Canadian Airborne Regiment
 

Hi

There are pics of their gear all over the place so I thought I'd start a "Master title" thread on the subj.

Please find a few examples for your enjoyment and or reference. :)

regards
Darrell

Hi

A few more pics of CAR badges I've had over the years.

regards
Darrell

Thanks for your posts Darrell. I didn't realise that there are so many variations of the CAR cap badge. Looking forward to future contributions! Cheers,

Walt

Is the screw posts an officers or for the parade belt

Mike

Hi

Not a problem, Walt. Just don't expect me to make frequent posts. My idea was as much for others to post than just me.:D

Mike, I believe the Forum's determination was that it was for a belt. In my day, CAR Officer wore a bullion but there is evidence here on the Forum showing them wearing a metal badge in the early days. Not sure if that was reversed colours from the ones shown above or not.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=51676

regards
Darrell

The screw post badge is a buckle badge. The CAR officers' badges are bullion embroidered on maroon material.

BGen Christie's Para Smock
 

Thought I'd add this. CAR under the command of the newly created SSF.
BGen Christie was the first Force Commander to the newly formed SSF in April 1977. This smock is a first issue smock, dated 1975. One of the original smocks initiated by the Canadian Airborne Regiment in 1974 as a private purchase that DND accepted responsibility for in 1975. Note the Nylon Zipper.
His Jump Wing is also a first pattern with no border. A rare smock on a number of levels.
Also attached a pic of BGen Christie while commanding the SSF which included the CAR at that time. This was taken in 1978 after a jump w E Battery 2 RCHA.

Is the fellow far left wearing an Air Force metal cap badge?

Mike

I notice BGen Christie is wearing a US jump wing above his name tag.

Terry

No. He is wearing the Air Operations Branch cap badge.

Air Ops Badge and SSF Smock
 

Member wearing the Air Ops badge was likely the G3 Avn for the SSF. He would have been a Heli pilot, responsible for planning Joint Ops w 427 Sqn and the SSF. One of a very very small number who were Air Force but wore the Smock in Petawawa.

How did you manage to obtain Christie's smock? And can you post a higher-resolution copy of the post-jump photograph? There are some great details in it which I'd like to confirm.

Thanks,
Dan.

There were lots of people in Petawawa who were "Air Element" and wore the SSF smock. Any of the CSS trades would have been a mix of land, sea and air and prior to the introduction of environmental uniforms, would have worn the SSF smock.
Within the SSF (particularly in 2 Service Battalion), the trades that were eventually absorbed into the Materials Technician trade - Metals Technician, Refinisher Technician and Machinist - wore the Air Operations Branch cap badge.

Thank You for the Additional Info
 

Hi Phillip, my thanks for the additional input.

I should have clarified, in my reply that few Pilot qualified Air Officers served w the SSF and wore the smock. The picture shows one of two pilots that served in the SSF, both in G3 Avn positions,
(I was posted with 2 Svc Bn (91-94) and then HQ SSF until the creation of 2 CMBG, leaving Bde staff in 97).
I'd forgotten about the OR's in the Four Companies with a few Air and Sea trades as well.

First Cap Badge, CAR, 1968-1969
 

Thought I would send this along...my jump serial was #7712; went on TALEX in spring '78., with first-issue lugs on back.

The early badges were interesting...

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