RAN Metal Qualification badges

[seaeagle25]

The RAN has for years had qualification badges for pilots, observers and aircrewman. I was wondering two things about the recent addition of qualification badges such as PWO (Principal Warfare Officer),Engineering officer, Fighter Controller, Maritime Geospatial Officer, Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer, Maritime Logistics Officer and of course Submariner. Three recent additions ar the Information Warfare Officer, Intelligence Officer and Remote Pilot Warfare Officer:
1. when did the PWO, Submariner and other qualification badges begin?
2. how do you identify originals? There seems to be many businesses that have reproductions of these bages and they look like the real thing. However, recently I asked a PWO qualified officer what was on the back of his badge and it had his own graduating number - all the ones on-line just have a flat back with no identifaction. Pilot, Observers seem to have the manufacturers name like Stokes, Lega or Swann and Hudson on the back but I feel that these may be old manufactured badges.

For some reason the RAN qualification badges seem to be produced in big numbers by off-shore manufacturers. This never seemed to happen with RAAF wings. I know the RAAF wings don't have the manufacturer's name on the back nowadays but they usually have STG SIL denoting that they are made of sterling silver. Maybe that has also changed - I have been out of the collection game for some time now!!

Any help on the history of RAN metal qualifications badges would be much appreciated. The pilots, observers and aircrewman badges I have a good idea on but it is the others that I would love some help.

Regards

Doug

[badgecollector]

Hi Doug
not sure i can help
have you seen this site?
https://www.navy.gov.au/customs-and-...val-uniforms-0
also,
also John Perryman has written a book, Kit Muster. you will probably need the second book, post 1953

do you have any examples you could share? im sure i have some of my own somewhere. will go hunting for them
bc

[seaeagle25]

Thanks BC

Have read both of John's books an gained some minimal dates but nothing on the recent badges.

If you have any photos of the backs of your metal qualification badges that could help.
Thanks
Doug

[fairlie63]

Where do we get hold of John Perryman's second book?

[badgecollector]

Originally Posted by seaeagle25

Thanks BC

Have read both of John's books an gained some minimal dates but nothing on the recent badges.

If you have any photos of the backs of your metal qualification badges that could help.
Thanks
Doug

Hi Doug
Put this lot together several years ago.
I can’t think of any sterling silver RAN wings unlike the RAAF.
Would like to see any silver RAN wings.
BC

[Home Guard]

BC, Just a side note, but really like the way you keep your badges! I may need to look into that.

Terry

[seaeagle25]

Thanks BC

Will post a photo of mine later this weekend. The wing with the manufacturer Swann and Hudson - was that the pilot wing?

Any other markings on the back of the other badges.?

I have not seen any silver RAN badges. They seem to go for gold.

Send a photo tomorrow.

Regards

Doug

[seaeagle25]

Hi there BC

The photos are on an angle because of shadows from our house lights. Will try to take a more direct vertical shot in daylight tomorrow. The only badges that have a manufacturer's name are the upswept Observer and Aircrewman badges - they have Lega on the back.
Best wishes
Doug

[seaeagle25]

Hi there BC
I can't send my file of all badges. Have resized it but it won't go under the 117kb size limit. Not sure how to fix this??

Regards

Doug

[seaeagle25]

Hi there BC
I have managed to download two photos:

1. one is the back of the PWO badge showing how it was stamped out from a die and hence no solid back
2. my collection - notice there are 2 missing spaces - Intelligence Officer badge and the Remote Pilot badge.

Best wishes

Doug

[badgecollector]

Originally Posted by Home Guard

BC, Just a side note, but really like the way you keep your badges! I may need to look into that.

Terry

thanks Terry

[badgecollector]

here you go Doug
pics of my modern RAN and RAAF brevets,
bc

[seaeagle25]

Some nice badges BC - well done!