Air Transport Auxiliary Veterans Badge

The Department for Transport has introduced a Veterans Badge to be awarded to members of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in recognition of their important work during the WWII.

The Air Transport Auxiliary Veterans Badge

The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was a civilian organisation under the auspices of the Air Ministry.  It began operation in 1939 delivering aircraft from factories to RAF airfields, both at home and abroad.  During the course of the war pilots of ATA, both male and female, were responsible for ferrying over 300,000 aircraft thus freeing RAF pilots for operational duty.  Flying unarmed military aircraft into active RAF airfields could be extremely hazardous and some 15 members lost their lives.  No less than 87 were decorated for their work.


By 1945, ATA had pilots from 22 countries around the world, including Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the United States. They delivered 147 different types of aircraft in all weather conditions but had an incredibly low accident rate.

Who is eligible to receive a Veterans Badge?

An Air Transport Auxiliary Veterans Badge (also known as ATA Veterans Badge) can be issued to any man or woman who served in the Air Transport Auxiliary between 3rd September 1939 and 30th November 1945.  The badges are for all surviving men and women who served in ATA and not just for pilots.  It is free to all recipients.


The ATA Veterans Badge is a survivors' badge rather than a medal and has been designed to honour the united effort of the whole Air Transport Auxiliary service.  In line with other similar veterans badges, the ATA Veterans Badge can only be issued posthumously if death has occurred after the badges of introduction on 1st February 2008, in which case it may be awarded to the Next of Kin.