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#1
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Army Air Corps Blue Beret
Thought I'd share this recent find. Dated 14th October 1958 it shows the "recently approved powder blue beret for the Army Air Corps" with a nice wire embroidered badge.
The original caption was pasted on the reverse. Other examples I have recorded show the badge on a dark blue ground which I assume was adopted later. Can anyone confirm please? Jon |
#2
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"On the 14th of March 1958 a square of dark blue cloth was authorised to be worn on the beret behind the badge to make it more distinguishable against the Light Blue."
Marc
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I am still looking for British Army cloth Formation, Regimental, Battalion, Company and other Unit sleeve badges, from 1980 onwards. |
#3
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According to "Badges and Embellishments" published in 1990, the AAC regimental committee authorised the wearing of a dark blue beret with a light blue patch when on operations or exercise in the field at the discretion of aviation commanders.
Attached personnel to wear their official authorised regimental backings superimposed on the dark blue AAC patch. Approved by HQ Director of Army Aviation and Airborne Forces between 1973 and 1977, 644 (Parachute) Squadron AAC wore a square 2" badge backing divided horizontally light blue above dark blue on their maroon berets. "Sightings' of other coloured badge backings on the light blue AAC beret are mentioned, eg maroon for Para Regiment, maroon and blue and Royal Stuart tartan for Guards. |
#4
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When looking round their museum i found the Officers light blue peak cap interesting.
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#5
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I've read that the forage cap was designed by a serving AAC officer as was (I think) a light blue fabric covered pouch.
An ex-AAC forum member may know more about this? |
#6
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Quote:
Tim
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"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm" "Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!" "Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest." |
#7
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That's the photo I saw accompanying the info.
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#8
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Hello,
I have found this thread most interesting. I only knew of the wire badge on a black square. So looking at the photos there is a wire badge on light blue same colour as the beret, wire badge on dark blue Square, and an eagle and crown badge for the peaked cap, that is certainly a new one on me, is that a two part badge? Are there any more? Is the chap in the first photo Royal Artillery air observation post? Really interesting, Chris |
#9
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There are also black/dark blue berets with light blue squares and metal badges worn in Northern Ireland. Rare but I have seen photos of them being worn (also mentioned in the PDF that was circulated a while back surrounding the Blue Beret of the AAC.
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Feel free to add me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/thomas.paffett http://historyfordessert.wordpress.com/ |
#10
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In reply to Chris's question the badge is the Army flying badge rather than the RA AOP badge which officially disappeared with the arrival of the post-war Army Air Corps.
Interestingly there is documentary evidence that although no longer authorised for active Army pilots the AOP version was still being worn by current flyers in 1967. Jon |
#11
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Quote:
Thanks for your reply, I know it's the Army Flying badge, but I noticed Royal Artillery shoulder titles, but your reply does answer the question why he's not wearing the AOP badge, cheers Chris |
#12
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The chap's beret looks brand new, was he re-badged from RA? Regards Mark
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#13
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from the now deleted PDF:
"General" said The Queen smilingly, "I think that colour would look better on me than it does on you!" This it is said was the first comment made by Her Majesty when in early I958 General Sir Hugh Stockwell, GCB, KBE, DSO, the first Colonel Commandant of the newly formed Army Air Corps (AAC), submitted the light blue beret now proudly worn by all ranks who serve in AAC units to The Queen for her approval. But why such a startling colour, so impractical in many ways for a modern soldier - especially soldiers whose every day work is wholly involved with oily aircraft engines and dust depositing helicopters? I should say at once that it was not the AAC's first choice, and although it is sometimes assumed to be, it was not chosen because it was symbolic of the "wide blue yonder" environment of our aircrews. The colour of our beret was only resolved after much impassioned argument, strong words, aggrieved feelings and friendships jeopardised, and the background to this and our choice of headgear should be explained. When the AAC was "formed" on 1 September 1957, it was more accurately "re-formed", having first been raised by Royal Warrant on 24 February 1942 and disbanded on 22 May 1950. The units of the AAC were then the Glider Pilot Regiment, the Parachute Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment. The headgear of the AAC was the maroon beret and this headgear continued to be worn by the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Parachute Regiment, who became a component of the Corps of Infantry on the disbandment of the AAC in 1950 - the Special Air Service Regiment electing to adopt their own distinctive light khaki beret. Thus when the AAC re-formed in 1957, absorbing as it did its erstwhile unit the Glider Pilot Regiment (still wearing the maroon beret) and the Air Observation Post Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, we logically and justifiably expected that the AAC would re-assume its maroon beret and claimed to do so. But alas! this was not to be. Powerful guns were brought to bear against our claim and although history, precedence, logic and justice were on our side, we were at that stage of our re-birth, weak and un- championed, and the argument prevailed that the maroon beret was in effect an "honour or award" to be worn only by permanent or seconded