Throughout the history of the RAF the qualification badges for Aircrew have been called "Flying Badges". In all the dress regulations from 1st edition to the 5th edition this is the only term used. However the 6th edition does use the term "Brevet" when talking about the replacement of the Aircrew category badges and the introduction of the new Rear Crew badge. To quote;
"Note. With effect 1 Apr 03 the range of 5 aircrew brevets for rear crew personnel were replaced by the single rear crew brevet (see below). Those aircrew who were already qualified to wear old style individual brevets can opt to wear the new brevet or retain the old style but there will be no further provisioning of the current brevet.
Rear Aircrew Brevet. The monogram ‘RAF’ in drab silk surrounded by a laurel leaf of brown silk, surmounted by a crown with an outspread drab silk wing 2½" (6.35 cm) long – on dark blue melton cloth. Introduced 1 Apr 03 to replace Navigator, Air Electronics Officer/Operator, Air Engineer and Air Loadmaster. (See Note Above)".
Throughout my time in the service common parlance for these badges was "brevet", the term used by air and ground crew alike. It appears that the writer of the latest Dress Regs was used to that term and therefore used it in the AP. Bearing in mind that the re-written Regs would have had to be authorised at a high level it would seem that the word is now accepted as a description for these badges.
Dave
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