The southern cross is tilted so that Gamma Crucis stays in the same position as for the Australian National Flag and that Alpha Crucis is moved along the x-axis towards the hoist by one-sixth of the width of the flag. This results in the axis being rotated 14.036° clockwise around Gamma Crucis and each star is rotated in this way,[2] although the constellation as a whole is not simply rotated.
History
The RAAF Ensign can be seen in this 2007 Anzac Day parade in Brisbane.
The RAAF was established in 1921. On 24 July1922, the British Royal Air ForceEnsign, a sky-blue British ensign with the RAF roundel in the fly, was approved as the ensign of the RAAF. This flag was used until 1948, when the RAAF asked to change the flag to avoid confusion. A warrant for the new flag, which had the roundel in the lower fly of sky-blue ensign with Commonwealth Star and tilted southern cross to match the Australian national flag, was given in 1949. The RAAF adopted a distinctive roundel on 2 July1956; a red kangaroo replacing the red circle of the British version.[3] The old roundel remained on the ensign, however, until 1981, when the Queen approved the change to the current flag.[4]
Although the flag is only flown by the RAAF, dispensation was granted to New Lambton Public School, NSW on 1995-05-18 to fly the RAAF ensign. This was in recognition of the school's involvement with the RAAF during World War II, when it was requestioned by the government and used as No. 2 Fighter Sector Headquarters. New Lambton Public School is currently the only school in Australia with permission to fly the RAAF ensign.[5]
