RAF OFFICER SHOULDER BOARDS QUESTION ?

[Dominique]

Dear Forum,
Was this type of shoulder boards actually worn during the war years?
Thank you,
Dominique

[Pembird]

These were worn with mess dress and in theory would be worn in certain circumstances bearing in mind that wartime pilots would not be shelling out for mess dress whilst they were otherwise engaged in operational flying!

[Dominique]

Your kind assistance is much appreciated.
Regards,
Dominique

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by Pembird

These were worn with mess dress and in theory would be worn in certain circumstances bearing in mind that wartime pilots would not be shelling out for mess dress whilst they were otherwise engaged in operational flying!

I'm sorry, but this response needs to be added-to.

The OP has posted pictures of shoulder boards which are actually for RAF No.8 (Tropical) mess dress whites, and which are never worn with the conventional northern hemisphere No.5 venetian blue mess dress, which has gold lace rank worn at the cuff.

By way of evidence, some No.8 mess dress pictures will be appended.

ps during WW2, the wearing of RAF No.5 mess dress was suspended for the duration (due to the massive influx of RAFVR conscripts and wartime rationing). The substitute was (and is) No.4 Interim Mess Dress, which is No.1 SD but with white wing collar shirt and black bow tie.

I do not know if No.8 Tropical Mess Dress was also suspended during WW2, but I suspect it probably was (I will eventually confirm this, one way or the other)Screenshot_2017-08-16-23-08-28.jpg

Screenshot_2017-08-16-23-08-18.jpg

[MST]

Here is another pair of tropical boards worn in southeast Asia just after WW2
Mike
(PS. This is the bloke who gave me the polar bear patch shown in by me in another post — what an interesting career!)