Canadian Parachute Wings

[edstorey]

Here are some wings on some smocks.

[Phillip Herring]

Shouldn't your father have returned that SSF Smock to supply?
Phil

[edstorey]

Supply did not want it.

[Recce]

Those wings on the RSM Jump Smock I never seen. The cloth that the wings are embroider on
Looks Like all my US ones same Style fold then sewn on the smock.

He was OSONS not CAR.

Interesting wings

[Phillip Herring]

Not to steal Ed's thunder, but his father, CWO Ralph Storey (affectionately known as Rotten Ralph) was the Regimental Sergeant Major of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment. 2 CER was part of the Special Service Force, and although not part of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, all units in the formation wore the "Osons" patch. The SSF patch was not solely worn by the Canadian Airborne Regiment.
I have the subdued smock wings with the merrowed edge in my collection, but I suspect that the earlier wings did not have had the merrowed edges and would have to be folded to make them nice and tidy on the smock.
This smock dates from the late 1970s - early 1980s and is completely regulation. We will not see a better example of what was actually worn by all units in the Special Service Force.
Many thanks Ed.

Phil

[Bill A]

The wings appear to be embroidered on a twill material?

[edstorey]

Phil:

Thank you for the kind words. The RSM is now a slightly cippled up mild-mannered Grandfather who still looks back fondly at his Airborne days. He has one Grandson, a RMC graduate and commissioned officer, who is right now serving in Afghanistan and another, mine, who is 16 and wants to join the Infantry.

I think the wings on the SSF smock predate the merrowed edge wings. Here is an example of Canadian subdued wings for US personnel and these are manufactured to a similar style as the ones on the smock. I have also enclosed an image of a slighted used pair of merrow edge wings.





Here is a small display board of from 1986 that shows all of the then units who were part of the SSF.

[Infanteer]

I believe the wings on the Dennison are from the 50's. Can anyone confirm?

[edstorey]

Are these not from the 1950s?

[Bill A]

Ed, What is the backing material on those wings?

[edstorey]

Bill:

Here is the back of the wings.

[Bill A]

Hi Ed, That type of backing is associated with the acquisitions in the 60's before unification. I may stand corrected on that, but I would date that wing to the early mid 60's.

[edstorey]

Bill, so when does this one date from?

[Infanteer]

I have some wings like those and was told that they are from the 50's by some very well known Canadian Parachute Corps collectors/author. It is difficult to determine the vintage of these wings but the maple leaf on war vintage wings is "usually" different and there are slight differences in the feathers of the wings that give this pair of wings away as post war. The wings with the scalloped edge material is definitely from the 60's.

Look closely at the details of the leaf and shape of the upper feathers on the war vintage wings in my collection.

Problem is that wings were being made by numerous companies both in Canada and in England so there are numerous variations. That being said, the 50's and 60's vintage wings seem to be fairly consistent in their details.

[Bill A]

Ed, Steve has said it. It is very difficult to date the vintage of Canadian wings. The mesh type backing on the former pair is easily identified as a late manufacture, but the black cotton backing on the majority of Canadian jump wings does not aid in dating the wings. Basically, they are earlier than the mesh backing pattern, and likely date from the 50's.