The First Roundel follows the journey of the Roundel from its French origins to the current day. Of particular interest to Air Force Cadets studying ARB 3

1. The first Roundel
ARB3

2. As a young lad in High School I really bungled some of my
learning opportunities.
The worst of these was that I missed out on learning about the
Australian Flying Corps from my English Teacher at High School
I looked for Pictures and articles about Mr Fisher-Webster in vain
Herbert attended Sydney High School, and later at Oxford
University and Sydney University.
He enlisted in the AIF on the 3rd March, 1916, and sailed on the
7th October with 6th Reinforcements.

3. From the 8th February, 1917, and served at Hindenburg Line and
Bullecourt, where he was wounded 19th May. I believe he was wounded
in the hand as that was a disability he carried through his later teaching
career.
He transferred to A.F.C. in November, was commissioned on 22nd April,
1918, promoted lieutenant, 22nd July, finally returning home 31st
August, 1920.

4. One Question I would have asked was “What was the origin of the
Roundel?”
Sopwith Camel no Roundel Later Picture with a Roundel

5. The French Air Service originated the use of
roundels on military aircraft during WWI. The
chosen design was the French national cockade
whose colours are the blue-white-red of the French
Flag.
Similar national cockades, with different ordering of
colours, were designed and adopted as aircraft
roundels by their allies, including the British Royal
Flying Corps and the US Army Air Service. After
WWI, many other air forces adopted roundel
insignia, distinguished by different colours or
numbers of concentric rings.

6. French Voisin type III Circa WWI

7. A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular or oval shaped symbol
of distinctive colours which is usually worn on a hat. Famously,
Napolion’s army.
Napoleon’s hat worn at Waterloo
In the 18th and 19th centuries, coloured cockades were used in Europe
to show allegiance. Military uniforms used a cockade to distinguish
Nationality

8. Countries like Australia, New Zealand & Canada adopted the British Roundel
however they have made changes in recent years to personalise the image
and also use low visibility Roundels

9. United States of
America
Singapore
Low visibility on Right

10. Malaysia
Navy right
Philippines Low visibility on Right

11. Indonesia Air Force Army Navy
British

12. Republic of Korea
Papua New Guinea