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Old 11-03-16, 05:05 PM
SAS1 SAS1 is offline
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I have a pair of this type, which from construction look WWII , but not thought to be as you say.

I always found this a bit odd, but they were very cheap so no biggie. I was told RAF regiment perhaps?
I tried for some time to determine what wings RAF Regiment wore on their blue service dress in WW2, blue/grey backed or backed in dark blue (the former usual for officers badges and the latter for ORs).

Two parachute units served that I know of, the SD Section of 1328 Wing and No. 2810 Squadron. The former wore their wings on the right sleeve and the latter on the right breast. However, all the photos I've found show them in tropical service dress not blue service dress. The wings were all theatre made on a dark backing. Official permission for wearing them was asked for but the Air Ministry refused.

The RAF Regiment Museum has a photo of a Corporal from No. 2810 Squadron in 1946 (probably just prior to demob) in his blue service dress and he is wearing dark blue or black backed wings on his right breast. I suspect these are his theatre made examples.

By contrast I've only found one wartime member of the RAF Regiment who was parachute trained who was adamant they were issued standard khaki backed Army wings. So it seems 'RAF' wings were never issued during the war in standard UK made pattern on either a dark blue or blue/grey backing.

In 1948 elements of No. 2 Wing were parachute trained, the first course starting at No. 1 PTS Upper Heyford in April 1948. The Air Ministry still refused permission to wear wings but photos of members from the 1948/49 period show dark backed wings on the blue/grey 1947 Pattern BD.

Believe it or not despite parachute elements existing in the RAF Regiment the Air Ministry did not authorise the wearing of wings for the first time until 1962 when No. II (Field) Squadron was turned into a Parachute Squadron. Although of WW2 manufacture I suspect your wings would date from then at the earliest.
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