R.A.F. Pilot Wings for Review

[juno-44]

Hi,

I would like to have opinions on those 2 R.A.F. Pilot Wings? I was told by the original owner that they were bought privately in England during W.W.2.

Regards, Michel

[ebro]

Is this a Polish Flyer's jacket?
Eddie

[manchesters]

The wings are top quality WW2 or just after, private purchase RAF wings in bullion.
Very nice items, and yes, it will be a Polish RAF pilot.

regards

[juno-44]

Hi,

For more info on those Polish tunic please see my thread at:

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/polish...tunics-286562/

I acquired all these items from Elgin Scott himself in the early 1990's. I am asking about the R.A.F. Pilot wings because someone is now telling me that both R.A.F. Pilot Wings are postwar. I am glad that manchesters is telling me that they are W.W.2 as I remember Elgin telling me that he purchase them himself and that they were not cheap.

Regards, Michel

[manchesters]

Michel,

I actually said, "WW2 or just after" .

regards

[Rob Miller]

Hi Michel

I think I'm right is saying that some/most of the medal ribbons would have been awarded after the war, so I would think the wings were sewn on to this high position after the war too? but that doesn't mean they weren't purchased earlier.

Rob

[SAS1]

Bullion aircrew badges were introduced for the new 1947 pattern uniform. It differed from the wartime style most noticibly in having the two lower pockets removed. Also there were three RAF buttons down the front, with the fourth, lowest one a simple disc button which was hidden under the belt. The uniform was not popular and so it was changed again in 1949 back to a wartime style with all four pockets but with the same button set up. Aircrew badges reverted to the standard cloth.

So you should be able to date these to 1947 - 49.

Full dress, which also used bullion aircrew badges was discontinued at the start of the war.

[RCAF_Mike]

I have seen many examples of provenance privately tailored examples of pilot and aircrew wings. All that can really be said about these is that they are of the 1940s period. To exactly date them to wartime/postwar is pretty much impossible. There were dress regulations regarding these, but many opted to defy these regs.

[juno-44]

Hi to all,

Thank you all for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

Regards, Michel

[cga00]

What I noticed & thought odd was the use of large polish buttons on the tunic front and RAF pattern on the pockets. Was this the norm?

[SAS1]

Probably not the norm, but not uncommon. Jack Currie, in one of his books (I think it was him) notes how they used to have competitions to try and get as many 'foreign' buttons as possible, and then wear them without being noticed.