Les insignes métalliques de l’Aéronautique navale (1917-2021)

Maritime Aeronautics was born in 1910 and grew considerably during the Great War, where its main mission was to fight against German and Austro-Hungarian submarines. A few emblems, sometimes personal, were painted on certain aircraft from 1916, but it was above all from 1922 that squadron insignia flourished. ARDHAN has already published in 1996 a very successful book by Yves Gouriten, on the emblems painted on aircraft. This time the study focuses on the metal badges which are systematically listed here.

The first to appear are movable chest badges representative of flying personnel patents and certificates. Inspired by the chest badges created by the Military Aeronautics in 1916, they were distributed in the Maritime Aeronautics from July 1917 and had an official character. They are numbered and their use is regulated.

Metal squadron insignia appear gradually around 1925 and become fashionable in the 1930s. While their design is official and must be approved by the Naval Staff, their manufacture and distribution are not and are left to the initiative of unit commanders. These are souvenir items that should not be worn on the uniform, unlike military aeronautics.

The 358-page, four-colour work contains 85 notes giving the history of the formations, the description of the metal insignia in their various manufactures and more than 600 photographs. An opening is made in the field of vexillology with reproductions of unit flags.

It is from this angle that the History of Naval Aeronautics is revisited.

Vice-Admiral (2S) Michel Debray, former Commander of Embedded Aviation and the Aircraft Carrier Group (ALPA), kindly prefaced the book.