Thread: Airforce wings
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Old 21-07-06, 14:31
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Bill Alexander Bill Alexander is offline
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Location: Ontario
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Hello Dave, the titles that you have are "nationality" titles for the Royal Air Force. The RAF did not feel the need for the nationality to be listed below for the "mother" nation.
The titles that Derek is referring to were the eagle / albatross with the nations name embroidered below. These titles were made in part for the aircrew and groundcrew training in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. (BCATP).
This plan led to thousands of Commonwealth airmen coming to Canada to be trained for the airforce. Because there were so many nationalities, there was a need to identify the airman's country of origin. Once trained, these airmen either went back to their national airforce (RCAF, RAAF, RAF, etc).
I have had several tunics with the type of patches you show. They were either RAF or RCAF.
In reference to your medal question, it is unusual but not impossible to have both the Pacific Star and the Atlantic Star. They represent operational service in both theatres of war. This would not be unusual for navy service, and some airforce service. It is scarce for army service. (I am speaking of Canadian forces here.)
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