Any thoughts on this air force chappie - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Beaker123 · #1 01-05-23, 04:53 PM

Can anyone ID which country's air force this man is? On reverse the card is printed Cartolina Postale and in pencil (modern) "Italian WW1?" I assume this is based on the printed Italian.

The Italians did use the vertical propellor blades on cap badges so could well be but the crown doesn't look Italian

Many thanks

gary1666 · #2 01-05-23, 06:10 PM

Is the attached broadly similar? Its a 1921 Italian Observers badge, any difference could be down to the pictured one being cloth and this metal, the Crown could be a little 'fatter' due to its cloth construction

Beaker123 · #3 01-05-23, 06:29 PM

Hi Gary, thanks for your reply. You could well be right, I may have to look harder for examples of WW1 or post war Italian air force uniforms on the Internet.

Steve

gary1666 · #4 01-05-23, 06:43 PM

I found that badge on ww2wings, sadly no cloth badge image on there

Stma · #5 01-05-23, 11:24 PM

Hi, I would agree that the crown is not Italian in this case.

Stma · #6 01-05-23, 11:33 PM

My knowledge is fairly amateur, but I I have been looking online and the crown actually looks British in this case and if you type in RNAS badge WW1 you see similar ones....thought I would mention this just in case it is of any use. The cap is not Italian either in my opinion. Best rgds.

mike_vee · #7 02-05-23, 08:03 AM

It would appear to have a Dutch connection.

Can't find cap badge but insignia used on collar/sleeve badges by Netherlands Naval Aviation Service / Royal Netherlands Army Air Force/KNIL etc.

http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/NETHERLANDS/NtlMain.html

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mike_vee · #8 02-05-23, 09:20 AM

The Luchtvaartafdeling (aviation department) of the Dutch Army, was founded in 1913.

Quote:

1937 - A transitional organization must ultimately lead to an independent position for military aviation. The top of the army and the navy resisted this for a long time. According to them, aviation should remain an auxiliary weapon.

The establishment of the Military Aviation Inspectorate is a first step towards recognition of the importance of air power. The second step is the reorganization of the Aviation Department (LVA). 3 department schools are hereby established.

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mike_vee · #9 02-05-23, 12:16 PM

Metal example described as :

Quote:

Shoulder insignia ML KNIL Dutch East Indies

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mike_vee · #10 02-05-23, 01:59 PM

Did a bit of 'editing' on the original photo . crown look British

It reminds me of an original RAF badge with the eagle replaced by a propeller ?

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Home Guard · #11 02-05-23, 04:26 PM

There also seems to be the cylinders of a rotary engine with the propeller, which could be for several different aircraft used by the British, French and Belgians, and Italians plus a few German, but I rule that one out. The Italian Ansaldo was an inline engine, but they flew Hanriot, SPADs and Nieuports all which had rotary engines.

The French, Italian and Belgian airmen wore a standing collar like in the picture. The hat looks very Belgian to me, and very different from the French and Italian.

Is he first medal ribbon a WWI victory ribbon?

Terry