Minor slip over wings worn by George VI

YOUR report about Her Majesty’s televised address for VE Day 75 (News, May 8) includes this — not uncommon — solecism: “Also on the desk... at Windsor Castle was a framed photo of her father, George VI... in his Admiral of the Fleet uniform with RAF wings.”

Prince Albert (later King George VI) had entered the Royal Naval College, Osborne, as a naval cadet in 1909. His war service included his being on board HMS Collingwood at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

He was a serving Royal Navy Lieutenant when he was appointed in early 1918 to the Royal Naval Air Service Training Establishment at Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

When the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1918, his naval career effectively ended and he, like most of the RNAS, transferred to the RAF and he was awarded his wings by that service the following year. His active service with HM Armed Forces ended later in 1919.

The King was most commonly seen during the Second World War wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet and, as an aviator, he wore Royal Navy wings on his sleeve (Royal Marines wings and Army and RAF wings are worn on the breast of their respective uniforms). Indeed, the badge worn by naval aviators contains a clue: in the centre is an anchor.

Although the Royal Navy is undoubtedly the Senior Service, many Britons seem to think that all armed forces’ aircraft belong to the Royal Air Force. However, less than 75% of all British military aircraft are operated by the Royal Air Force, a significant number being operated by the Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps.

At least there is no misunderstanding about which service operates warships — albeit there are too few of them.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LESTER MAY (RN, RETD) By email