Patches / Badges

[Lightning Mate]

In the 'Nam era the "100 missions" badge was common with US crews.

So we, the Frightening Force, invented one too:

"100 Missions North Sea - Turning Circle Expert".

[Dan Winterland]

Back to the OP's request for info - in those days, embroidered badges were chuffing expensive. Automatic embroidery machines which could produce something like a Sqn crest didn't exist and the badges were hand sewn in places like India at great expense. They could cost a large chunk of one's monthly pay and were usually paid off in installments. My Dad wore no badges on his flying suits until the mid 60s and then it was just one Sqn crest. I have his 249 Sqn crest which is quite clearly hand made, but a real work of art.

[woptb]

There was a Harrier Sqdn Eng WO in RAFG with a 'Harrier VSTOL Fighter Pilot, hours flown patch.
He would take any T bird 'jollies/trips' to increase his 'hours' at the expense of a 'reward' trip for the troops.
A new OC arrived,put a stop to it & told the gimp to stop displaying his 'fighter pilot' patch.As an ex Ginger,I feel qualified to discribe him as a complete O2 thief.

[500N]

The old style embroidery with the gold wire was superb.

I also had a very close look at my units Colours one day,
the detail in those was unbelievable.