Air Force Day 2023, today, saw the IAF release a new ensign. The press release provides only a partial glimpse of its rich history, which extends all the way back to 1941.
Etymology of an Ensign
Etymologically, an ensign is a flag employed for identification, signifying a naval vessel, an Armed forces branch, a state, or a nation. Until the 19th century, only a few countries employed flags. The transformation in Europe that gave rise to the concept of “nation-states” caused many civil ensigns to adopt the role of national flags.
Nationality flags initially found use at sea, serving both military and civilian ships. The aeronautic division of the army first adopted such flags in late 19th-century Russia. These early ensigns resembled Navy flags, featuring a white flag with the jack in the canton, but with the center of the fly marked by the aeronautic emblem in red.
In 1918, the Royal Air Force introduced a flag that took inspiration from the Navy ensign, featuring a light blue field. Several countries adopted this light blue field for their ensigns, symbolizing the color of the sky rather than showing allegiance to any specific nation.
Many nations adopted the light blue field without incorporating a canton. For example, Zambia included a roundel at the center, while Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Colombia featured their air force emblem in the center.
Conversely, numerous countries followed the British model for their ensigns, which consisted of a light blue field with a canton displaying the national flag and the air force roundel in the fly. This group of countries includes Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and India.
It’s worth noting that the Indian Air Force was established as the Indian Air Force, not the Royal Indian Air Force. Throughout its 91-year history, it was known as the RIAF for only five years, from 1945 to 1950. This journey of the Indian Air Force Ensign occurred during a period when it bore the name Indian Air Force.
Indian Air Force gets its Ensign
On January 17, 1941, the IAF received approval for its ensign, which, like many other nations, was based on the RAF ensign. During World War II, this ensign functioned as an identification tool and a symbol of allegiance.
In a formal ceremony held in July 1942 during the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to India, the ensign was officially handed over to the IAF.
The IAF ensign remained unchanged until January 26, 1950, when the adoption of the Constitution required a significant change. During that time, the IAF issued new commissioning parchments to all officers, symbolizing their allegiance to India under the authority of the President of India.
(Left to Right-Cadet Capt SK Dey, Air Chief, Maj Gen Thimmaya Commandant, Capt Reggie Sawhney Dy Comdt, Capt Pathania Adjt) on 24 July 1950 as a memory of the discontinued Ensign
New IAF Ensign in 1950
It was Lord Mountbatten who suggested to Prime Minister Nehru the adoption of an Indianized design. This design overhaul involved replacing the Union Jack with the Indian Tri-color and substituting the Red-White-Blue roundel with the Green-White-Saffron roundel.
The new IAF ensign underwent a complete Indianisation process accepting the suggestions made above but also removing the star that surrounded the roundel, leaving only the IAF roundel. On January 5, 1950, a PIB release summarized the changes to the “Indian Air Force Ensign.”
For 73 years, this ensign has soared as the proud flag of the Indian Air Force. IAF in its new design, chose a subtle and relevant change—introducing the IAF crest on the Device Charge of the ensign.
With inputs from Jagan Pillarisetti and references to flag history from “The world encyclopedia of flags” by Alfred Znamierowski.
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