“Unofficial” wings

[sturm]

Has anyone seen this before? The seller believes it’s unofficial and appeared in the 1970’s. It isn’t in Bragg/Turner.

[ianh67military]

In the 70s/80s an enterprising manufacturer decided to fulfil the demand for regimental variations of the standard parachute wing. They produced all sorts of coloured variations. Some are NOT anything like the type they purport to be, such as the “Rhodesian” (which is NOT padded and NOT larger, but is on a light green felt) and the “Junior Para” (which is not silk bevo type woven, but is on a maroon felt).
This is one of the fakes produced back then, BUT some versions WERE WORN, because subdued wings weren’t issued. Both regular and TA Paras bought and wore many privately purchased Para wings.
I remember going “down the arches” at Charing Cross Market and seeing boards with every available Para wing on, all fakes, any mix of colours.

Ian H

[NewCollector]

Originally Posted by sturm

Has anyone seen this before? The seller believes it’s unofficial and appeared in the 1970’s. It isn’t in Bragg/Turner.

The colours were used by Light Infantry Regiments in the late 1940s before they were replaced by the green and maize versions that were used until 2007.

[grey_green_acorn]

Agree with Ian H this board shows some examples of the coloured wings.

Tim

[Alain Conradi]

Did some research and am not saying I'm 100% sure of this, but I got this as London Irish Rifles