RAF Roundels, Not As British As You Thought!

Have you ever wondered why RAF aircraft since the Great War have sported those rings of blue, white and red? If so, this is the video for you.

I go through the interesting history of how the design was first adopted and why as well as the changes the RAF roundel has undergone over the years.

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📕 Welcome to my channel where I share my love of history and aviation. I first fell in love with military aviation when reading Biggles books as a boy, then I studied history at university. I like finding interesting stories and sharing them with others.

I also followed this passion into the real world and managed to get a Private Pilot's Licence on 10th May 2014.

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⏱️ Timestamp:
0:00 intro

#aviationhistory#history

[chrisp]

Here’s one for you. The alternative of 3 lions appears in the title text. That came from Richard the Lionheart. The 3 lions were one for each of the regions he ruled - England, Normandy and Acquitaine. So even that most “English” of symbols was originally two thirds French!

[Sherwoody]

Allied aircraft were given stripes on the wings and fuselage from D-day onward in the European theatre. At this point in the war stealth and camouflage were not important to the allies, but being downed by friendly fire was.

[rains_on_leith]

My grandfather flew in WWI with the RFC, I’m only 27, so you can imagine how late he had my father; and how late my father had me — I am grateful to you for your teaching me the above about roundels and I shall always cherish it.

VIVE L'ENTENTE ! 🇫🇷 🇬🇧

[thamesmud]

Aviation language we knicked from the French. Hanger is French for shed . Empennage for tail feathers, fuselage etc. I'm sure there are a lot more.

[DIDYOUSEETHAT]

1:42 For the uninitiated the dart looking Flechette's were dropped onto infantry, unarmored vehicles, to pierce helmets, subsequently heads & shoulders, instant cure for dandruff, and all your other troubles. "Flechette" is French for "little arrow" and or "Dart."

[ieatoutoften]

What Americans called the "meatball" was
the hinomaru. (Perhaps this word should be capitalized.)
The literal meaning of hinomaru is "the
sun’s red disk". It was adopted as the standard roundel of Japan in 1918.

[wishiwas-jdcd]

Great video! Nice to hear a narrator using his own voice instead of the standard computer-generated voices you regulate hear!

[mjf]

"let's revolt but not too excessively" That is my new favorite quote. ❤😂

[bobmetcalfe]

My dad was in the R.N. during World War II. At the beginning of the war they tended to shoot at anything with wings. I think by the end of the war things are become a bit more sophisticated, but they were still a bit trigger-happy.😁

[CanadianSmoke]

I'm glad you mentioned the adjustment of the roundel for SEAC and the RAAF and the RNZAF.

[jonathanj.]

Yes, that was very interesting. It explained alot of things. I often wondered why Battle Of Britain fighters had that yellow outer ring surrounding the normal roundel. I had also noticed how it changed in 1942. The USA also chose to modify their own aircraft markings to avoid confusing them with the Japanese red sun ones.

[deanworsley]

Great video mate, ex RAAF maintainer here, thank you. I think the way we and New Zealand changed the central 'red dot' to a kangaroo and kiwi respectively was a bit of fun 😆👌

[michaeltroster]

Excellent video. I never realized the roundel underwent so many changes over time.

[Raven.flight]

I find it interesting that the RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF and the SAAF roundels (Kangaroo, Maple Leaf, Kiwi, and Springbok respectively) all can trace their roots back (indirectly) to the Napoleonic Wars cockade.

[joso]

Excellent video. Quite a confusing and complex history !
And I didn’t know at all about the WWI part, which was essential in the cocardes becoming such a standard !!
As of the French, we always sticked to the basic 3-color one, although a low visibility version recently came up. The size of it also varied quite a bit.

[sandybarrie]

during WW2 in the pacific, Australians painted out the red part of the rounderl on aircraft, because at a distance, the red was mor visual, the blue and white, blening with clouds and sky, and there were a few occasions of aircraft with roundels being fired on by our own side, and a few shot down. (my father was in 76 Sqn RAAF).

[stephenrose]

Good video and as one with a lifelong interest in aviation I was happy to have my knowledge of the history broadened.
Thank you!

[jazzingpanda]

Honestly, things would be a lot cooler if they just used the Welsh dragon.

[briantomcollins]

I always wondered if that was based on the French round, but never actually looked it up. Pretty cool. I also wondered why the never used the Union Jack or even St. George's cross. Great video...

[johnmedlock]

I appreciate the inclusion of a pink recon Spitfire at 07:18. This shows the correct hue and value of pink. Very useful for future reference.