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Parachutist Badge (United Kingdom)

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… … …

The British Armed Forces award a range of Parachutist Badges to those qualified as military
parachutists. The version awarded depends largely on the unit or role that the individual fills
following qualification.

Contents Parachute Badge with Wings

History …

During World War II with forming of the first British

Parachute Badge with Wings
Airborne units parachute training was a 12-day
course carried out at the No. 1 Parachute Training Type Military Badge
School, RAF Ringway. Recruits initially jumped from
Awarded for Military Parachutist
a converted barrage balloon and finished with five
Proficiency
parachute jumps from an aircraft.[citation needed]
Anyone failing to complete a parachute jump was Description Comes in several

returned to his old unit (known as "returned to versions

unit" or "RTU"). At the end of the course, new Presented by the United Kingdom
Paras were presented with their maroon beret and
Eligibility Soldiers of the
parachute wings and posted to a parachute
British armed forces
battalion.[citation needed]
and Allied nations

Currently British military personnel must complete

Status Currently awarded
the Basic Parachute Course, which is held by No 1
Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton, a 9-jump
course attended by personnel from all branches of the UK
Armed Forces. Troops make each descent from a C-130 or
Skyvan aircraft using the Low Level Parachute at heights of
800 ft and 1000 ft.[1] On successful completion of their nine
descents, trainees are presented with their 'wings'[2] by the
Officer Commanding No. 1 Parachute Training School, and
return to their units as qualified parachutists.

Versions …

Royal Navy …
Member of 3rd Battalion, Parachute
Qualified military parachutists shall wear the Army pattern Regiment (see Parachute Badge with
parachutist badge, a parachute with wings, to be worn on the Wings on his right sleeve)
right arm 31mm below the shoulder seam, as follows:

No 1 Uniform. The full-sized badge in gold on blue.

No 2 Uniform (Mess Undress). The miniature badge (length 51mm, height 20mm) gold on blue.

PCS/MTP. The badge is NOT to be attached or worn with RIG22 jackets, or worn with replacement
RNPCS, new MTP or overalls from 1 Apr 22.[3]

Army …

The British Army has three parachute qualification badges for non Special Forces qualified soldiers:

Assistant Parachute Jump Instructor;

Parachute Badge with Wings (also used by the Royal Marines and Royal Navy)

Parachute Badge without Wings.[2]

The Parachute Badge with Wings insignia, which depicts an

open parachute embroidered in white flanked by a pair of
wings embroidered in light blue, is only to be worn by a
qualified parachutist who has subsequently been on the
posted strength of a unit where they may be ordered in the
course of their duties to parachute.[4] Those who do not serve
with a parachute unit are permitted to wear the Parachute
Badge without Wings, colloquially known as the 'Lightbulb'.[5]

Special Forces …

The parachutist's badges for personnel of the SAS and SBS

are of different designs, Special Forces Communicators
attached to the SBS wear SBS pattern wings.[6] Special
Forces Communicators wings are of a distinct design[7]

SAS pattern parachute wings, designed by Lieutenant Jock

Lewes and based on the stylised sacred Ibis wings of Isis of
Egyptian iconography depicted in the décor of Shepheard's
Field Marshal Baron Walker of
Hotel in Cairo, are worn on the right shoulder.[8] During the
Aldringham, the Parachute Badge
second world war, after a qualifying number of active service without Wings can be seen on his left
"jumps", they were worn on the left breast above medal sleeve
ribbons.[9]
 

RAF …

Qualified RAF and RAF Regiment personnel wear a badge similar

to the Army's Parachute Badge with Wings, formerly on an RAF
blue-grey backing, since 1972 on navy blue; there is an RAF
Martin Smith (left) with the SBS
equivalent to the 'lightbulb'.[10] The Parachute Jump Instructor parachutist badge on his right
badge is categorised as a Flying Badge. sleeve.

 
References …

1. ^ "RAF Brize Norton" . Ministry of Defence.

2. ^ a b "The Sign of a Specialist" .

3. ^ https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-
responsive/documents/reference-library/br-3-vol-1/br3d-vol-1-feb-
2022/ch39_compressed.pdf?la=en-
gb&rev=29454b6880c044028a5a9ccb77753530&hash=E1304CE Mark Carleton-Smith with the
32F7A6DC38D5951E18CB27219 [bare URL PDF] SAS parachutist badge on his
right sleeve.
4. ^ Adjutant General's Administrative Instructions Para 43.624 a.

5. ^ Adjutant General's Administrative Instructions Para 43.624 b.

6. ^ "Special Boat Service Dress Regulations" (PDF).

7. ^ "New Cap Badge for UK Special Forces Communicators - Soldier

Systems Daily" .

8. ^ Davis, Brian Leigh (1983). British Army Uniforms and Insignia of

World War Two. Arms and Armour Press. p. 67. ISBN 0-85368-609-
2.

9. ^ Wellsted, Ian (1997). SAS with the Maquis. Greenhill Books.

10. ^
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/9647CE1A_E2F1_FD48_E
E58A77DCDE87EBE.pdf Archived 24 March 2009 at the
Wayback Machine AP 1358 - Uniform Dress and Appearance
Regulations, Chapter 7 - Distinguishing Insignia

See also …

Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)

Parachutist Badge (United States)

Last edited 15 days ago by Sm8900

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