Aircrew Badges

[SPIT]

Hi
When Pilots used to get their wings/flying badge they used to put an OLD SIXPENCE behind it. Do they still do this and with other aircrew (such as AEO or Navigators and any others) do likewise with their flying badges ??? :ok::ok:

[ProfessionalStudent]

Behind the wings on my No1s is a silver sixpence from 1940 (BoB year), so the tradition is alive and well. I didn't have one behind either of the other flying badges I have worn over the years, but I know others that do.

[ShyTorque]

Don't remember if there's one behind mine. They put velcro behind ours so they stuck on easily when HRH presented us with them.

That was thirty years ago when I was a steely eyed killer who looked like this: :cool: .

I've still got that same old No1 jacket in the wardrobe so I'll have to have a look. It doesn't fit now of course, the weight training and, er...pies made sure of that. I've still got the steely eyes but now they look more like this: :8

[L J R]

JPA says NO! - you don't have a receipt...!

[Olly O'Leg]

My Mum gave me a sixpence to go behind my wings that had belonged to my Great Uncle. When I took my 1's to the civvy tailor at Valley (off camp), she said that some people didn't know the tradition but that she still stitched in a 20p as she would never sew on a pair of wings without anything behind!

So check your 1's - you might be richer than you think!

[CrabInCab]

Yep, have a silver sixpence behind mine.

[Hueymeister]

Got a sixpence behind all of mine (No1 Jacket and Jumper) probably doubled the value of my jumper!

[brakedwell]

When I passed out of Swinderby 52 years ago it was unheard of.

[oldbeefer]

Graduated from Syerston in '68. Never heard of it.

[johnfairr]

Finningley 1973, #1 sewn on by girlfriend at the time, a delightful WRAF, with coin behind the brevet. If you're out there Judi, thanks, still think about you. ;)

[John Eacott]

Graduated from Syerston in '68. Never heard of it.

Same same: must be one of those RAF "habits" ;)

We got our wings on our sleeves at Culdrose, 40 years ago last week. 142 HSP led by Dave Warren; five out of twelve of us are still flying, but the "Wings Parade" will always be that special first step along the way :ok:

[Old Hairy]

Nope,did not happen in 1948 when I received mine.But then again sixpence was a larger proportion of my pay? One could get a lot for sixpence in those days:ok:

[Motleycallsign]

Not when I got my brevet in '71, but I believe the Harry Staish at Cranditz has reintroduced the tradition with various reasons behind it.

[mole man]

x Motley 2 got my brevet in 77 did not here of the tradition

Mole Man

[ShyTorque]

One could get a lot for sixpence in those days

In Doncaster you could get a pie, a pint and a woman.
(Not much meat in the pie, though).

[lsh]

Was that not Sheffield, "arry Darwin"??
lsh

[ShyTorque]

I think the price was a bit higher in Sheffield but I'm sure you're correct about the origin.

Bark once for yes.... ;)

[J.A.F.O.]

In Doncaster you could get a pie, a pint and a woman.


In Doncaster you probably still can.

[blaireau]

Graduated Syerston '65. Sixpence behind No1 uniform wings.

[Tankertrashnav]

Matelots used to tie the bow in their cap tally ribbon round a silver three pence (I think). Got my nav brevet in '70 at Strad - never heard of the sixpence thing till I saw this thread. By the way, lived in Donnie when I was going through Lindholme, but as I was newly married restricted myself to pies and pints ;)

[DaveyBoy]

The legend I've heard is that it was originally done so that if you were forced to make what we would now call an unplanned diversion (eg shot down by red triplane), you could sort yourself out with stickies and maybe even transport home.

[Mick Strigg]

What's this? The RAF have a "tradition"! Is this a first?

[diginagain]

Probably started as a 'tip' to pay for cleaning-out the balloon basket.

[lsh]

ruff!!!
lsh