duties performed by Air Force personnel have evolved. Changes to Air Force brevets are part of our evolution as an Air Force.”
In WWII, bomb aimers and air gunners flying on aircraft, such as the Lancaster bomber, wore a special brevet denoting their trade. When changing technology meant these specialist skills were no longer required, their brevets were withdrawn from service. For the officers, navigators, fighter controllers and airborne electronics officers wore a single-wing brevet.
In 1997, all of these aircrew single-wing brevets (apart from flight test engineers) were replaced by a single, double-wing brevet – surmounted with the Southern Cross in the centre. There were important reasons for this.
“As technology evolves and aircraft and equipment are updated, the operational roles of Air Force personnel change,” AIRMSHL Shepherd said.
“Consequently, the Air Force’s personnel structures and insignia were required to change to reflect the evolving nature of air operations.
“The introduction of the new Air Combat Officer (ACO) category [in 2006] is a modern-day example of how the Air Force continues to transform due to the influence of technology and the evolving nature of air power.
“Our future air and space-operating concepts require people with broader skills and experience than those needed today. To assist in meeting this evolving need, we have created the ACO category, which is a group of air combat mission specialists commanding operations involving the direct application of air power.
“ACOs and pilots make up the battlespace command and control personnel group, which will be responsible for the direct application of air power, regardless of where the operators are physically located.
“From an operator in the air defence ground environment, to an operator in the integrated ground environment for an unmanned aerial vehicle, to an operator flying in an
AP-3C, all ACOs make a direct contribution to air combat power.”
Following the formation of the ACO category, all ACOs now wear the Southern Cross Brevet to acknowledge this contribution.
AIRMSHL Shepherd said that brevets would continue to be an important symbol in the culture of Air Forces.
“Brevets symbolise an individual’s contribution to air combat power. The meaning behind brevets is based on the pride of achievement, the sacrifice of duty and the focus and commitment of the men and women who wear them,” he said.
Despite the various changes to Air Force brevets over time, one theme remains constant; the significance and importance of brevets draws meaning from the past and continuing contribution made by those who wear them. |
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MODERN SYMBOL: FLGOFFs Grant Leader (left) and Michael Galton, both ACOs from 6SQN, wear the Southern Cross Brevet on their flying suit, and below left, the Service dress equivalent.
Photo by LACW Melina Mancuso |
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TIMELESS: A flashback to 1947 when Air Gunner and Bomb Aimer brevets were worn by this Lincoln bomber’s aircrew.
Photo courtesy of the RAAF Museum |
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AP-3C WINGS: 11SQN ACO FLGOFF Madonna Gardner during a recent exercise at RAAF Base Pearce.
Photo by CPL Andrew Eddie
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BUSY BREVETS: ACOs assist with Operation Deluge out of the Air Operations Centre in Canberra.
Photo by LAC Aaron Curran
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ACTION STATIONS: RAAF Base Williamtown ACOs FLTLT Neil Whitehead (left) from 77SQN and FLTLT John Thornton from the Surveillance and Control Training Unit watch the airspace during an exercise.
Photo by LAC David Gibbs
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