RAF Henlow Station Badge

The RAF Henlow Station badge depicts a dragon repairing a castle with the motto "Labor Arma Ministrat" ("Hard Work Provides Arms") and has been the centre of many discussions as to its origins.  Apparently, it pre-dates the Royal Air Force and was unofficially adopted in 1918 from the insignia of the Royal Engineers who were responsible for building No 5 Eastern Area Depot at Henlow. This unit had served in China at the time of the Second Boxer Rebellion and so the dragon is Chinese and not Welsh! The dragon is repairing the broken tower, a reference to the Station's original role of maintaining and repairing aircraft from the Western Front in World War I.  The badge was transferred between units as Henlow was renamed over the years and was officially revived as the Station Badge in 1968.