rathbonemuseum

Fantastic. I have never seen that black backing before. That is new news.

Hi,

I just got this 1945 tunic dated and named to F/L M. de Rusecki (Marek Antoni Rusecki). He was in the PAF as early as 1928 and was aviator number 88. He flew bombers and was in PAF squadron 216 at the start of the war. He escaped to Romanian Sept 8, 1939, first to Marseille and then to London. He started his RAF service with 300 squadron. His service history and squadron history gets a little murky from there. He stayed in the UK and became a naturalized citizen in 1949, living near Birmingham.

As you can see, one of the ribbons is missing. My guess is he probably qualified for aircrew europe and maybe one other theater/campaign ribbon. Don't know. Also, when he moved up the RAF wing to make room for his post war ribbons, he covered the hole where he had worn his polish wing. There is no evidence of him wearing Polish officer's insignia on the lapels but did have officer's Polish nationality titles, now missing. Fortunately I have a period pair. He is documented on the rolls for the Virtuti Militari 5th class.

A really nice and rare tunic to a Polish air officer. I also need to find the belt, which is now missing.

Any help would be most appreciated in terms of finding more info.

Cheers,

Tod

Here is some of the research I have done.

I am not sure what rate he had in the PAF (don't know what section pilot was) but assume he got downgraded in RAF org scheme.

Marek Antoni de Rusiecki

Student in class XI, 1938 Dęblin Aviation Cadet School

http://www.genealogi....=17116&p=32511

Graduated 88th of that year

http://www.polishair...promocjaxi.html

http://pl.wikipedia....Eskadra_Bombowa

Section Pilot (ppor. pil.), 216 Bomber Squadron, 2nd Air Army

Stationed at Ice (09.01.1939 - 09.17.1939)

Flew PZL.37B and Fokker F.ViiB/3m

Flew to 220 bomb squadron on 9 Sept 1939 Małaszewicze Base

Fled to Romania, then to France, then to UK

1940 300 Squadron "Ziemi Mazowieckiej" Flight Lieutenant (podporucznik pilot)

http://www.polishair...boblotnicy.html

http://orb.polishaf.....-squadron-f540

1940-08-12

Bramcote

Weather fine. Flying hours – 14.20.
Cross-country flights. A flight at 25,000 ft. by p/Off. M. Rusiecki. Instrument flying.
Link Trainer.

P-76654 F/L. Marek .A. RUSIECKI, Pilot

http://orb.polishaf.....-squadron-f540

1944-11 - No. 301 Squadron - F540

1944-11-23 arrived at the Unit on posting from Home Establishment w.e.f. 20-11-44.

http://orb.polishaf.....-squadron-f540

1946-01-07

proceeded to the Bristol Aero-Engines School for a five day handling course on Bristol Hercules 100 engines.

Order of Virtuti Militari

http://www.stankiewi...com/vm/vm_r.htm

Rusiecki - Marek Antoni - - por.pil. - PSZ - VM V kl. - 1939-45

London Gazette

Naturalization

http://www.london-ga..../4081/page.pdf

Rusiecki, Marek Antoni de; Poland; Sales Representative ; Rodinghead, The Ridgway, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire. 28 June, 1949.

Here is some of the research I have done.

I am not sure what rate he had in the PAF (don't know what section pilot was) but assume he got downgraded in RAF org scheme.

Marek Antoni de Rusiecki

Student in class XI, 1938 Dęblin Aviation Cadet School

http://www.genealogia.okiem.pl/forum...=17116&p=32511

Graduated 88th of that year

http://www.polishairforce.pl/_promocjaxi.html

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/216_Eskadra_Bombowa

Section Pilot (ppor. pil.), 216 Bomber Squadron, 2nd Air Army

Stationed at Ice (09.01.1939 - 09.17.1939)

Flew PZL.37B and Fokker F.ViiB/3m

Flew to 220 bomb squadron on 9 Sept 1939 Małaszewicze Base

Fled to Romania, then to France, then to UK

1940 300 Squadron "Ziemi Mazowieckiej" Flight Lieutenant (podporucznik pilot)

http://www.polishairforce.pl/boblotnicy.html

http://orb.polishaf.pl/300sqn/1940/1...-squadron-f540

1940-08-12

Bramcote

Weather fine. Flying hours – 14.20.
Cross-country flights. A flight at 25,000 ft. by p/Off. M. Rusiecki. Instrument flying.
Link Trainer.

