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#1
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FULL AIR GUNNER WING
This is a picture of LCol RF Hubley (although it appears he may be a Maj in the photo), a former CO of the Halifax Rifles. As most know, the Rifles were broken up in England and used as reinforcements during WWII, with some going to the RCAF, which is what LCol Hubley did, and then returned to the Regt after the war. What I find fascinating about the photo is that he is wearing a full air gunners wing vice a half wing. I have seen these wings before but always chalked them up to being fantasy pieces. I am going to speak with LCol Hubley at the next association meeting and ask about the wing.
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#2
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Amazing portrait. DFC ribbon, Pathfinder eagle(?), operations wing, on army blue patrols.
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Res ipsa loquitur |
#3
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This site shows one of the full wings but says it wasn't officially used.
http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/canada...irgunner.shtml David |
#4
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That's a great picture, considering the decorations et al. it seems unbelievable that he's even wearing this wing! They were banned from wear in 1943! A postwar photo with a taboo badge, what an excellent portrait!
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MIKE Collecting RCAF Wings Uniforms Badges and Insignia |
#5
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Is this man wearing a double winged Observers badge below the button on the pocket also very odd.
Stephen |
#6
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Hi Stephen
That is an RCAF Operational Wing. Awarded upon completion of a tour of Ops. regards Darrell
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"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" |
#7
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Did you ever get to speak with the owner of the double wing AG? I am really interested in the story behind how he got it.
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#8
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Here is an undated document that I copied at DHH. As you can see, there were a number of different wings under consideration at some point.
I assume that it was in the 1946-1951 era but have no evidence to support this supposition. It would be nice to examine a hi-res version of the officer above to see if the 'RCAF' title is at the bottom of the wreath. C.
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Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed. |
#9
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Hi Clive, Warren Carroll discusses the double wings in his book Eagles Recalled. He shows the same images you found and indicates that they were proposed and a poll held circa late 1942 early 1943.
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Res ipsa loquitur |
#10
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I finally was able to speak with Russ yesterday as the Halifax Rifles Association has a belated get together at his house to celebrate his award of the French Legion of Honor. He said that the full Air Gunner wing was an official issue item but, no sooner was it issued, that it was quickly withdrawn from service. As he had been issued this wing, he continued to wear it as no one said anything to him. To me, this is very interesting as it was government issue and not a private purchase item.
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