HELP APPRECIATED WITH RAF PATCH - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

mjw · #1 09-07-21, 04:18 PM

Can any Forum member identify this RAF badge. My own thought is its a flying suit badge of some sort.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Phil2M · #2 09-07-21, 07:48 PM

RAF Sailing Association?

mjw · #3 09-07-21, 07:56 PM

Many thanks. Will add to list of possibilities.

leigh kitchen · #4 09-07-21, 07:58 PM

An obvious one but - RAF Sports Association?

mjw · #5 09-07-21, 08:32 PM

Good suggestion. Many thanks.

I suppose South Africa would fit also?

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Padre · #6 09-07-21, 09:45 PM

In terms of sports there has never been a 'Sports Association'. It was originally the 'Sports Board', which was disbanded, later reconstituted as the 'Sports Federation'. However it could be a sport within it such as the RAF Squash Association, Small Arms (founded 1921), Ski Association or Sailing Association. A bit of research might dispel some on formation dates.

RAF South Africa might well be another. It looks like a blazer badge to me.

mjw · #7 09-07-21, 09:59 PM

Hello Padre.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions. Much appreciated.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

mike_vee · #8 10-07-21, 06:30 AM

Spitfire Association ?

Spitfire Anniversary ?

Quote:

The crowds at the 1936 RAF Display at Hendon had a first glimpse of the prototype Spitfire in the New Types Park but it was not until August 1938 that production Spitfires began to enter service.

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mjw · #9 10-07-21, 07:10 AM

Hello Mike.

Thanks for this.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

mjw · #10 10-07-21, 07:45 AM

Apparently there was also a record breaking seaplane flight from Britain to South Africa in 1938.

With all the above suggestions, seems to be many possibilities.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

leigh kitchen · #11 11-10-21, 09:54 AM

Enquiries on my behalf by a family member have resulted in the suggestion that the badge was worn by the RAF boxing team that toured Southern Africa in 1938.

"In what was the worst aircraft accident in South Africa at the time SAAF Airspeed Envoy no. 256 was one of three returning to Pretoria on 6 June 1938 from Rhodesia after a boxing tournament when it entered low cloud near the Limpopo River and had possibly broken up in the air. The two SAAF crew and four RAF boxers were killed".

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/221911

Padre · #12 11-10-21, 10:26 AM

There was a series of photos taken of the boxers at RAF Uxbridge on April 13th 1938, before they left for South Africa. The one of two boxers shows A C Walker on the left and R Boxshall on the right. I would think it highly likely the Royal Air force badge shown on their blazers was the one worn on the tour and that your badge might have instead been worn on the vest, trunks or tracksuit.

The blazer badge says 'R.A.F. Boxing Assn' around the ring, and 'South Africa Tour 1938' on the scroll, which I assume is white on black as your badge.

mike_vee · #13 11-10-21, 11:07 AM

There are a couple of photos on eBay showing the memorial to the boxers , no details about where it is.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334102240...Cclp%3A2047675

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234175945...Cclp%3A2499334

I wonder if the patch was a specially made "commemorative/memorial" item ?

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mike_vee · #14 11-10-21, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padre

There was a series of photos taken of the boxers at RAF Uxbridge on April 13th 1938, before they left for South Africa.

....and that your badge might have instead been worn on the vest, trunks or tracksuit.

Photo from the same series shows RAF Insignia on vests.

mjw · #15 11-10-21, 12:12 PM

Thanks everyone. Very interesting avenue to follow.

Kind regards, Malcolm.