Air Formation Signals Association - Insignia

In mid 1940, 1st and 2nd Air Formation Signals returned from France and moved, eventually, to Northern Ireland and Hendon respectively. In the late summer of 1942, both units embarked for North Africa for the landings in Algiers and Tunisia (Operation 'Torch'). During the period in the United Kingdom an arm flash was introduced consisting of a small navy blue triangle with RAF wings at the base. This was worn by Air Formation Signal Units engaged on Operations 'Torch' and, later, 'Overlord' until October 1948 when it was superceded by a rectangular flash with a Red Beaufighter on the background of the corps colours.

The original design of the 'wings' flash had an Air Force Blue triangle and the original art work is held in the Royal Signals museum archives among the papers left by Colonel FS Morgan. The flashes worn by the members of 1, 2, 7 and 10 AFS incorporated the unit number above the wings.

The first mention of the concept of incorporating an aircraft in the Air Formation Signals unit sign is in 3rd Air Formation Signals unit orders (dated Monday, March 24th, 1941) when it stated that 'Instructions have been received from GHQ that the aeroplane and figure '3' will not form part of the unit sign'. The unit had only been formed during the previous month.

However the need was perceived for a vehicle badge to identify Air Formation Signals vehicles, particularly as they operated on RAF airfields. A plan view of the Beaufighter aircraft was eventually chosen and painted (against the background of the traditional blue/white signals colours) on the wings and tailboards of unit vehicles. It is thought that the aircraft was coloured red to signify the army (traditionally scarlet) connection. RAF Roundals were also painted on the tailboard and the other vehicle wing.

The first Beaufighters started to arrive in Egypt in June 1941. During Operation 'Crusader' (November 1941), Beaufighters of 272 and 252 Squadron attacked ground targets, including aircraft on the ground. A third squadron (89 Squadron) arrived in December 1941. The arrival of these modern aircraft, with its armament of six rifle-calibre machine guns and four 20mm cannon, had a significant impact on the RAF's ability to support both land and naval forces.

Slightly before this, in early 1941, Close Support Bomber Controls (CSBC) had been formed as experimental units to provide the means whereby troops on the ground could communicate directly with the crews of aircraft tasked to bomb enemy targets in support of the ground forces. No 2 CSBC was attached to the 8th Army in late 1941. Its CO, Lt Col JM McNeil, RA, saw an urgent need for his unit vehicles to carry an easily identified sign and, for lack of anything better, chose the 'Bloody Red Hand' from his family armorial sign. For the Normandy invasion, Air Support Signal Units were formed to carry out a similar function and the tradition of the Red Hand was established for incorporation in unit signs, as a vehicle sign and as an arm 'flash'.

Meanwhile in the Far East the use of the Red Beaufighter was authorised as a vehicle sign in January 1943. In October 1941, Lt Col Burgess-Winn assumed command of 4th Air Formation Signals in the Middle East. He returned to India in March 1943 to command 1st (Indian) Air Formation Signals. On the formation of HQ Air Command, SEAC, in June 1944 he was appointed DCAFSO and, whilst he was serving in this appointment, his wife (Mrs Elsie Burgess- Winn) designed and made the first 'Red Beaufighter' Air Formation Signals 'flash' which was promptly adopted by all Indian Air Formation Signals units and by 19th Air Formation Signals on their arrival in the Far East. As in Europe, the present Red Beaufighter on a rectangular background of the Corps colours was adopted by 19th Signal Regiment in about 1949.

It would appear that the use of the 'Red Beaufighter' as a vehicle sign was introduced in late 1941 or early 1942 in the Middle East - at roughly the same time that the Red Hand (of Ulster) was adopted by units that were later to be known as Air Support Signals units. 12 months later the use of the Red Beaufighter as a vehicle sign had spread to the Far East where it was adopted as an arm flash by late 1944.

The first Beaufighters (176 Squadron) arrived in Calcutta in January 1943 where they made an instant impact: on the first night after arrival one of the pilots, Sgt Pring, destroyed three enemy bombers! The Japanese Army gained a healthy respect for the aircraft, particularly after a devastating low-level attack against a military parade at Myitkyina to celebrate the Emperor's birthday (April 29th).

For the Normandy invasion, eight new Air Formation Signal units (Nos 11 to 18) were formed and most of these units adopted a black Mosquito aircraft as the emblem used on their vehicles and unit sign boards, whilst still wearing the original, triangular, arm badges.

Battledress was replaced during 1963 and a philosophy of anonymity was imposed in the European theatre. HQ 1 (BR) Corps ordered the removal of all Tac and Formation signs from vehicles in early 1963 and divisional and other arm flashes were not sewn on to the Number 2 Dress and other uniforms that replaced the battledress. Members of 19th Signal Regiment continued to wear the Red Beaufighter flash on their olive green uniforms as did 261 Signal Squadron in Cyprus, other Air Formation Signal units in the Middle East and 81st Air Formation Signal Regiment (AER) who continued to wear battledress.

21st Signal Regiment re-introduced the Beaufighter as an arm badge on Combat Uniform in 1998, although now less colourful as a black Beaufighter on a Kahki background.