Curious 'AD'/ non-Spifire badge worn by ROC Observer

[Harlequin]

Many people will be familiar with the classic Spitfire embroidered badge worn by members of the Royal Observer Corps as the Master Observer (Ground) qualification.

However, this picture shows something quite-different being worn by a particular (pre-1947?) Observer.

My immediate thought was that it was a "Dakota" badge, being worn by someone on their ROC uniform as a former Air Dispatcher, but obtained through previous service, in a sense similar to the rare-but-occasional instances of para wings being spotted on ROC uniform.

The thinking I had was that perhaps this Observer had gained this 'qualification' through earlier service in the Royal Army Service Corps (the original predecessor AD service to the RCT in this role, nowadays RLC).

However: my understanding was that such badges were strictly formation identifiers rather than being, say, the formal Air Dispatcher half-wing (which would, fairly-unambiguously) have been a transferrable qualification badge onto ROC uniform (except it wouldn't: read on ☆).

There was also a thought at the back of my mind regarding similar formation badges perhaps having been worn by members of the Glider Pilot Regiment, but I'm unsure on this point.

But: it has been pointed-out to me by my more-observant former ROC comrades that on closer examination, this is NOT a Dakota twin-engined aircraft embroidered on the badge at all, but a squat single-engined fighter (even with the poor picture resolution I do now see I was wrong). So it looks like a Hurricane: and neither a Dak nor a Spit.

So what on earth is it? I am extremely puzzled.

(☆ ps my point about AD half-wing badges being worn on RAF/ROC uniform, on the shoulder....they're not meant to be, as many of you will already know. I've just been reading on the forum about that fascinating odd example of an AD wing badge having been found, made as a bullion RAF No5 mess brevet.....could this WW2/pre-1950s Observer have been AD-qualified through previous service, been told he was not allowed to wear his AD half-wing.....so got a privately-made badge that was worn as some kind of a hybrid Master Observer-cum-Air-Dispatcher....? A real mystery- which I hope someone here can help solve)

[dragon166]

This badge has long been a mystery. The original press picture you showed is the only one I have ever seen that shows this badge. It must have been that picture that was used to create the Osprey drawing shown below. Other ROC collectors are also stumped.
Dave

[Postwarden]

A closer view of the badge in the photo. Possibly intended to represent a Hurricane?

Jon

[Wooffy]

The image in the first post is from "War Illustrated" and the original photograph sold on eBay about 5 years ago for around £60 if i recall correctly.. This is the only known example of this badge that has ever existed, and it was only used in this picture.

It has no link outside of the ROC at all.

The observer in the image is wearing a "Head Observer Badge" on his left pocket, if this is strictly adhering to the rules of uniform wear then the image must date between April 1942 and March 1944. April 1942 is when the ROC were issued with that style of uniform and March 1944 is when Chief and Leading Observer rank badges were issued and Head Observers were required to remove the "Head Observer Badge" and replace it with the familiar sleeve rank badges.

My gut feeling is that it predated the end of 1943 though as the printed spitfire master test badges were introduced in Dec. 1943 so why go to the effort of making one of these when the 'correct badge' could be used?

I do have a copy of the war illustrated that this was published in, so can narrow the date down further, alas it is in lockdown 200(ish) miles away from me so I cannot find the exact date at the moment.

John's image is a screen shot from the original picture sold on eBay and Dave is correct (not that you need me to tell you that!) that the image in the Osprey book is based on this photograph - indeed the drawing was used on a Burundi postage stamp if I recall correctly.

Finally - there is a second image taken at the same time (same photo-shoot) by someone for Associated Press - this is much clearer and from a slightly better angle IMO. (I have attached it for reference).

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by dragon166

This badge has long been a mystery. The original press picture you showed is the only one I have ever seen that shows this badge. It must have been that picture that was used to create the Osprey drawing shown below. Other ROC collectors are also stumped.
Dave

Came across a thread on a "military model makers' site which mentioned this badge. The drawing is apparently from one of the Blandford Colour Series books on WW2 uniforms.

"I read up on the text accompanying the Blandford book. This 1944 figure is an observer status only, higher ranks insignia would have been seen on both sleeves. If he was a "master spotter", he would have a circular badge with a spitfire on his left sleeve (position not indicated)."

In " Royal Observer Corps: The 'Eyes and Ears' of the RAF in WWII" there is a section about training :

"Post Observers are encouraged to take higher tests , of which there are two:- an intermediate test and the master test. An Observer who has passed the master test can be regarded as an expert in aircraft recognition; he is entitled to wear a "Spitfire" Arm badge."

So perhaps the badge in question was a 'short lived' intermediate one ?

[Wooffy]

Hi Mike, thanks for this - but I am not at all convinced.

I have seen that thread too (link here) and the statement:

"This 1944 figure is an observer status only, higher ranks insignia would have been seen on both sleeves. If he was a "master spotter", he would have a circular badge with a spitfire on his left sleeve (position not indicated)".

Is not accurate.

The badges were calico printed and square, although there is some evidence that over zealous observers slightly rounded the corners, but they remained predominantly square. He also clearly has the 'Head Observer Badge' on his left breast pocket, which assimilated over to Chief Observer when that rank was established. This is the highest rank that was allowed to wear Master Test badges on their uniforms, officers did not. (Indeed the only badge officially permitted for wear on the sleeve of an officers uniform was the Seaborne shoulder badge). So that bit is also inaccurate.

As a slight digression from the original thread - The Blandford book has other inaccuracies too - it states that seaborne observers wore a "...rectangular dark blue cloth badge with the letters RN in light blue on the upper left sleeve at elbow height". This is not true. Seaborne Observers were issued with RN Armbands using Red Letters on a Blue Cloth background with either white or black elastic straps. After use for a very short period of time (prior to D-Day) many found that they would not stay in place with the elastic only. Consequently there is evidence of them being cut up and simply sewn on the uniform sleeve instead. This also accounts for the irregular positioning of the RN badges in the sleeve when worn in this way and the variance in shape and indeed size of the blue badge itself. It has some inaccuracies in the dates it quotes - the Observer Corps was established in 1925 not 1918 (I think they are confusing that with the formation of the Metropolitan Observation Service in 1916 but that is a guess).

The hunt for answers (and a real example of this badge) goes on !!

[Postwarden]

I am fortunate to own an original photo of this picture which includes on the back the original caption, sadly undated. Copy attached

However it makes it clear that the photo was published to illustrate that a new uniform was to be issued to the Corps which is described, along with the breast badge for Head Observer, in Air Ministry Order A64 dated 15th January 1942.

The photo was published in the War Illustrated of 20th February 1942.

But does all this not pre-date the tests and badge for Master Observer?

Jon

[Wooffy]

Well done on that picture John - there are not many of them out there.. that is for sure!

My understanding is that the Master test was introduced in Dec 1943, those achieving a pass of 90%+ were awarded the spitfire badge and £5 in recognition of their achievement (Something which never changed from Dec 1943 to the stand down of the corps in 1991) and they were of course issued in pairs - so you are correct that the image (and badge) predate this by 18 months or thereabouts.