Comments welcomed on today’s pick-up: QC cast RASC AD wings

[Chacal]

Good afternoon

As I rarely find items of insignia during local forays I decided to pick this up together with a GvR RE cap badge (see ‘RA, RE & RS’ thread); although not my field I thought my swap box could do with topping up. I will be disposing of them via trade or sale in the near future, but I would welcome any comments as to whether genuine or not.

I was particularly intrigued by these RASC Air Dispatch wings (I understand worn on tropical dress?), whoever made them has taken some time and care to produce an item which, whilst it could not be mistaken for an ordnance-issue item, is not without merit. So what do people think - good buy, or ‘good bye’ into the Forth & Clyde Canal?

Thanks

Graham

[Fatboy Ken]

Hiya Graham,

I like it, I don't think it's worth much but nice to have in a collection as a Variant of the "Tropical AD Badge".

As with most sandcast badges, they don't command high prices, so IMOO, it would not benefit anyone to produce them cost effectively for the badge market.

It does have character though and obviously a good sandcast badge maker, must have been made in the Far East region. India, Hong Kong or Malaya.

I noticed that the lugs look to have been, 1. Added or 2. Soldered back on to the rear of the badge, where all the sandcast badges I've seen these lugs were incorporated into the castings, so I'm assuming that that is a repair jobby, which doesn't detract from the point of an unusual sandcast badge.

But a nice Air Despatch Brevet

Ken (The Fatboy),

[Chacal]

Hi Ken

Thanks for your input. The lugs appear to be copper and don't look like a repair job - I put better photos, including one showing the lugs from an angle in my 'Misc' album. The place I got it from, together with a GvR 'economy' Royal Engineers, rarely has much apart from overpriced Scottish insignia (and little enough of that), so I'm happy with the day's results.

Best

Graham

[Fatboy Ken]

Just had a look in the album and yes the lugs are firmly attached, and might I say, I like the images you've taken, very good detail all round on the angled shot.

My opinion (for what it's worth)

A Good Egg !!!! (as we used to say in the RCT in the 80's)

The Fatboy

[Chacal]

Originally Posted by Fatboy Ken

I like the images you've taken, very good detail all round on the angled shot.

Thanks Ken, as it's a dull day up here I had it on the window sill while I balanced on the edge of the bed taking the photos - quite a few came out fuzzy!

Graham

[seaeagle25]

Hi there Graham

Are the badges still for sale or do you know what dealers in the UK may have such items.

Kind regards

Doug

[slick_mick]

I believe that Australian Air Dispatchers also wore this during the 1960s for a short period of time.

I think it's mentioned in John O'Connor's "Australian Airborne - The History and Insignia of Australian Military Parachuting" reference book.

Mick

[Chacal]

Hi Doug

PM sent.

Graham

Originally Posted by seaeagle25

Hi there Graham

Are the badges still for sale or do you know what dealers in the UK may have such items.

Kind regards

Doug