SAS Wings Horizontal Top Line To Wings 29 X 77mm.

[leigh kitchen]

The last of the six pairs of SAS type wings I have and that I'm trying to identify.
This pair have green felt padding visible as the backing's lifted slightly along the bottom.
Manufactured prior to January 1989.

[ianh67military]

Certainly during the 80's there was an attempt to discriminate between the 3 different SAS units. 21 SAS on their uniforms tended to wear the straight WW2 copy wings, available from Charing Cross market and various similar traders. 22 SAS wore the 'issued' wing. Upswept.
23 SAS wore the downswept wings.
Somewhere I have a plaque showing all 3 wings with a quote along the lines of "Death is natures way of telling you that you have failed selection" - prob not something that would be sold in the PRI now.

Ian H

[leigh kitchen]

Thank you, so these are private purchase rather than issue?

[ianh67military]

I don't think they were ever issued, but they were certainly worn, and acknowledged as being 21SAS pattern wings at the time.
Purists would say that they're bad copies of WW2 wings, and condemn them, but they WERE WORN.
Similarly the HAC had unofficial SAS type wings made that were worn, even if not officially sanctioned.
The Parachute Regiment had a Queen Victoria Crown cap badge made as a "joke item" and they were presented to the "old and bold". Not seen a photo of these actually being worn though.

Ian H

[leigh kitchen]

Again, thanks.