ww2 Para wing for ID

[HamandJam]

Hi Folks

What issue is this wing ? Backing is black or very dark blue.

I have thought of commando, SOE, RAF?

Any thoughts?

Thanks
JB

[rockape560]

HI JB,

looks like a raf para badge as to the age ill leave that to others

philip

[HamandJam]

Thanks Phlip

As it is horizontally combed wing I would say ww2 era.

I read in Ospreys that army commandos also used wing with black back ground.

JB

[David Tremain]

There was apparently no special wings for SOE. I think they wore the wings for whatever service they were in, mostly Army.

[Petrick]

Maybe it is a Rhodesian parachute wing ?

Originally Posted by HamandJam

Hi Folks

What issue is this wing ? Backing is black or very dark blue.

I have thought of commando, SOE, RAF?

Any thoughts?

Thanks
JB

Its an Indian Airborne wings, 156 Bn ww2 nice wings

peter

[HamandJam]

thanks Peter. This is also one of the possibilities
mentioned in this elaborate thread which Luc pointed me to http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ighlight=black . I also have seen an identical one sell on Buywyze for GBP 150 but without description only scarce http://www.buywyze.com/shop/viewphot...1016531&phqu=2, Regards JB

[blackpowder44]

Ihave doubts that these wings are Indian para ones. Having looked at my Indian para wings your wings do not conform to the pattern of wings that I have. On all my Indian wings and bush hat badges the rigging lines have a knot at the base of the canopy as can be seen in the pictures.Also the rigging lines continue over the front of the canopy and down the other side. John.

[HamandJam]

Hi it is mentioned on the WAF forum link that potentially these wings were issued to the 156 when they returned to the UK. Ospreys mentions that some army commandos also wore a wing with a black backing. Some free forces in exile like cz (see WAF) and Belgian Sas have worn also dark blue backed parawings http://www.belgiansas.com/insignia.html in 1944/45 Cheers JB

[Luc]

Originally Posted by HamandJam

potentially these wings were issued to the 156 when they returned to the UK.

While going over my files I found these two beauties, very similar in construction! This might be a good theory.

[HamandJam]

Update I have now also found out that this dark blue/black wings were worn by French 4th SAS in ww2,so there appears a free forces on exile connection as well ref free Cz and Belgian 5th SAS,CheersJB

[HamandJam]

The story unfolds!today I received the Formation Sign, the quarterly journal of the Military Heraldry Society and it is mentioned on page 9 under commandos that the black-backed version is normally attributed to No2 commando! Cheers JB

[NEMO]

HI good evening , sorry but these are not Indian Airborne and im more than certain there not 156 para or RAF.

I BELIEVE , but can not proove 100 % that these are a private purchase item obtained from military tailors often worn on service dress by units such as S.O.E and some Free European special forces Czechs etc

( an please : im not saying these are S.O.E wings only that some members choose to wear this pattern )

regards ,Michael.

[HamandJam]

Hi Michael, I also think they may have been worn by SOE but I am also convinced now the black backed version was also worn by No2 commando.Cheers,JB

[Luc]

I just went over John O'Reilly's book "from Dehli to Arnhem" and it seems the 156th battalion wore a number of different wings. Not only the typical Indian style wings that are shown by John earlier, but also standard British made wings (either embroidered on khaki backing and mounted on black or embroidered black). See pictures below.
I'm going with JB's theory: worn by 156th battalion upon their return to the UK and a number of other units.