Swasticker symbol in the RAF

[Jeff Mc William]

Further to a previous thread in which the use of the swasticker symbol was discussed, here is another photo of an RAF aircraft displaying the now controversial logo :
This I believe was taken in India circa 1928 and shows three DH9As of 30 Squadron in formation. The far aircraft (H3632) bears the swasticker on its tail, while the aircraft nearest bears the Star of David ! A curious and interesting anomoly I think. Jeff
PS: I repeat the photo from the earlier thread.
DH9As India c.1928.jpg DH9A (Swasticker logo).jpg

[alco]

hello,

I've not located the previous post about this symbol.

However it is to note that the swastika is a very old Hindu emblem of luck.
For that reason it was used as owner flag by the first indian independant shipping company : the Scindia Steamship Navigation Co.
with a spectacular flag (from 1919 to 1980's)

Source :
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/exp...cfm?ID=AAA0357

and a really hard-to-find cap badge !!!
Some years ago, I've seen a naval cap with this genuine badge proposed on E-BAY with the title << naval cap 3rd Reich >>
naturaly, this said '' very rare nazi item'' was sold with a really high price (don't remember, but I was not able to follow ...).
the result is that somewhere a sincere collector think to detain a relic from the hell - in reality he had a piece of indian luck !!!
Funny, is not it ?

a+

[alco]

wink for all the grumpy ones:

e-bay was well spelled this time!
I'm awaiting compliments ...

Non, je déconne ........ just a free of charge joke !

[davec2]

Well done alco.

Ebay is ebay, end of........but on a slightly more serious note regarding the Swastika, I notice that on Jeff's photo's, the arms of the symbol point in different directions on each plane, is there a particular reason for this ?

Dave.

[Jeff Mc William]

Hi alco. Thanks for that, another interesting fact re the swasticker. If you search for Fattorini or swastiker, you will find the previous thread. Regards. Jeff
Dave ; Yes, I see what you mean but I'm afraid I don't know of any significance re the orientation. Sorry.

[davec2]

Cheers Jeff,

I'm sure someone will know, it's really only one of those ' why ' sort of questions anyway.........

Dave.

PS, yes, I know all questions are ' why ' but I'm sure everyone will work out what I mean.....

DC.

[NorthStafford]

SWASTIKA please not SWASTICKER.

[revdougal]

273 Sqn RAF, serving in Burma in support of 14th Army, also had a swastika; this was superimposed on a black spider, but to avoid confusion with its other non-Hindu significance, it was removed. I expect the Sqn originated in India.

[41st]

Originally Posted by NorthStafford

SWASTIKA please not SWASTICKER.

I agree and think you will find it goes a bit further back than Hindu period.
Try the Aramaeic peoples.

[alco]

Hi again,

After some research on the subject, it seems that the swatiska symbol was very common before WW2.
> see there :
http://www.sharenator.com/All_the_wo...a_before_WWII/
(see in particular the US airplane during WW1)

This popular sign was easy to draw in the two directions as well.
May be this is why one finds the clockwise and anti-clockwise versions on planes - as this was only a good luck sign and not a formation sign authorized by regulation.

Else, I figured that the swastika on finnish planes was in relation with their 'alliance' with Germany at the beginning of WW2 ;
In fact, this use of swastika comes from 1918, during the war of independance of Finland :
The first plane of the newly-independent state was a french license manufactured Morane-Saulnier MS Parasol/Thulin D offered by Eric von Rosen.
Count Eric von Rosen (1879,1948) was a famous Swedish explorer and ethnographer.
He used a swastika - symbol of good luck for the Vikings - as a personal owner's mark.
His aircraft, given to Finland, was marked with his personnal badge, a blue swastika on a white background. The beginning Finnish Air Force adopted this swastika as their national insignia - and so with no connection with the nazi symbol !

a+

[sailorbear]

Just out of interest: Here are two more Non Nazi Swastika symbols in use before WW2.

Pic 1 = British National War Savings Commitee for service lapel badge

Pic 2 = US Oaklahoma National Guard badge.

Regards Tony