RNFC 881 Squadron??? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

jeffro · #1 28-10-09, 06:02 AM

Hello, I collect USN squadron patches from WW2 and recently acquired these two items along with some other patches. They appear to be WW2 manufacture. Any thoughts on what the Canadian insignia would have been worn on? Was it common to have Canadian pilots serving in a squadon like the 881st? Any idea of the value? Thanks. Jeffro

jeffro · #2 29-10-09, 11:20 PM

Listed both patches on Ebay if anyone's interested.

Bill A · #3 30-10-09, 12:10 AM

Hello Jeffro,
The crests that you have illustrated are bullion wire crests. Not uniform insignia, but usually for wear on the civilian blazer.
881 Squadron history:

August 1945. Formed as 826 Squadron as part of the Royal Navy and was Canadian-Manned.
23 February 1946. Disbanded.
May 1951. Formed as the redesignation of 826 Squadron.
15 May 1947. Reformed at Dartmouth, Nova-Scotia. Flew the Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Firefly and the Grumman Avenger aircraft.
1 May 1951. Re-designated 881 Squadron, at Shearwater, Nova-Scotia. 826 Designation returned to the Royal Navy.
November 1952. Renamed VS 881 under the US system of numbering. Flew the Grumman Avenger and Grumman Tracker aircraft.
7 July 1959. Amalgamated with 880 Squadron.
(info from http://jfchalifoux.com/rcn_squadrons.htm)

The second patch is the naval / maritime crown on the Canadian maple leaf. This would fit with the 881 Sqn.

empiretocommonwealth · #4 30-10-09, 04:35 PM

Hi Bill (and Jeffro) ...

Well I've got these images of 826 squadron 880 and 881 ... Any help?

+ Anthony

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill A

Hello Jeffro,
The crests that you have illustrated are bullion wire crests. Not uniform insignia, but usually for wear on the civilian blazer.
881 Squadron history:

August 1945. Formed as 826 Squadron as part of the Royal Navy and was Canadian-Manned.
23 February 1946. Disbanded.
May 1951. Formed as the redesignation of 826 Squadron.
15 May 1947. Reformed at Dartmouth, Nova-Scotia. Flew the Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Firefly and the Grumman Avenger aircraft.
1 May 1951. Re-designated 881 Squadron, at Shearwater, Nova-Scotia. 826 Designation returned to the Royal Navy.
November 1952. Renamed VS 881 under the US system of numbering. Flew the Grumman Avenger and Grumman Tracker aircraft.
7 July 1959. Amalgamated with 880 Squadron.
(info from http://jfchalifoux.com/rcn_squadrons.htm)

The second patch is the naval / maritime crown on the Canadian maple leaf. This would fit with the 881 Sqn.