Raf PA armband ??
 

Hello everyone I’m wondering if anyone out there could identify this armband it’s been stumping me for years . Thanks in advance jilbat

The armband here is a modern RAF 'Aide de Camp' armband, first introduced about 1950. The earlier types had bullion lettering identical to yours.

Yours would be for a 'Personal Assistant', although it might not be RAF. The RCAF, about the same time , had a light blue wool armband with 'PRO' in bullion surmounted by an eagle and crown, for a 'Public Relations Officer' (Stores Ref 22H/340).

Pretty certain its early to mid 1950s, possibly RAF or RCAF.

A page from the Royal Air Force Dress Regulations for Officers 1953...

The descriptions don't include the 'PA' although it does specify that armbands are to be relinquished when the officer vacates his position, for the armband to be passed on to his successor.

The PA'S shown, but with a crown above the Eagle and possibly on a darker shade of band?

...which is why I said it might be RCAF!

Which is over my head. "The descriptions don't include the PA".
I retire in confusion.

The illustration page shown is from the 1953 Royal Air Force Dress Regulations showing the armbands. The specific written passage in the 1953 Royal Air Force Dress Regulations on Armbands only mentions one or two such as those for Provost Marshal, and describes where and how they are worn, but dont include the 'PA'.

Hope that is clearer?

Yes, thanks.

Police Auxiliaries?

No, police armbands are in combinations of black and red.

Thankyou padre for your help it would certainly seem it’s a personal assistant!

Would civilian (Civil Service) staff working at the Air Ministry be required to wear an armband ?

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Thoughts on Personal Assistant Armlet
 

After viewing post No 1 is there a vocab number on the rear of the armlet? Post No 3 shows page 84 of AP1358 (2nd Edition) 1953 in which the PA armlet illustrated appears to be the same as the one shown in post 1, but with a crown above the eagle. Earlier in my copy of the publication (page 37 - AL3, Mar 54)
ARMLETS, para 13(C) states Aide-de-Camp to Air Officers commanding Groups at Home and in the Second Tactical Air Force. Cloth, light blue in colour, 3 1/2 inches wide, with letters "A.D.C, 3/4 inch high in gold embroidery on the centre of the armlet and surmounted by an eagle and crown. Could this mean that between 1953 and 1954 the appointment of Personal Assistants had be re-designated Aide-de-Camp? For the record Royal Assents for the wearing of Aiguillettes in 1951 refer to Personal Assistants but in 1957 on the same subject refer to A.D.Cs. Final thought who stole the crown!!!

Don't know if this could be helpful , IWM has an ADC armlet (no photo , only description) made by Hobsons 21 Oct 55.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30070620

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No. You would have some 'civilian staff' such as security and doormen who might wear uniform, in particular if they were Air Ministry Wardens (as in photo) or Air Ministry Constabulary, but outside that the only thing civilian staff would have would be official passes etc.


No. Aside from the fact that my copy of the dress regulations carries the same description of the ADC armband (IE both the 'PA' and 'ADC' armbands with in use together), an 'Aide-de-Camp is an official title worn long before and still today. I suspect that the ADC has a higher clearance in matters, and would attend official functions and state occasions as an ADC, whereas a 'Personal Assistant' (PA) would have a lower role, perhaps not subject to such a higher clearance and not required normally to attend parade or State occasions as a PA.