With all the comments about whether ground branch personnel are or are not aircrew.... it is interesting to read Wg Cdr Jefford's excellent book about rear crew training through the ages. It seems that flying badges should be submitted to the Palace for approval by the Sovereign, but the last flying badge to be so approved was the "AE" flying badge in 1957. Flying badges since then have not gone through the correct approval and a state of confusion now exists as to whether the QM, LM, FC, and AT badges are indeed authorised for wear on uniform. This progresses further to the WSO/WSOp flying badge which also has not been correctly authorised. Indeed, at the time of the first award of the FC Brevet at Lossiemouth, responsibility for awarding flying badges was held by Air Officer Training at HQ Support Command and his feathers were ruffled when it was learned that AOC 11 Gp had been pinning an unknown variety of badge on chests at Lossiemouth. (As said by a reporter at the first FC badge award ceremony..."Is this FC Brevet an Italian football team?"). Jefford also states that when the RPAS "pilot wings" were considered, it would seem that having neglected to follow correct procedure since the 1960s, the RAF no longer had any idea of how to go about this. Even after the College of Arms became involved, a procedure was just made up by Air Command. A FOI request to the RAF stated that the "paperwork authorising the flying badges does not exist". At the end of the day, the RAF High Command stated that the badge was to be worn without the required approval. It is still all as clear as mud as evidenced by the two sides of A4 that Jefford uses to describe the total confusion and (in some cases) pig headedness) as to who authorises the badges and indeed if they are official at all.