Mock Tower Para Wings

[GregN]

Hi all, I picked up these wings some time ago and understand that they are cadet issue. I'm hoping a member can fill me in as to how they were awarded and what era thay are.

Regards,

Greg

[edstorey]

The wings were awarded to Canadian Airborne Regiment Cadets who had made a required number of jumps from the mock tower. The badge is not an officially recognized Cadet badge but worn by members of the Airborne Cadets. I saw them being worn in the early 1980s.

[GregN]

Thanks Ed.

[RCArmyCadets]

In fact, they were being worn at least from 1978 and possibly earlier. I recall seeing several cadets from 2551 CAR Cadet Corps wearing them at Vernon ACSTC that summer. They looked intersting to see there very least: TWs, bloused combat boots and maroon berets.

[GregN]

Hi all, I picked up another version of the Cadet Mock Tower Training Wing today. Attached is a picture of the two types. Does the 2551 Cadet Corp still exist and are they still wearing this bevet?

Cheers,

Greg

[Tanker Mike]

The wings were issued to any cadet who completed the mock tower training, back in the day when the airborne were in Edmonton they were several cadet corps in Edmonton. Artillery, Signals, Airborne, Loyal Edmonton, 19th Dragoons, etc all could take the course.
The CIL instructor just had to get in touch with the Airborne center to set up the training day, we in the 19D's went on several occasions and also watched them jump from C-130's and Huey's at Namaio Air Base.
Not only did you get to go on the mock tower, but also the "rack" and learned the "PLF" parachute landing fall, along with lots of push ups and running, lots of fun.

[Tanker Mike]

Here is a picture of me back in the day, wearing the wings, most of senior NCO 19D's had done the mock tower course two or three times as the Airborne was in Edmonton at the time.

[GregN]

Nice pictures Mike. Thanks for showing them. What type of the mock tower wing are you wearing?

Greg

[Tanker Mike]

The first set you posted. A as side note I remember that only a couple of the Airborne cadets had the actual CF jump wings.

[servicepub]

There are many variants of the Mock Tower badge for cadets. Joe Drouin, at the Airborne kitshop, still produces the most recent type as well as t-shirts, although the badge is unofficial and not supposed to be worn.

In some of my research on other forums, some cadets used to wear the CF Para badge with the tip of the wings clipped [ http://armycadethistory.com/Cadet%20..._2551_1971.htm ], or one wing completely removed (circa 1970s-80s)[ http://armycadethistory.com/Cadet%20..._2551_1969.htm ]. Some of these pictures can be found on armycadethistory.com


-Richard (using my fathers account)

[servicepub]

In some of my research on other forums..

If you are going to use my account at least use proper English (or, in this case, Latin), i.e., In some of my research on other fora...