hi,
I'm not an expert on other Allied RAF nations, but until the very end of war, Czech personnel wore the standard RAF SD/BD pattern incl. rank/cap insignia and qualification wings.
The only extra 'bling' standing out of the standard RAF stuff were the 'Czechoslovakia' shoulder titles and pre-war Czechoslovakian pattern pilot/observer/AG qualification wings sewn on the centre of the right pocket (from the wearer's view). Photographic evidence shows some Czechs sporting a Czechoslovak Army pattern button replacing the standard top button on a Service Dress, but that is a non issue, private matter (I believe this was tolerated, but not a wide spread custom, something similar to the fighter pilots' custom leaving the top button undone).
At the end of war, Czechoslovak Army cap badges, buttons and shoulder tabs (with Czechoslovakian ranks) were introduced to form the so called 'Czechoslovak Return Uniform', however, there are photographs showing many airmen still wearing plain RAF SD/BD with nothing Czech-tweaked but a nationality shoulder title or /P/O/AG qualification badge on the Vic Parade in Prague after their return home.
The Polish Air Force as I gather is a slightly different cup of tea as they were many and used their own insignia throughout the war including cap badges, collar badges, buttons, ...
If it helps, bits of the Czechoslovakian insignia can be found in
one of my albums here
06-09-14, 01:44 PM
RAF Foreign Legions In WW II
Linear Mode