members of the Parachute Regiment or by qualified parachutists attached to the Parachute units or formations. The argument implied that only parachutists had earned or could earn the right to wear the red beret. or perpetuate its traditions. This argument and the opposition of the parachute hierarchy aggrieved and saddened the AAC, especially those of the Glider Pilot Regiment who had been absorbed into the AAC and who felt a responsibility to their Glider Pilot comrades who, in World War II in a number of heroic actions including the famous airborne landings of D-Day, Arnhem and the Rhine Crossing, fought with matchless gallantry while wearing the maroon beret and sustained a percentage of casualties probably greater than any other regiment during its short but valiant existence; yet they were not necessarily parachutists. We might have chosen to press our claim, but rebuffed and understandingly hurt, the AAC decided that it would withdraw with dignity and choose a beret of a colour not worn by any other regiment, rebuild on its traditions and earn a reputation for professionalism which would be acknowledged everywhere and recognised by its own distinctive headgear. As it turned out, choosing a beret was not a simple matter! When we looked around for a suitable colour which was distinctive yet practical, we found it difficult to find one that some other regiment or service did not already wear. Green berets were worn by the Royal Marine Commandos; black by tank regiments; dark blue by the gunners and infantry; khaki of varying shades by the Special Air Service and Guards regiments; brown by the 11th Hussars; grey by the Royal Scots Greys and so on. It seemed that whatever colour we considered might be suitable; it had already been adopted and jealously guarded by someone else. So we looked at aspects of our antecedents other than the maroon beret and decided that the colours that predominated were Cambridge Blue (the facings and shoulder titles of the Glider Pilot Regiment and of the Army Pilot Wings worn by the Air Observation Post and Glider Pilots) and the slate blue of the Royal Air Force which would symbolise the RAF Air Observation Post Squadrons. So two berets were produced, one light blue, the other slate blue for the inspection and decision of an ad hoc committee consisting of, among others, our Colonel Commandant, General Stockwell, the Brigadier AAC, Brigadier Pat Weston, myself and the Chief Aircraft Engineer (I have a feeling that in these early days the Regimental Committee had not been formed). Brigadier Pat Weston, himself a distinguished parachute formation commander and a pilot qualified to wear both RAF and Army wings and proud of his Why the Light Blue Beret? Continued This article was originally written for the Silver Jubilee Army Air Corps Journal in 1982. Reprinted in the Army Air Corps Journal 2007, pp 140-141. maroon beret, was particularly incensed at the cavalier treatment given to our request to wear the maroon beret, and was now determined that we should go our own way and start afresh (although later with his characteristic sense of humour, he had a beret made, quartered in alternate colours of maroon and light blue which on occasions he wore to ridicule the decision which made all this colour searching necessary!). When the two berets were produced to the Committee there was a general sucking of teeth. The slate blue beret was rejected mainly on the grounds that it might make us indistinguishable from the RAF Regiment which if I remember at that time wore khaki battledress and the slate blue beret; it was too RAF in fact. These comments were mild compared to those uttered when the light blue beret was modelled. It should be remembered that in 1957 the army was very conservative: the dreary war years were not all that long gone and somehow the light blue seemed then more garish than with years of acceptance it does now. However most of the comments, (once Brig Pat Weston had convinced us that the punch-ups we would have defending our light blue beret against the ribald remarks of the other soldiery would make us more feared than any "red devil" in a maroon beret-and if we lost out on that, then the girls would certainly fall for anyone wearing it) reduced our objections to doubts on its workaday practicality. Nothing daunted, Pat Weston, ready for this, produced a bucket of oil and a bucket of petrol, plunged the light blue beret into the oil where it emerged as we expected, in a horrible mess. He then sloshed it around in the bucket of petrol where surprisingly it emerged almost glowingly clean! So we were persuaded that the light blue beret was practical (besides being our only choice) and that it should become the distinctive headgear of the AAC. So, it is now proudly worn by us all. I personally have not had to indulge in fisticuffs to defend it against derogatory remarks by brutal and insensitive soldiery. Custom has undoubtedly "staled its infinite variety" and one hears few comments if any these days. Words did fail me however some years ago when at a Divisional Study Period I was chatting to a cavalry colonel and I remarked that I could not remember seeing one of his regimental officers coming forward for flying training. "Nor will you" said he disdainfully "as long as you continue to wear that b***** silly hat!" Disbelievingly I looked at him: he was wearing his own regimental side cap which vied with Joseph's coat of many colours and looked as though it had been looted from a guerilla in the Peninsular Campaign. Truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! However, I often smile wryly at the "confidence trick" of Pat Weston with his persuasive buckets of oil and petrol when I recall a memorable occasion in 1958 when the blue beret was first worn by the permanent cadre of the AAC. There were only a few of us then and I felt a little self-conscious wearing it. I had to fly from BAOR to UK for a conference and return the same day. I arrived at RAF Northolt in an RAF Devon. It was late in landing and when the engines had stopped I dashed out of the aircraft towards my waiting car. As I ducked under the aircraft wing, it happened! A large blob of oil from the engine fell dead centre on my pristine new light blue beret, the centre of all attraction! Great embarrassment! But I thought of Pat Weston and his petrol bucket and had my driver produce some – you have guessed? it didn't work! Perhaps the oil was different (or perhaps Pat Weston had practised with diluted grades?) Anyway I skulked around for the rest of the day wearing a piebald blue beret. Now that did raise some comment!
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#14
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Thanks button.
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