Quote:
Originally Posted by dragon166
This badge has long been a mystery. The original press picture you showed is the only one I have ever seen that shows this badge. It must have been that picture that was used to create the Osprey drawing shown below. Other ROC collectors are also stumped.
Dave
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Came across a thread on a "military model makers' site which mentioned this badge. The drawing is apparently from one of the Blandford Colour Series books on WW2 uniforms.
"I read up on the text accompanying the Blandford book. This 1944 figure is an
observer status only, higher ranks insignia would have been seen on both sleeves. If he was a "master spotter", he would have a circular badge with a spitfire on his left sleeve (position not indicated)."
In " Royal Observer Corps: The 'Eyes and Ears' of the RAF in WWII" there is a section about training :
"Post Observers are encouraged to take higher tests , of which there are two:- an intermediate test and the master test. An Observer who has passed the master test can be regarded as an expert in aircraft recognition; he is entitled to wear a "Spitfire" Arm badge."
So perhaps the badge in question was a 'short lived' intermediate one ?