Air branch - post 1950 branch badges

[RCN]

After WWII the RCN established a sound FAA program & continued with aircraft carriers. The fleet carriers for the post war period & into the 1960’s were HMCS Warrior, HMCS Magnificent, & HMCS Bonaventure.

In Feb 1949 all the former wartime Fleet Air Arm (FAA) rates were all abolished with the restructuring of the RCN, the introduction of the new RCN branch badges replacing all the previous FAA rate badges.

Here are some of the descriptions of the new rates taken from the RCN magazine “Crowsnest” of May ’49:

"Air Fitter: to perform similar duties to the present Air Mechanic (Engines) & certain engine electrics duties.

Air Rigger: To perform similar duties to the present Air Mechanic(Airframes), the maintenance duties of the present Air Mechanic(Ordnance), & certain electrical duties relative to this trade.

Aircraft Controlman: To perform similar duties to the present Aircraft Handler with the added duties of Flying Control, general duties in an Air Station & specialist air and general ship duties in the air party of an aircraft carrier.

Safety Equipment Mechanic: To peform similar duties to the present Safety Equipment Worker.

Air Artificer: To perform similar duties ot the present Air Artificer(AE). In adition will possess Air Ordnance and a degree of Air Electrical capabilities.

Plane Captain: To perform supervisory duties in Maintenance & Servicing Units in daily minor & major inspections of Naval aircraft, & operate Maintenance Control & Log Card Control Rooms.
(this rate name was later changed to Plane Technician)

Conversion courses will be given in the School of Aircraft Maintenance…."

Generally speaking, but not all inclusive ----

Engine, Fitter & Electrical ratings became Air Fitters (AF)
Airframe & Riggers became Air Riggers (AR)
Some senior PO & CPO ratings became Air Artificers (AT)
Handlers became Air Controlmen (AC)
SET & MET ratings remained SET’s, & MET’s. Their ID nomenclature became SE & MO.
All Ordnance ratings initially became Air Riggers, then subsequently Weaponsmen Air (WA) . The WA rate was not introduced at this time though, it was created approx 1954.
Ratings qualified as Naval Aircrewman remained in that rate & the NA rate continued post war.
Rating Pilots were abolished & all future pilots in the RCN were Officers(P).

Illustrated below are the rate badges for:

Air Rigger, Air Fitter
Plane Tech’n, Air Artificer
Aircraft Controlman, Safety Equip’t Tech’n
Meteorologist, Weapons Air

[RCN]

Ratings of the former Air Radio Mechanic branch who were qualified in both Air Radar & Air Wireless, and men of the former Air Artificer(L) branch were transferred to the two new Air Electronic/Electrical rates - Electrical Technician{Air}(EA), & Radio Technician {Air} (RA). The Radio tech'n Air rate name was later changed to Electronic Technician(Air)

Their rate badges are shown below:

[RCN]

a few examples of Air rate CPO pairs:

[RCN]

Naval Aircrewman (NA)rate badge:

The NA rate was not a trade badge, but rather an additional qualification badge. It was worn on the left cuff of the uniform. Naval Airman qualified as aircrew after undergoing Air trade training & usually had a few years in before qualifying.

[RCN]

This cap ribbon was worn by RCN air ratings.


Illustration of the R.C.N.A.S. ratings cap ribbon.