Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_2817
Interesting point is that these 'RAF' Buttons would only have been worn on No1 Dress Jacket, and later in the war Blue Battledress would have been worn in particular by other ranks aircrew? would the brass fly button compass then be used.
What type was used by Army Airborne Troops or SOE etc? I know magnetised razor blades were issued for use in escape and evasion kits, and various other types smuggled into POW camps for use in escapes as well.
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Hi Mike,
There were a new set of escape compasses for BD, including a specific Bakelite Button with a magnetic core and two dots to indicate North. These were used like Swinger compasses and suspended from cotton, to swing north. Also the fly buttons and a new invention, the BD Blouse buckle compass. A very ingenious invention...
The transition to BD negated the use of Brass RAF escape buttons, certainly for ground troops, but although the RAF transitioned to Bakelite buttons, Fleet Air Arm retained their brass buttons and therefore, their original escape buttons...
Regards
TB.