"Curiouser and Curiouser ", thought Alice.
Chugalug,
I checked on both the links you so kindly gave me, and all was revealed. Yes, 12 Sqdn with Basil Brush was the only possible candidate. But what Wiki showed as the badge had a Queen's Crown, whereas the first link (list of Squadrons) showed it as a King's.
So it shows that what I'd forgotten (if I ever knew), was that all badges switched when the King died. All badges approved during the present reign will presumably switch back when Charles (or William) comes to the throne.
(Sudden thought: will they all have to buy new Cap badges - and buttons - when that happens ?)
The question of what I saw through the magnifying glass is now irrelevant.
You learn something new every day !
Now let us put my suspicions to rest. Someone here must be able to get hold of the Air Force Lists for '44 and '45, and trace Wing Commander Mike Warren. And if he flew operationally with 12 Sqdn, its ORB will give us all the 'gen'. I turn it over to our IT wizards.
Danny.