SAS Wings...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

What are these exactly?

I got them from a guy who told me they are Rhodesian.... but some time ago someone else said the Rhodies did not have metal ones....

[Garth Thompson]

Chris,

Looks like British SAS post war tropical dress. ref Bragg & Turner plate 1.

Garth

[leigh kitchen]

Yep, there were quite a few of these knocking around in the 1980's, I picked one up for about ?3 back then. Fairly thick, "bendy" metal?

[Gareth Nicholas]

They are Royal Ausralian Navy special forces parachute wings from the mid 80s, worn for a very short period.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Gareth - welcome to GMIC. That is an interesting identification - and only someone with knowledge on the subject could be so sure. For the benefit of members could you please give us a few pointers on these wings. Many thanks. Mervyn

[Gareth Nicholas]

Hi Mervyn.

My reference is from the book - Australian Airborne, by John O'Connor. QUOTE In 1994 a Special Duties Unit parachute badge, based on the SAS wing, was institued for the awarding to those CD [Clearance Diver] members qualified and posted to the Team at the [Australian] SAS. Unfortunately the badge was only issued for one year because the SAS attachment was discontinued. END QUOTE Pictures are included.

Though parachute badges are not my area of specialist interest, that being UK, AUS, NZ aircrew wings and brevet. I have come across the the Special Duties parachute badge a couple of times during my research and this as confirmed what was stated in Australian Airborne.

After a closer inspection of the pictured badge above the front in extremely similar to the RAN badge, my problem is the back and the colour. The aircrew badges of the RAN during the 1990s were made of a much solidier construction, had clutch pin fixings and retained a shiney lustre. This leads me to believe the pictured badge is properly related to British Navy special forces of somehow, esppecially as the Australia defence forces matched the style of their badges closely to that of the british.

Thanks for the question and making me look deeper into a rare and interesting badge.

Edited March 12, 2012 by Gareth Nicholas

[leigh kitchen]

Photo of this badge shown as 113A SAS wings in "British Army Proficiency Badges" by "Edwards & Langley", who also mention an anodised version.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Leigh - are you back with us - absolutely delighted if you are. Mervyn

[AIRTROOPER]

Hi fellas,

I beg to differ. The wings shown are tropical post war SAS wings. I have yet to see photographic proof of these ever having been worn.

The RAN wings refered to are similar in appearance but are not those shown.

I know as I have sets of both in my collection.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Airtrooper. Welcome to GMIC. Strange that there have been so many different idents. - we will have to see if

other Members agree with you ? Mervyn

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

can you post a pic of both pairs next to each other?

Thanks

Chris

[TATKINS]

Brass wings similar to the badge shown above were indeed approved in 1956 for wear on No 3 Dress (Warm Weather Ceremonial). It was intended for wear on the white linen tunic, which looks like the No 1 Dress tunic, along with other detachable insignia and buttons allowing for frequent laundering. The Australian wing from the 1990s is similar in appearance and clearly inspired by the British design but not quite the same and has US-style clutch fixings rather than the British loops for the split-pin.

Tom

Edited September 13, 2012 by TATKINS

[Mervyn Mitton]

Tom - welcome to GMIC. So many possible directives - very confusing. Mervyn

[jules118]

Hi fellas,

I beg to differ. The wings shown are tropical post war SAS wings. I have yet to see photographic proof of these ever having been worn.

The RAN wings refered to are similar in appearance but are not those shown.

Agreed. These are definitely not the RAN Special Duties Wings, which are of similar design but are a gold plated cast metal in construction with two clutchpin grips.

jules

http://www.juleswings.wordpress.com

A site for collectors of militaria and travelers interested in military history.

Edited December 19, 2012 by jules118

[Bart Simon]

Hello: I have just joined. I also have a similar badge collected in Rhodesia. I would like to know what is the final answer, is this a British or Australian badge ?. Then secondly, also from Rhodesia/Zimbabwe is this silver parachute badge, any idea which that one is ?. And the same for the third one with lifted wings. Thanks - Bart.

[jules118]

On 8/11/2017 at 03:54, Bart Simon said:

Hello: I have just joined. I also have a similar badge collected in Rhodesia. I would like to know what is the final answer, is this a British or Australian badge ?. Then secondly, also from Rhodesia/Zimbabwe is this silver parachute badge, any idea which that one is ?. And the same for the third one with lifted wings. Thanks - Bart.

The top badge is NOT Australian and looks like a restrike of the British tropical wings. The other two wings are from the USA. The badge with the up-swept wings is US Army and the other (should be gold coloured) is the US Navy/USMC qualification. I can see traces of 'flashing' that has not been cut from the bottom of the middle wing and the not so sharp detail on the badges lead me to suspect that these are copies and not original issue items. 
Hope that helps
jules

 

Edited August 16, 2017 by jules118

[dante]

The original badge shown is a restrike of the British tropical SAS wings. These wings were manufactured but never worn, 

[Asil76]

Hi I have 2 of these one brass one white metal, any ideas why there are two different types?