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  #1  
Old 21-04-17, 01:21 PM
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Anjoucollector Anjoucollector is offline
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Default Purple Para Wings

I have these Para Wings of an unusual colour. Would you know something about it ? Thank you.
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  #2  
Old 21-04-17, 05:03 PM
jamesmilitaria
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I wonder if they have been blackened for some reason and the black has faded to purple?
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Old 21-04-17, 06:52 PM
ianh67military ianh67military is offline
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In the late 70's early 80's when starlight scopes/ image intensifiers started to become available to even Territorial Army units, there was a rush to "Cam up" anything that would reflect light. There were no commercially available para wings in Camo patterns (a situation that was eventually sorted by manufacturers), but with a marker pen, those day-glo wings could rapidly be cammed up. The same situation was true of Para cap badges and everybody carried a cap badge painted in humbrol matt black in their para smock. again, the Para's PRI shop eventually had blackened cap badges made, and it was almost compulsory to buy one together with stable belt and sky blue backed pips (for officers).

Ian H
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Old 21-04-17, 07:35 PM
Mike B Mike B is offline
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Ian - an interesting insight - thanks
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Old 21-04-17, 10:06 PM
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I hate to say it but a while back a set of my wings inadvertently went in the wash with a set of black socks and now I have a 'black wings' instead of maroon.

Paul
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Old 22-04-17, 10:16 AM
Staffsyeoman Staffsyeoman is offline
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Commercial black permanent marker - or whiteboard markers - often fade to a purplish shade.
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Old 22-04-17, 10:58 AM
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The colour is very uniform. Could it have been done for Queen's Gurkha Signals ?
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