Thread: Para wings
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Old 15-07-17, 03:12 PM
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fougasse1940 fougasse1940 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack8 View Post
In my opinion plating was a wartime economy measure to save nickel as the amount of nickel used in plating was less than the amount used in producing white metal.

Some badges such as the voided crown examples had a thin coating known as silver wash, which was a further economic measure.
That makes little sense to me, as brass was desparately needed for shell and cartridge cases, the reason for the introduction of the plastic badges in the first place, which should have been worn anyway.

On the 24th June 1942, a further ACI (1337/42) was published regarding the issue of plastic badges for the army. The ACI informed that in order to further conserve stocks of metal, it had been decided that in future the badges of all regiments and corps would be manufactured from plastic.

The white metal Parachute Regiment cap badge was sealed 25-3-1943, which contradicts ACI 1337/42. The plastic badge wasn't sealed until 5-2-1944 with the first contract being awarded on 20-8-1943 before the sealing of the badge. This all suggests the urgency of saving brass, or metal in general such as nickel, wasn't that strictly adhered to.

Rgds, Thomas.

Last edited by fougasse1940; 15-07-17 at 04:00 PM. Reason: date mix up
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