• Home Page
• Association & Contacts
• Association Shop
• Roll of Honour
• Air Despatch Dakota
• The Open Door
• Photographs & Video
• Air Despatch Units
• Air Despatch Insignia
• Lost Touch
• Reunions
• Can You Help?
• Links
• Computer Security
• What’s New
• Site Map

Air Despatch Insignia

Cap Badges

Air Despatchers have served in the RASC (Royal Army Service Corps), RCT (Royal Corps of Transport) and RLC (Royal Logistic Corps). Four types of Cap Badge have been worn during the 60 years of Air Despatch.

Formation Signs

RASC Air Despatch Companies were first formed in March 1944 in order to make full use of the advantages that supply by air could bring to the army. It was in September that year, following the Arnhem Operation that the first insignia was authorised. This consisted of shoulder flashes depicting a golden Dakota on a dark blue background. The flashes were worn on the upper arms of Battledress (BDs) and Dennison Smocks. The Dakotas faced forward, and the one the left arm had a door showing in some versions. The Dakota is still worn today by 47 AD Sqn RLC.

Air Despatchers wore the Dakota flashes wherever they were in the world. Unlike other units, they did not have to wear local formation signs.

Four variations of the Dakota Flash are shown.

Brevets

In 1957, the wearing of a Brevet was authorised for Air Despatchers (see ‘The Open Door’). To qualify for the Brevet, Despatchers had to complete 40 training or 20 operational sorties, or a combination of the two. Quite a few styles of Brevet have been worn over the years and qualifications introduced to the trade meant that brevets were required to reflect these.

Anniversary Badge

The year 2000 saw the 100th anniversary of the formation 47 Company Army ServiceCorps. The first 47 Company was a Horse Transport Company.

47 Squadron Royal Logistic Corps is the direct descendant of that 47 Company. It is the sole remaining Regular Air Despatch Unit of the British Army. 47 AD Sqn is currently stationed at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.