Bomb Aimer mess dress wing - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Alex Rice · #1 18-05-23, 02:41 PM

Hi All
Is there any way of dating this wing?
Thanks, cheers,
Alex

Nichollg · #2 19-05-23, 08:37 AM

I reckon 1950s.

Gaznav · #3 14-06-23, 07:53 PM

Air Bomber, not Bomb Aimer

The last of the Air Bombers were in 1946, I believe? Many retrained as Navs in the new post-war bombers.

Alex Rice · #4 15-06-23, 07:02 AM

Hi Gaznav
Thanks, didn't know that, I've always called them 'bomb aimers'

So really, this could date anytime from pre-WWII through to the '50's as I am sure there were qualified Air Bombers who still wore their wing past 1946?
Thanks, cheers,
Alex

54Bty · #5 15-06-23, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaznav

Air Bomber, not Bomb Aimer.

Strange never come across that title before, even the British Royal Air Force call them Bomb Aimers.

Marc

mike_vee · #6 15-06-23, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54Bty

Strange never come across that title before, even the British Royal Air Force call them Bomb Aimers.

Marc

Found a book "No. 7 Bomber Squadron RAF in World War II -By Tom Docherty" that frequently uses that title.

mjw · #7 15-06-23, 04:41 PM

Alex.

I believe the "B" half wing cannot date from pre WW2 as the badge was adopted in April 1942.

Kind regards, Malcolm

54Bty · #8 15-06-23, 04:59 PM

In the last three quotes the gentleman is called by both terms.

I will file it along side the word 'Brevet'.

Marc

David191 · #9 16-06-23, 05:51 AM

I would also agree that this is a post war brevet as it was a mid war adopted brevet & Mess Dress was suspended for the duration of WW2 as an austerity measure anyway.

Best regards,
David

Alex Rice · #10 16-06-23, 06:46 AM

Thanks everyone.
Cheers,
Alex

mike_vee · #11 16-06-23, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54Bty

In the last three quotes the gentleman is called by both terms.

I will file it along side the word 'Brevet'.

Marc

Both terms appear to have been used in an article about RAF Manby (home to the Empire Air Armament School (No.1) Training Air Gunners, Bomb Aimers & Navigators).

Quote:

The Role of the Air Armament Schools was to Train Armament Officers, Air Gunners & Air Bombers in Bombing & Gunnery, using the Coastal Ranges of Lincolnshire & Norfolk, including Theddlethorpe.

It appears to me that "Air Bomber" was the official title but "Bomb Aimer" was adopted and became the preferred title. There were official "Air Bombing Instructor" courses .

Quote:

Many new training techniques were developed at Manby . In July 1944 it was renamed the Empire Air Armament School and maintained a very high standard of course being Advanced Armament, Specialist Armament, Air Bombing(Bomber) Instructors and Bombing Leader Course.

A photo from February 1945 shows Instuctor Course members at RAF Manby.

.

mike_vee · #12 16-06-23, 09:25 AM

From "International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive" at University of Lincoln , an official Air Ministry booklet.

https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.a...document/28837

Pages from Your Place in the Air Crew Team:

.

Nichollg · #13 17-06-23, 07:45 AM

Hi Alex.
I would say this brevet is post WW2. The RAF didn't issue mess (or bullion) brevets during the war (Private purchase made by a tailor may have still been possible though), I therefore believe this is post WW2.
Though the RAF didn't have Air Bombers after the war, those qualified to wear the 'B' brevet could still do so.
Air Bomber was the official name, Bomb aimer being a colloquial term.