RAF cloth wings... on summer denim jacket.

[Bwetdude]

I picked up this green denim jacket. It was made in 1955 in Derby England.

Do the RAF wings belong to this jacket or were they added sometime in the 55 yearspan of the frock?

I know they used the denin coat for summer or work dress... also over the wool jacket in the winter. But I would have imagined a blue uniform for the RAF!

Also, are they original wings or repop?

Thanks in advance for the info.

NB: If someone knows if the style of the denim jacket stayed the same from the wartime issue.... let me know!

[Peter Brydon]

Patrick,

Whilst not an RAF collector, I have never seen wings of this design or colour before.

Peter

[Voltigeur]

My guess is these are "commercially-made" wings for the clothing industry and has nothing to do with the military.
Sorry Patrick.
Jo

[Bwetdude]

I spent 10$ for the jacket... the wings came with it!

But a question remains, did the "Style/Cut/Design" of the jacket stayed the same after the war period?

The books I own don't display denim items.

Thanks again for the feedback!

[Peter Brydon]

Patrick,
The jacket seems to have army type "pips" on the eppauletts rather than air force type rank insignia, I do wonder if the whole item is a fashion rather than military jacket.

P.B.

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Bwetdude

I spent 10$ for the jacket... the wings came with it!

But a question remains, did the "Style/Cut/Design" of the jacket stayed the same after the war period?

The books I own don't display denim items.

Thanks again for the feedback!

Oui Patrick, the design remained the same after 1945.According to informations that I have, the denim BD was used as a kind of hot weather uniform in the mid-50s by the British Army in some of its operations in the Middle-East and was still in use as a work uniform until the early 1960s.
Ref:British Battledress 1937-61, Mike Chappell.
The British soldier in the 20th Century,Batledress 1939-1960,also by Mike Chappell.

Jo

[54Bty]

There should be a label on the inside.

[Unknownsoldier]

The wings are, it looks like an amalgam, of RAF letters and Canadian para wing, wings.... I would go with the commercially made item, I have several military style jackets with either made up or mix and match insignia (one has iraqi eppaulettes and US army MF badges.... ). The libertines made USMC blue jackets very popuylar, and doubled their price overnight IIRC.

Tom

[Bwetdude]

I unstitched the badge. The back is plastified.... and stuck to the threads...

I'm quite happy with the jacket.

The badge will got in the junk box.

Thanks to all.

[54Bty]

Early versions of the Denim BD were a brown colour, later versions became green, the buckles also changed at some time. However the basic design and pattern remained the same.

[grey_green_acorn]

Early versions also had pleats on the breast pockets as did first pattern serge battle dress blouses. These were deleted in later production as an economy measure.