RCAF Prototype wings 3

[zorgon]

In this 3rd discussion, a few uncommon or prototype RCAF aircrew wings from WWII and immediately post-war will be presented. I believe that the first two have never been seen in print before and may be unique examples.

R wing
The first example is an unofficial and unauthorized “R” wing in the straight wing style of 1943. It is machine manufactured in a conventional manner with respect to the felt backing, off white wing stitching, crown and brownish red laurel. It is unpadded and diagonally measures 92mm. The “R” is of the same colour and thread as the feathers. While this patch was never considered an official issue, it appears to have been sewn on a uniform at some point as stitching threads still remain. With no history, records or known photographs to use as a reference, one can only speculate on its origin. One might suspect it was designed for a radio operator but it’s also possible that it was made for the some of the 6,000 RCAF Officers and enlisted men who served in radar operations during the war. Since that whole radar group was under authority the of the NRC and very secretive during the war, authorities may not have even wanted to recognize the existence of Radar specialists let alone make their training public through the use of insignia. This is pure speculation on my part.
After 1941, the RAF style wings used the letters “RO” standing for “Radio Observer”. During the war these badges were used for radar operators making the Canadian “R” wing theory more plausible. A prototype but unofficial double wing with a centered “R” was manufactured, possibly just post-war, and is reported by Carroll and Thompson.

O/Observer wing
This wing, made in the style of the 1944-45 large curve wings, has as its center an “O” where one would normally see the more common “AG, E, N, B, N.B, or WAG” letters. Once again, the “O” is of the same thread as the feathers of the half-wing. Measuring 111 mm diagonally, it has been made in an identical manner to the large curve stylized Air Gunner discussed in the first article in this series.

NW wing
Another rare wing produced late in the war or shortly thereafter is the “NW” or Navigator Wireless wings. Two earlier designs are illustrated; the straight wing pattern and the pattern in small curve. Warren Carroll says, “Again, there are no official notations on this pattern, as far as issuance dates. Obscure mentions have been found before 1943 but there is no doubt that like the NB it was also worn and tolerated… There are no drawings of these designs in the 1943 issues but real examples do exist.” (Carroll, 1997, p. 118). The NW wing is also exists in the large curve pattern.
Both are un-padded but the straight wing is backed in the same manner as the O and R wings. The small curve example has no backing. The O, R and straight NW examples are somewhat stiff, probably due to the glue used to fasten the backing material.

WAG wing
Another oddity, which I picked up on eBay a few years ago, is included. It might best fall into the “mystery” category. On first glance it is a standard British machine made padded straight “WAG” wing of high quality. It has the course black coated backing and the typical large thread stitching across the back. But, it’s missing the Crown! There is a small area about 5 X 2 mm where the felt is missing in the location of the crown but this appears unrelated to the missing crown. I suspect it was a fluke manufacturing error that was never detected and the wing accidently made its way through the manufacturing and quality control process.

Several of the above came from the old collection of the late R. Drummond and no further information is available.
However one feels about the validity of collecting “unofficial” wings, some examples do exist and are worthy of presentation and discussion. I hope the collecting community agrees.