RAF Metal Eagles

[davidwyke]

Can anyone clarify what the below three badges are please?
I know there are a couple of recent threads on a similar subject but I'm still not sure who would have worn these, also where and when.

1) I assumed this was an Officers field service cap badge but given that it has 3 screw posts (2 on the eagle and 1 on the crown that is), I'm wondering if it pre-dates this?

2) Also right facing but backing plate has no provision for a crown. (2 lugs, "Firmin, London").

3) Left facing (2 lugs).

Any info much appreciated.

David

[manchesters]

David,

The first is what you think it is. Commonly found with screw posts.

As for the 2nd Pair, you will see them advertised as a few things. Two that spring to mind are :

1. Pathfinders breast badge

2. RNAS officers rank badges worn over rank rings on lower sleeve in WW1

There are others that I cant remember which are more common and bearing in mind how many of these there are around there must have been some other common usage that someone will now tell us about.

regards

[davidwyke]

Hi Simon

Thanks for the response, much appreciated!

As regards the two eagles without a crown, it would be great if they were either of the two you mention (Pathfinder or RNAS). But, as you say, there are too many around to only be those.

I think another useage which was quoted in a previous thread was for RAF WO's before they had cloth rank badges.

David

[Phil2M]

It is my understanding that the pathfinder badges had brooch pins for easy and quick removal, leaving no marks incase of capture by the enemy.

[ebro]

I would add that It is unlikely that pathfinder badges would be a matched pair, they would be a single badge, with the bird facing the same as the cap badge.
Eddie

[davidwyke]

Hi Chaps

Many thanks for your input, much appreciated and I take your points regarding the Pathfinder badges.

I should mention that the two eagles without a crown aren't actually a matched pair, I obtained them at different times. It's not really obvious frpm the photos but the eagles differ slightly in design.

David

[dragon166]

The eagles without crown are those used by Airman Aircrew. They are worn above the stripes of Sergeant Aircrew and Flight Sergeant Aircrew. They have been in use since the 1950s and are still worn today.

[GTB]

Re eagles w/o crown.
During my Trade Training stint at St Athan in late 60s I noticed that Royal Jordanian AF airmen undergoing TT wore similar, if not identical, eagles on their epaulettes.

GTB

[davidwyke]

Hi Chaps

Many thanks for all the replies. I think my 2 specific badges are probably as detailed by "Dragon 166" as that would account for why there are quite a few around.

That said, it's obvious that the same or similar badge has had a variety of uses over the years.

Thanks again.

David

[royston]

As far as I am aware, all RNAS Eagles had three screw posts!

John

[GTB]

I believe there was only ONE eagle worn by RNAS officers, on left cuff.

GTB

[Alex Rice]

Hi David
Here's a link (if it works) to a post I made a while ago regarding a pair of eagles I have, which I was told were RNAS sleeve eagles. They have 3 screw posts.
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=43309
Cheers,
Alex