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  #16  
Old 06-09-21, 07:04 PM
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Tim would you say this is a badge made to decieve, if it cannot be laundered and cannot handle rain! what use Iis It?

Many thanks Billy
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  #17  
Old 06-09-21, 07:41 PM
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Billy,
I seem to recall that in the early 2000s an eBay seller had a regular supply of various DZ flashes made on a sewing machine from coloured cloth including some designs which dated from the 1950s and 1960s.
We need more opinions from the airborne collectors on the Forum.

That said the Pathfinder Platoon was only 30 men so large quantities of flashes were not necessary?

Paradata shows a similar flash as the 1985 first pattern: https://www.paradata.org.uk/media/6119

Tim
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Last edited by grey_green_acorn; 06-09-21 at 07:49 PM.
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  #18  
Old 06-09-21, 08:18 PM
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The first patterns of the Pathfinder badges were made from cloth and felt on cloth.

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.
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  #19  
Old 06-09-21, 09:19 PM
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So this could well be good? Gets confusing doesn't it? Well I am anyway! This is mint and hasn't been used, many thanks for your imput, billy
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  #20  
Old 07-09-21, 07:01 AM
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When 5th Airborne Brigade was set up in 1983, like its predecessor 16 Para Bde, it used DZ flashes made by units tailors from whatever materials they had to hand. These were later replaced by the standard merrowed edged versions still used today. The Pathfinder Platoon was a small and ‘off the books’ unit for its early life and certainly used tailor made DZ flashes like the one shown in this thread. (Such DZ flashes did fade and loose colour, which is probably why the standardised merrowed edge versions became issue items, as they are colour-fast).

I don’t know whether this DZ flash is an original from the early 1980s or a more modern reproduction, but they have been copied.
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  #21  
Old 07-09-21, 12:33 PM
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Thanks Colin in fairness it is well made, bit when I guess?
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  #22  
Old 15-09-21, 02:04 PM
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"Parachute Regiment" Shoulder Titles and Qualification Wing are fine.
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  #23  
Old 15-09-21, 02:59 PM
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Thanks Luc thought they were! But had to check!
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  #24  
Old 16-09-21, 01:47 PM
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5 Airborne Pathfinder is the early badge, pre the issue badge, the shape of the arrow is the give away. Regards Mark
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  #25  
Old 16-09-21, 02:18 PM
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A few more examples, early and later as discussed.

Tim
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg 5 AB Bde Pathfinders ef.jpeg (23.9 KB, 5 views)
File Type: jpg 5 AB Bde Pathfinders DZ x.jpg (6.6 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg 5 AB Bde Pathfinders DZ subdued x.jpg (6.8 KB, 2 views)
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  #26  
Old 19-09-21, 04:29 PM
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I collected Airborne DZs for a short time and had both 5th Airborne Brigade HQ and 5th Airborne Brigade Pathfinder back in the mid to late 1980s. Both were identical to this (below), the green being cotton and the maroon being a synthetic (polyester?) with a faint ribbed pattern. The Pathfinders had a white felt arrow sewn on.

This is another example of the HQ DZ, with construction identical to the ones I had (see image 3, the back view). Mine came from members of the unit.

https://www.relicmilitaria.com/produ...-q-insignia-2/
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 5ab.jpg (84.4 KB, 6 views)
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