Editing Flag (section)

===War flags===
{{Main|War flag|Colours, standards and guidons}}
[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|thumb|Standard for the [[UK]]'s [[Royal Air Force]], the [[Royal Air Force Ensign|Ensign of the RAF]] displays the RAF [[roundel]] that is also displayed on the fuselage and wings of British warplanes.]]

Several countries, including the [[Royal Air Force]], [[British Army]] and the [[Royal Navy]] ([[White Ensign]]) of the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Soviet Union]] have had [[Union Jack|unique flags]] flown by their [[armed forces]] separately, rather than the [[national flag]].

Other countries' armed forces (such as those of the United States or Switzerland) use their standard [[Flag of the United States|national flag]]; in addition, the U.S. has alongside flags and seals designed from long tradition for each of its six uniformed military services/military sub-departments in the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] and the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]]. The Philippines' armed forces may use their [[Flag of the Philippines|standard national flag]], but during times of war the flag is turned upside down. [[Flag of Bulgaria|Bulgaria's flag]] is also turned upside down during times of war. These are also considered war flags, though the terminology only applies to the flag's military usage.

Large versions of the war flag flown on the [[warship]]s of countries' [[navy|navies]] are known as [[battle ensign]]s. In addition, besides flying the national standard or a military services' emblem flag at a military fort, base, station or post and at sea at the stern (rear) or main top mast of a warship, a [[Jack (flag)|Naval Jack flag]] and other [[maritime flag]]s, [[Pennant (commissioning)|pennants]] and emblems are flown at the bow (front). In times of war waving a white flag is a banner of truce, talks/negotiations or surrender.

Four distinctive African flags currently in the collection of the [[National Maritime Museum]] in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] were flown in action by [[Itsekiri]] ships under the control of [[Nana Olomu]] during the conflict in the late 19th century. One is the flag generally known as the [[Flag of the Benin Empire|Benin Empire flag]] and one is referred to as Nana Olomu's flag.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/upload/amaxus_pdf/amaxus_conWebDoc_229.pdf|title=Welcome to the Royal Museums Greenwich Blogs - Royal Museums Greenwich Blogs|access-date=2010-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928144651/http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/upload/amaxus_pdf/amaxus_conWebDoc_229.pdf|archive-date=2011-09-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>