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  #1  
Old 24-04-18, 12:32 AM
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David Tremain David Tremain is offline
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Default Rear Air Gunner

I just found a book published by Pen & Sword about an Air Gunner, and one of the photographs shows a Rear Air Gunner brevet with RAG in the centre instead of the usual AG. Was this unofficial? Has anyone ever seen/owned an original? It's the first time I'd ever heard of it.

David
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  #2  
Old 24-04-18, 08:38 AM
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Radio , air gunner I believe . Rare variation not official ....various combinations were suggested including full size pilot type wings with AG to centre .
It goes into more detail in eagles recalled by Warren Carrol .
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  #3  
Old 24-04-18, 11:56 AM
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Thanks. It implied it was actually Rear Air Gunner, but I'd never seen anyone wearing such a thing or come across the brevet. I'll check and see if I have Carroll's book.

David
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  #4  
Old 24-04-18, 10:05 PM
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I found I had a copy of Carroll's book, but there's no mention of a Rear Air Gunner brevet.
David
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  #5  
Old 24-04-18, 10:06 PM
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I found I had a copy of Carroll's book, although not 'Eagles Recalled'. There's no mention of a Rear Air Gunner brevet.
David
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  #6  
Old 25-04-18, 12:54 PM
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My understanding is that air gunners RAF were not "turret specific" so the idea of a badge [not officially "brevet" I believe] for a rear gunner sounds a little dubious.
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  #7  
Old 25-04-18, 04:23 PM
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I would agree. The photograph in the book I was referring to showed an Observer's brevet, AG, WAG and RAG. The RAG letters were much smaller. I sort of wonder whether it had been doctored from a WAG. It's the first time I'd ever seen one and it's not shown in any of the websites which detail past and present RAF badges.
David
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  #8  
Old 25-04-18, 06:58 PM
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Very true, moreover, I very much doubt, that any average tail end Charlie, would want to advertise.

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My understanding is that air gunners RAF were not "turret specific" so the idea of a badge [not officially "brevet" I believe] for a rear gunner sounds a little dubious.
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  #9  
Old 25-04-18, 08:38 PM
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and I bet no Mid Upper Gunner was MUG enough to doctor his badge!
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Old 26-04-18, 06:38 AM
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No, stop it, if they now appear on the market, it will be your own fault.

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and I bet no Mid Upper Gunner was MUG enough to doctor his badge!
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  #11  
Old 26-04-18, 01:59 PM
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I take it the WAG wing doesn't refer to footballers spouses then...
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  #12  
Old 26-04-18, 07:48 PM
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Nice one, but no, Wop AG was a term in use within the Royal Air Force at the beginning of the war, the term WAG, in the context you refer to, is far more recent.

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I take it the WAG wing doesn't refer to footballers spouses then...
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