Parachutist Badge (United Kingdom)

The British Armed Forces award a range of Parachutist

Badges to those qualied as military parachutists. The
version awarded depends largely on the unit or role that
the individual lls following qualication.

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 Ocer Commanding No. 1 Parachute
Training School, and return to their units as qualied
parachutists.

History
2 Versions
2.1 Army
The British Army has three parachute qualication
badges for non SF qualied soldiers:
Assistant Parachute Jump Instructor;
Parachute Badge with Wings (also used by the Royal
Marines), and
Parachute Badge without Wings.[2]
The Parachute Badge with Wings insignia, which depicts
an open parachute embroidered in white anked by a pair
of wings embroidered in light blue, is only to be worn
by a qualied parachutist who has subsequently been on
the posted strength of a unit where he may be ordered
in the course of his duties to parachute.[3] Those who
do not serve with a parachute unit are permitted to wear
the Parachute Badge without Wings, colloquially known
as the 'Lightbulb'.[4]

2.2 Special Forces

Member of 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (see Parachute

Badge with Wings on his right sleeve)

The parachutists badges for personnel of the SAS and

SBS are of dierent designs, Special Forces Communicators attached to the SBS wear SBS pattern wings.[5]

During World War II with forming of the rst British Airborne units parachute training was a 12-day course carried out at the No. 1 Parachute Training School, RAF
Ringway. Recruits initially jumped from a converted
barrage balloon and nished with ve parachute jumps
from an aircraft. Anyone failing to complete a parachute
jump was returned to his old unit (known as returned to
unit or RTU). At the end of the course, new Paras
were presented with their maroon beret and parachute
wings and posted to a parachute battalion.

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 dcor
of Shepheards Hotel in Cairo, are worn on the right
shoulder[6] during the second world war, after a qualifying number of active service jumps, they were worn on
the left breast above medal ribbons.[7]

Currently British military personnel must complete the

Basic Parachute Course, which is held by No 1 Parachute 2.3 RAF
Training School at RAF Brize Norton, a 9-jump course
attended by personnel from all branches of the UK Qualied RAF and RAF Regiment personnel wear a
Armed Forces. Troops make each descent from a C- badge similar to the Armys Parachute Badge with Wings,
1

4 SEE ALSO

[7] Wellsted, Ian (1997). SAS with the Maquis. Greenhill

Books.
[8] http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/9647CE1A_
E2F1_FD48_EE58A77DCDE87EBE.pdf AP 1358 Uniform Dress and Appearance Regulations, Chapter 7 Distinguishing Insignia

4 See also
Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)
Parachutist Badge (United States)
Parachutist Badge (Germany)

Field Marshal Baron Walker of Aldringham, the Parachute

Badge without Wings can be seen on his left sleeve

formerly on an RAF blue-grey backing, since 1972 on

navy blue; there is an RAF equivalent to the 'lightbulb'.[8]
The Parachute Jump Instructor badge is categorised as a
Flying Badge.

References

[1] RAF Brize Norton. Ministry of Defence.

[2] The Sign of a Specialist.
[3] Adjutant Generals Administrative Instructions Para
43.198 a.
[4] Adjutant Generals Administrative Instructions Para
43.198 b.
[5] Special Boat Service Dress Regulations (PDF).
[6] Davis, Brian Leigh (1983). British Army Uniforms and
Insignia of World War Two. Arms and Armour Press. p.
67. ISBN 0-85368-609-2.

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Parachutist Badge (United Kingdom) Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachutist_Badge_(United_Kingdom)?oldid=669013734

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