RAF Wwings and Qualification half wings

[Laurence Strong]

I picked up this set as part of a tradeon some items, and I was looking for your thoughts

1:

Real or repro? Surfing around I have seen very similar ones touted as either...

2:

if real when would they have been issued 50s to 60s? When was Air Gunner and Bomb aimer a trade in the RAF?

3:

The pilots wings are Kings crown so the time line there is finite.

Please feel free to wade in with your thoughts and opinions

Kings Crown Pilots wings

Adopted in 1918 by changing RFC to RAF

[Laurence Strong]

Observers Flying Badge

Originally adopted in 1915 with the RFC, and continued with the RAF until the Navigator and Bomb Aimer badges were introduced.

[Laurence Strong]

Air Gunner:

The badge was introduced in 1939 when Air gunners were turned into a full time trade

[Laurence Strong]

Navigator:

Introduced in 1942 as previously stated in post #2

[Laurence Strong]

They are all padded on the rear except for the Radio Observer.

Here is a set I found in a store on the net and he say:

"Royal Air force WW2 .......Canadian made with usual thicknes padding and canvas backing"

[Laurence Strong]

Bomb Aimer

[Laurence Strong]

Radio Observer:

Introduced in 1941 RO was a security name for airborne radar operators. It was later changed toObserver radio

[Laurence Strong]

The reverse of the RO wing

[Laurence Strong]

Air Signaller

With electronics pl;aying a greater role in aviation, the role of wireless operator was split form air gunner in 1943. It was not until the start of 1944 that this badge was issued. It was replaced with the WSO badge in 2003

[Laurence Strong]

Air Engineer:

This came into being with the advent of 4 engine heavy bombers and was issued in 1942.

[Laurence Strong]

Parachute Jump Instructor:

This was introduced in 1945 to replace the previous badge.

Thanks for looking and feel free to comment

Merry Christmas

[Kane]

Hi Laurence,

These are quite a good find. My great grandfather was an Air Gunner during WW2 and is one of the only people he knows that still has his half wing. One of his squadron mates wants to swap it for a Dinstinguished Air Medal just to get his hands on one. I believe that these could be quite real as my grandfathers was issued in about 42 and is still in fantastic condition. It's just too bad they never issued a dress uniform air gunners badge.

Cheers,

Kane

[ChrisB]

Sorry I cant be of much help here. I take it you have already checked out these sites:-

http://www.ww2wings.com/main.shtml

http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/DIRECTORY/directory.html

Does seem to be a bit of a trick to identifying the age of these wings but as yet I have not been initiated in the ways yet. Anyway here are my ones.

Cheers

Chris

[ChrisB]

Another one of my Navigator half wings. The chap who sold me this one said this type of wing was issued post war in the 1950?s he didn?t have any evidence to back this up though only his word. The back looks a bit similar to your RO wing. Bit hard to make out in the photo but does your one have a black fabric backing that the wing is sewn through?

Cheers

Chris

[ChrisB]

These ones I brought in the mid 80?s. These are now in my re-pro box as they are definitely not war time production (may have been officially worn post war though).

Cheers

Chris

[ChrisB]

The backs of the 80's half wings.

[Laurence Strong]

Hi Chris

My RO badge has a fabric backing to it like yours and the others are the same padded types. Were these worn by the RAF in the post war, or are they repro's of issue badges? I was not to concerned about them being WW2.

[ChrisB]

Hello Laurence

I?ll start this off with the caveat that I am no expert when it comes to these wings. But I believe the type of wing shown in post 15 & 16 are reproductions. I believe this for two reasons. 1) the construction is not like any of the original WW2 badges I have seen in the flesh. Both the WAG and Observers badges were replaced by other badges before the end of the war (the Observers in 1942) and they would not have been used post war. There would have been no reason to still make these badges post war and yet these two badges have exactly the same type of construction as the other two so I believe all four of mine are duff repros.

2) The other reason is that I have seen a few of this type of wing (with the black fabric backing) but none have ever shown any sign of ever having been worn. Not a great sign of being fake I agree but I think it?s unusual to find so many mint examples of this type of badge.

Your RO badge I think it?s safe to say is an original but may date post war.

Again these are just my opinions and I don?t mind if someone can prove me wrong.

Cheers

Chris