View Full Version : UNIFORM BADGES
Recently whilst watching the excellent series on BBC called Mrs Wilson set in WW2 the lead person appeared to have RAF Wings on an Army Uniform ? Could anybody enlighten me on this or was it another BBC C*** UP
zetec2
2nd Dec 2018, 14:40
Weren't they RFC - Royal Flying Corps wings ?,
Or RAF but wearing khaki, as was done in the field.
Weren't they RFC - Royal Flying Corps wings ?,
Not having seen the offending item, but RFC/RAF wings were effectively identical (apart from the letters) ... innit?
zetec2
2nd Dec 2018, 14:47
Yes sorry - wings almost identical, have my Grandfathers RFC wings for reference & as comparison but looked closely at screen, pretty sure RFC, stand to be corrected though.
Sloppy Link
2nd Dec 2018, 17:25
Wings could have been awarded earlier, on mobilisation, he would have been entitled to wear them. Confusing is the medal ribbons. DSO, DSC(?), Pip, Sqeak and Wilfred then what could be old pattern Army LSGC then who knows, normally LSGC is the most junior but it takes precedence in this case. A foreign award perhaps sanctioned by the King?
Wensleydale
2nd Dec 2018, 17:57
Part of the conundrum of the TV series is trying to work out how genuine this character is. He has three wives and appears to work for British Intelligence yet how genuine is his back story - or is it to hide his many weddings? Is he really always deployed on secret missions? The wings add to this façade, as does the beard - is he something of a Walt or is he genuine? I too noticed the wings and thought that they added to his mystery.
Pontius Navigator
2nd Dec 2018, 20:04
Did you notice his epaulettes they had holes for captains pips while his rank and badge was major. Clearly wartime promotion when uniforms were make do and mend.
Union Jack
2nd Dec 2018, 20:37
I confess that I did not specifically note the wings worn, but I do seem to recall that there was a suggestion elsewhere that he had gained his wings with the Royal Naval Air Service, but I have no idea where the DSO and DSC pictured were real or imaginary . I did notice, however, that he was shown as wearing the Mercantile Marine War medal from WWI.
Incidentally, I believe that there is a huge difference between epaulettes and shoulder straps, although I see frequent references to the former as being worn by both Service and civilian aircrew when they are quite clearly the latter.....
Jack