P-76654 F/L. Marek .A. RUSIECKI, Pilot

http://orb.polishaf.pl/301sqn/1944-2...-squadron-f540

1944-11 - No. 301 Squadron - F540

1944-11-23 arrived at the Unit on posting from Home Establishment w.e.f. 20-11-44.

http://orb.polishaf.pl/301sqn/1946-2...-squadron-f540

1946-01-07

proceeded to the Bristol Aero-Engines School for a five day handling course on Bristol Hercules 100 engines.

Order of Virtuti Militari

http://www.stankiewicze.com/vm/vm_r.htm

Rusiecki - Marek Antoni - - por.pil. - PSZ - VM V kl. - 1939-45

London Gazette

Naturalization

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issu.../4081/page.pdf

Rusiecki, Marek Antoni de; Poland; Sales Representative ; Rodinghead, The Ridgway, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire. 28 June, 1949.

Hi,

I just got this 1945 tunic dated and named to F/L M. de Rusecki (Marek Antoni Rusecki). He was in the PAF as early as 1928 and was aviator number 88. He flew bombers and was in PAF squadron 216 at the start of the war. He escaped to Romanian Sept 8, 1939, first to Marseille and then to London. He started his RAF service with 300 squadron. His service history and squadron history gets a little murky from there. He stayed in the UK and became a naturalized citizen in 1949, living near Birmingham.

As you can see, one of the ribbons is missing. My guess is he probably qualified for aircrew europe and maybe one other theater/campaign ribbon. Don't know. Also, when he moved up the RAF wing to make room for his post war ribbons, he covered the hole where he had worn his polish wing. There is no evidence of him wearing Polish officer's insignia on the lapels but did have officer's Polish nationality titles, now missing. Fortunately I have a period pair. He is documented on the rolls for the Virtuti Militari 5th class.

A really nice and rare tunic to a Polish air officer. I also need to find the belt, which is now missing.

Any help would be most appreciated in terms of finding more info.

Cheers,

Tod

Thanks to Ricardo Nácul, we have this great photo of Brigadier General Nero Moura, WWII veteran, wearing what I assume is the air force sword.

I want to add my appreciation as well. Thanks for covering this.

Hi, I thought I would move some images and postings that were buried in another thread into a new one for ease of search.

I will start the thread with a Brazilian Air Force dress belt and sword.

Please contribute what you have to this thread!

Hi,

From my website.

Wow. I had no idea they were that rare. Amazing.

Julio,

Here is my hat. Belonged to a pilot that was also an instructor. Has DC3 pins on his hat.

Tod

I don't know Rich. Is he on this forum? Does he usually collect Regia Aeronautica?

I will add an image from my site here. No dates known.

Nick,

Thanks for sharing these examples of flight school graduation badges. And thanks again for documenting what little information is out there. This needs a lot more research to understand how this was regulated.

Cheers,

Tod

Julio,

Please do. I would like to know what everything is and when it was regulation.

Cheers,

Tod

Julio,

Nice stuff. Here is my set as of 2009. I have added some more pieces since then. I will try and get better pics of the wings. I also have an officer's hat and will add it here. He was a pilot and instructor.

Yes, Nick, please do. Let's see what we can catalog.

Simply fantastic

Nice picture of that wing actually being worn. First I have seen. Do you have a better scan of the picture Francisco?

Totally original wings worn by the Aviazione Legionaria, or the Italian aviation expeditionary force that would have flown for the nationalist forces in Spain.

Here is a photo of the embroidered version:

Great finds. Really nice. Some worthy restoration projects there for RAF collectors. Let us know when and how you are planning to dispose of the rejects.

Cheers,

Tod

Nick,

Here is an example of what I am talking about. There is enough range in the different types of wings here to be more than simple manufacturing differences. Especially the one with the mum in the center.

And there you have the dilema. It is the same way with the JAAF flight wings. Some differences are probably the difference between field and dress uniforms. Some are a difference in grade. But there is simply no evidence. And that is strange given how much is known about much smaller air forces of the period.

So I am hoping to find someone who has information or even documents to spell out what is what.

Tod

Julio,

That would be fantastic. Any uniform guides, ads, dated pics of pilots etc would be very, very helpful as historical evidence. I am excited to see your collection. I am wondering if you could help me find some missing pieces of my own collection. I will send pics and such.

cheers,

Tod

Dear JapanX,

I labeled it as superior because I believe the grade depicted with the gold propeller and star was superior to the bronze winged version. And this is exactly the issue. I do not know how these grades were determined. Place in the class? Officer vs. NCO? I don't know. And as for your all gilt version, I have not even seen that one. Is it a higher grade? I don't know. That is what I am trying to figure out with some help.

And Jareth, thanks, but all the posts are particularly about aircraft and not uniform insignia. Unless you know of some threads I did not see.