FAA Trade badges

[dragon166]

I have been asked to identify the badges shown in the attachment. I have searched everywhere and apart from the propeller suggesting Air Mechanic I can't find the definition of the stars. I think the top two are for an Air Mechanic 1st class, with the lower one a Leading Air Mechanic. Can anyone help, as all the modern versions would have a letter below?
Dave

PS What is the period of use?

[Guzzman]

These badges always cause a bit of a problem! This is because there were two badges of a similar design but for different things - a Two-bladed Airscrew for Air Mechanics and a Two-bladed Propeller for Motor Mechanics!

Two-bladed propeller badges for motor mechanics did have one design which featured a star above and a star below but no letters. This was worn by Motor Mechanics between 1923-1948.

However , there was no motor mechanic design which included a single star above the propeller. In fact there were only two motor mechanic badges issued. The one I mentioned above and one with a King's Crown and star above, and a star below. This was for Chief Motor Mechanics.

The Two-bladed Airscrew badge worn by Air Mechanics was also issued with a star above and a star below but was only worn with a letter below - an F, O or R. The Airscrew badge was also issued with a star above but again only worn with a letter below - an A, E, F, L, O or R. Sometimes both these badges included the relevant letter and sometimes the basic badge and the letter were issued separately and both stitched onto the uniform.

It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between Air Mechanics and Motor Mechanics badges. The best way to differentiate between them is by the combinations of letter and stars. Without any letters it is very difficult!

All I can say is that the badge with two stars could have been worn by a Motor Mechanic or Air Mechanic. The badges with one star would have been worn by an Air Mechanic but without the letter I can't tell you anything about any specific skills. Air Mechanics badges were in use from 1939 and some continued in use until 1956.

I hope this helps!

Pete

[dragon166]

Pete, thanks for the comments which I have passed on. To me the badges are definitely Airscrews rather than propellers, from the drawings I have seen of both. So the conundrum continues.
Dave

[Guzzman]

I agree that these are probably Airscrews rather than Propellers but without the letters below you can't really say anything else about them. It's so frustrating!

Pete

[nbroadarrowz]

Hi To All,
Admiralty Fleet Order 1739 of 1943 lists -
Badges for Air Mechanics and Air Fitters (unclassified)
Non-substantive badges omitting the category initial letter (A, E, L or O), have been approved for wear by air mechanics and air fitters prior to the satisfactory completion by them of technical courses ..........

further research suggests that these badges became obsolete in 1948.

To me this fills the void in our understanding of these air screw propeller badges without letters.
Barry

[dragon166]

Barry
This reference to badges worn without letters would only apply to the Airscrew on its own not to the badges with stars as these relate to trade progression/competence.
Dave

[nbroadarrowz]

I would be interested in any information relating to the air screw badge or 4 blade propeller badge without any stars or letters being used in the WW2 period. So far, I have not found any reference material to these designs of plain badges.
Barry

[DougSA]

You can find some basic information here http://https://www.naval-history.net...nks-Badges.htm .

Also, please see photo of some new entrants to Fleet Air Arm at HMS Gosling in 1945, where prospective Air Fitters and Air Mechanics received their basic training, before being allocated to trade (A, E, O, L) and Air Fitter or Mechanic. As they had yet to go through technical training, they all wore Air Mechanic unclassified patch.

[nbroadarrowz]

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the added information and photo.
AFO 1739 Unclassified air mechanic/fitter (without letter or star) 1943-1948.

We/I still need information as to these badges being used with one or two stars.

Are they experienced ratings that have transferred to a different branch?

Any help is much appreciated.

Barry

[DougSA]

Originally Posted by nbroadarrowz

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the added information and photo.
AFO 1739 Unclassified air mechanic/fitter (without letter or star) 1943-1948.

We/I still need information as to these badges being used with one or two stars.

Are they experienced ratings that have transferred to a different branch?

Any help is much appreciated.

Barry

Hi Barry

The two stars, above and below, was for Motor Mechanics.

The one star above should have been matched by a letter below, for Air Mechanics with specialisation A, E, L or O (or later F, etc.). A possible explanation is that the letter was yet to be added onto the examples shown.

Best regards

[nbroadarrowz]

To me the design of the propeller does not match that of a motor mechanic.
I am leaning to think that the badges are generic air mechanics badges that you could add your own classification letter.
There should be some official reference material to support this.

Barry