RCAF Propellor Trade Badge

[boots and saddles]

Did the RCAF have the 4blade propeller as a trade badge in WW2?

[boots and saddles]

Let me try some UK boys, I can't seem to get Air Force questions answered here at all, especially RCAf, Did the RAF use a 4 blade prop. as a trade badge during WW2, if not when did it make an appearance.

[locking]

IN THE RAF A FOUR BLADED PROP BECAME THE RANK BADGE OF A JUNIOR TECHNICIAN IN 1964. PRIOR TO THAT A J/T WORE A SINGLE CHEVRON POINT UP.

LOCKING

[boots and saddles]

So it was never a trade badge, now i'm wondering about the 3 blade, I know the two blade was a rank. so I guess all 3 of these were rank badges. Thanks Locking. Ray

[Bill A]

IMSC on this, but I was under the impression that there was a 4 prop badge used by the RFC or early RAF? Is that what you are thinking about Ray?

[boots and saddles]

No was thinking of WW2 & after, and what these 3 and 4 blade props we see today are. The two blade prop is a common WW2 rank badge ,So I should have guessed that the 3 & 4 blades were also rank but have never seen them on WW2 tunics.

[Bill A]

Ray, I have a copy of the 1958 RCAF dress regs and I will have a look in them for prop badges.

[Bill A]

Ray, According to the RCAF Dress Regs, 1958 the only propellor badge was the two blade prop used for LAC.

[locking]

RAY,
A three bladed prop in the RAF is the rank badge of a SENIOR AIR CRAFTSMAN. It was introduced in 1950.

Cheers
john

[servicepub]

A small anecdote...
The RAF was heavily influenced by the Royal Navy in its early days - hence terms such as port and starboard, officer rank indicated by sleeve braid, etc...
One of the terms retained until the Second World War was "airscrew" instead of propellor - which was an unacceptable "Americanism". Ths was only changed when, at the height of the Battle of Britain, a request for 20 airscrews to be sent to an RAF base on an urgent basis resulted in a hapless clerk arranging for a quantity of air-crew to show up instead! Thereafter, the term "propellor" was used.

[Antrim82]

Ray,
You don't mention the context where you saw the 4 bladed trade badge but if it was on overalls I would mention that the Royal Navy used this as a trade badge for an Air Fitter from 1938. Usually this would be with one of the following trade letters below A, E , L, or O but there was an unclassified category without.

[boots and saddles]

Thank you fellows ,I think you have cleared that one up pretty well. Yes Antrim you are right about the Navy & I have it in my RCN collection. In the RAF I believe it was a rank badge.

[RCN]

Originally Posted by boots and saddles

Thank you fellows ,I think you have cleared that one up pretty well. Yes Antrim you are right about the Navy & I have it in my RCN collection.

Here is a page from a very nice booklet I have had for years.
"Rank & Badges in the Navy, Army, RAF", Talbot Booth, 1943.

I am not knowledgable on RAF/RCAF insignia but find this one very useful - no double propellors listed, but may not be complete.

Bryan

[Bill A]

Nice reference. Has anyone ever seen the Gunner Ground trade patch?

[boots and saddles]

Bill A, in Bill Hampsons book of Canadian Flying Services, Emblems & Insignia 1914-1984 there is no Ground gunner trade badge,but the RAF had them, both the GG & wreath and the winged shell.