Thats OK Troutbridge, however I cannot answer with any degree of accuracy as I am not really knowledgable on FAA badges. I know the RCN rate badges well but the FAA at that
"changeover" period I go by the May book "Insignia of the British Armed Forces", which I think now long OOP.
He says:
"CPO PILOTS wear a flying badge similar to Officers , {these I have illustrated above}
and AIRCREWMAN wear a badge very like that of OBSERVERS; Aircrewman {this badge has the crown above} & Aircrewman(U) {I am thinking U designated Unqualified or Unclassified??}, which has no crown above."
So I am assuming Leading rates wore the no crown badge & CPO & PO's wore the crown above badge as they achieved the higher qualification.
Italics are mine
I have seen the thicker O around the central anchor & I think this is a manufacture's or tailor's varient.
The Officer's Observer wing definitely had a thicker silver O surrounding the anchor & had the Crown above.
Bryan
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