British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > South African Military and Police Insignia > Army

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30-11-20, 07:37 AM
milhistry milhistry is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 336
Default Army Pilot Wings

Does anyone have reliable info on when(if) the various patterns of SA Army pilot wings were worn?

It appears in 1950s the winged grenade was worn. Then in the 1960s the springbok head on a sort of shield with protea leaves.

I've seen photos of the above so know they were worn but not sure of the dates.

There is another pattern with springbok head on a blue oval within a wreath. I know of at least two varieties.
Any info on these welcome. Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-12-20, 06:35 AM
Alex Rice Alex Rice is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,736
Default

Not sure of dates but here are some photos of them. For some reason I haven't got a photo of the grenade version....?
I would be very interested to see the second variation of the last one with the bokkop in the blue oval and wreath.
Cheers,
Alex
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 22 Pilot 22 - Army cloth vari.jpg (27.7 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg 21 Pilot 21 - Army cloth.jpg (36.5 KB, 8 views)
File Type: jpg 23 Pilot 23 - Army iron-on.jpg (28.2 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg 3 Pilot army recon 60's.jpg (22.3 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg 4 Pilot army recon pre 91.jpg (25.9 KB, 8 views)

Last edited by Alex Rice; 01-12-20 at 09:01 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-12-20, 12:53 PM
Madziro Madziro is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Basingstoke UK
Posts: 529
Default

May I ask if anybody has provenance that the thin material printed army type wing is original? I ask because the printed type on very thin cloth for all wings was only issued from about 1983 and the metal wing with springbok head and red title was worn in the 1950s - 1960s. The implication is that the thin printed one is spurious or strangely, made in the 1950s (highly doubtful). It may be that somebody is being enterprising and trying to make a fast buck out of us collectors!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-12-20, 03:07 PM
Alex Rice Alex Rice is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,736
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Madziro View Post
May I ask if anybody has provenance that the thin material printed army type wing is original? I ask because the printed type on very thin cloth for all wings was only issued from about 1983 and the metal wing with springbok head and red title was worn in the 1950s - 1960s. The implication is that the thin printed one is spurious or strangely, made in the 1950s (highly doubtful). It may be that somebody is being enterprising and trying to make a fast buck out of us collectors!
I wondered about that as well. I think it is probably either fake or a mistake made when the wings were manufactured. It isn't unlikely that the makers used the worn pattern.
Cheers,
Alex
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-12-20, 03:30 AM
milhistry milhistry is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 336
Default

The other bokkop version has the outlines in gold but the rest in blue i.e. not all in gold. Not sure if genuine variation or a fake though.

I do wonder about the thin screenprint wings. I suspect if genuine some supplied an old pattern wing to be copied in 1980s. The only folks that IMO would be entitled to wear the army wing would have been ex Army pilots who for whatever reason did not transfer to the SAAF in the late 1960s when AOP became SAAF responsibility.
I've never seen any of the thin wings worn by anyone so would be keen to see if anyone has any photos of them being worn.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-12-20, 03:35 AM
milhistry milhistry is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 336
Default

https://www.samilitaria.com/SAM/prod...-ref-dw1-9-25/

Note winged grenade on 2nd image. This photo would be from after 1975 (based on uniform) yet the gunner general is still wearing his 1950s winged grenade
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 02:52 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.