If only he'd googled, QANTAS pilot uniform history.
http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/wp-...rm-history.pdf
It looks like the original wings had a LION on them, maybe to signify the link up between Qantas and Imperial airways in 1935? Hence why they were known as Qantas Empire Airways?
And I can't see the current coat of arms replicated on any cap badge until after nationalisation post WW2. In fact after trying to google a few pictures of the 30's and 40's era uniforms reveals few clear results, but from what I can ascertain in that era either it was the cap badge with the kangaroo and the lion or a badge with neither during the war years. Happy to be corrected if anyone has any more accurate info?
But if that's the case, I don't think the pilots of the 50's to 90's thought their insignia disrespected the insignia of the 30's-40's?