RAF Badge

[Home Guard]

I recently received this RAF AA badge as a gift, and after doing some research believe it to be a beret badge. It is 38 MM wide and 42 MM tall. I would like to confirm that, and also ask if it is a badge that might be worn by a PMRAFNS?





Thank you!

Terry

[dragon166]

Terry, your badge is now the beret badge but, until 1996, it was also the No 1 SD cap badge (now replaced by the coloured embroidered version). It was worn by all OA ranks, Flight Sergeant and below, of the RAF, WRAF and the PMRAFNS. Hope this helps.
Dave

[wardog]

It was also the standard badge of the Service Dress Cap, in use from the 60s to the early/mid 1990s. Regards, Paul.
(further-must learn to type faster!)

[dragon166]

Said that!!

[wardog]

I havn't got your typing skills Dave. Can you confirm it continued in use with the RAF Police white cap, not sure it that is still so. Regards, Paul.

[wardog]

I have a coloured embroidered badge with lugs attached given to me by a colleague after I left- I assume it was to use on the white cap, but from online pictures it does look like the old badge may have continued in use. Regards, Paul.

[Home Guard]

Thank you all!!!!

Terry

[dragon166]

Yes Paul, the RAF Police still wear the "metal" version on their white hats. The embroidered badge with lugs is said to have originally been for the RAF Police but, for some reason, it was not used. It is used on the SD caps of the Queens Colour Squadron. There is also a version with a straight medal spike pin, this is for use on turbans.
Dave

[Snowdrop 68]

The embroidered version was worn by some RAFP for a bit when it was introduced but as the badge is worn above the hat band it had to be sewn onto the cap and burst the plastic so it was scrapped and we went back to the AA version which we still wear (although I wear my grandad's KC brass version),

Bill

[Artynut]

So, what was the advantage of having the RAF cap badge made in that mucky looking stuff and by the rear view of it, crudely finished product? That’s a three piece order including the brass back plate versus the two piece version I was issued with. D.J.

[wardog]

Hello Bill. I have only recently seen a white cap on ebay without eyelets for lugs- must have been produced in the hope the new badge could be sown on-only such I've seen. Very poor to make an item for issue that was not suitable to have a badge sown on. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60-cm-XL-...oAAOSwy0VffMiu
DJ- Anodised Aluminium badges have been in RAF use around 60 years- quality varying with manufacturer. Not impossible to snap which I expect was the reason for the backing plate. Like Bill I wore GM ones, but with a QC-bought a few when I joined up and happily set to work with brasso and wet and dry paper! Regards, Paul.
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...7&d=1401908099
I guess a New Metal version of the ORs badge, as mainly used on he beret, was not worth the cost.

[Artynut]

Hi Wardog, Did the same to mine, still wear it twice a year,(except last year, only once!). We had to clean front AND back! D.J.