Zaps
Zaps are slogans, badges and stickers that air forces, or RAF Squadrons, place on aircraft belonging to other air forces – usually in a positive spirit of rivalry and humour.
Object number : Merlin zap
Zaps, in the form of stickers, applied to the RAF Museum’s EH101 helicopter.
Copyright : Tim Bracey
Rivalry between units of the armed forces has been in existence for as long as armies have been around. The RAF in particular, with its units organised into squadrons, has had this competitive focus from its inception in 1918. Squadrons have always tried to outdo each other to prove that they are the best, playing tricks on each other and generally finding ways to outsmart their fellow units. By doing so they push each other to greater performance.
A good example of this was in the Second World War and the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz during Operation CATECHISM on 12 November 1944. The two units involved, No. 617 and No. IX (9) Squadrons both claim (to this day!) to have sunk this giant ship. A bulkhead from the ship was presented to No. IX Squadron after the war and from then until 2001 the two units took turns in capturing the bulkhead and displaying it in their Squadron crew room. The competition was close to getting out of hand, so the RAF decided in 2002 that the bulkhead was to be presented to the RAF Museum London.
Object number : Tornado zap_001
No. 9 Squadron graffiti on a No. 617 Squadron Tornado.
Copyright : Tim Bracey
Most squadrons produced their own design of zap and they would be spread liberally around other units. They are usually placed in undercarriage bays, on doors and other out-of-the-way places. In some cases, there is also graffiti, added by ground, or flight crew. There are a number of examples on aircraft at the RAF Museum in London.
Panavia Tornado GR1
Two American units, one of the US Air Force and one of the US Navy, left their zap in the main undercarriage bays of our Tornado.
The Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit put up their sticker in the Tornado’s front undercarriage bay.
The Buccaneer was a bomber which was used during the Gulf War 1991. One of its main roles was to assist Tornado pilots by laser designating targets. As they operated side by side No. 17 Squadron, flying Tornadoes, were able to leave their zap in the main undercarriage bay of our Buccaneer.
Object number : Buccaneer zap
No. 17 Squadron’s emblem on the Buccaneer’s undercarriage.
Copyright : Tim Bracey
