WWII Southern Rhodesia Air Force cap badge
 

WWII, stamped metal, narrow wreath Southern Rhodesian Air Force cap badge. Could anybody be so kind as to state when exactly, and where, the SRAF operated during WWII? Is there any reason for the two patterns (narrow and large= of laurel wreath? Thank you in advance and all the very best, L.

Hello
The SRAF were in East Africa (1 Squadron, SRAF) before being pretty much absorbed into the RAF as 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron. The book 'Pride of Eagles' edited by Beryl Salt gives details. It also seems from photographs that the old SRAF badge continued to be worn by other ranks on the field service cap once absorbed into the RAF. Later there were two more 'Rhodesia' squadrons in the RAF, namely 44 and 266. As for wide and narrow wreaths I have no answer, I have always assumed they were made by different manufacturers from differnt dies but as I only have one example in the collection I haven't been able to verify this.