![]() The last badge in your picture gallery is, as Pete states, merely an airman's shoulder badge with national identification. Also remember that officers and airman were quite free to purchase (and wear, although some versions were challenged) fancier versions of most badges that were privately produced, and definitely NOT free issue, and although some of these may have featured the maker's name, most did not. Having made quite a study of RAF badges, metal and textile, I can verify that the RAF might supply potential manufacturer's with a design for a badge, but the production items as delivered could vary quite a bit in detail. So it is quite likely that ALL the badges described above were made by quite a few different manufacturers in their own moulds or dies (which would differ slightly between manufacturers), and fitted with the specified attachment apparatus, then delivered to the RAF to complete their contract. Even if such evidence IS offered (but NOT included in the sale), a real scoundrel could simply use any genuine paperwork to back up a steady flow of perfectly genuine RAF NCO aircrew eagles (of small worth in themselves) as real PFF badges. ![]() I will leave all other comment to real experts in the field, but all these metal eagle badges (and there were subtle differences between badges from different manufacturers) so there remained much scope here for the fraudster, and I am certain that some of these cunning and unscrupulous fellows must have amassed considerable sums from the unwary - in fact, unless they can provide irrefutable evidence that the badge for sale is connected with a real person actually entitled to the badge, and even then you could require that this evidence (and not a copy)be passed to you as a guarantee, but there is probably no real method of segregating phonies from the real thing. Soldering or "sweating" seems to have been the normal way of attaching the pin devices. I think the PFF Badges were normally fitted with a loop and a hinged pin, whereas fixed "posts" were possibly more common of SD cap badges. However it was the means by which these badges were attached to the uniform that provided the greatest obvious differences between the eagle badges, as already pointed out. Obviously only one of these could serve duty as the PFF badge, as the direction of the eagle's head was specified in the Order which originally described this badge. As with the eagle cloth badges worn by non-commissioned personnel up till about the (late 1970s?), the NCO aircrew eagle metal badges were manufactured in opposite pairs (left and right) and were always to be affixed to the uniform with the head of the eagle facing to the rear of the wearer. Postwar, the PFF badge was definitely the same badge as used by NCO aircrew (worn in the "valley" of the chevrons as an indication that they were aircrew rather than non-flying NCOs), and were listed in the RAF Vocabulary of Stores (AP 1086, also known as the "Vocab") in the appropriate volume as identical to ONE of the gilt eagles issued to NCO aircrew. From memory the eagle of the officer version of the Field Service cap badge was also pretty much the same thing. The metal eagle badge used as the PFF badge was all but identical to the eagles used as a component of the Officer SD cap badge as well as the cuff badges on very early RAF officer uniforms (and continued in use by the RAAF for many years after WW2). PS: Can you post pictures to the Forum? I didn't see a way to do such. One is noted as "C LAMOND MTL" and the other is "BREADNER CO OTTAWA" I suspect they are WW2 era as that is the King's crown. In reference to the wings they are approximately 55mm in length and came together as found. I ask these questions as I have acquired two (screw posted backed) and an associated patch (Black Half moon with CANADA at top and over what looks like a Pathfinder eagle) that I haven't properly identified. Does this in some way date them or confirm originality? I have seen pin ("c clasp), screw posts, etc. I have also read that there are several versions of the attachment devices. I have seen it as cap badges, sleeve badges, and wings. I guess the first question would be in relation as to what the correct name is for the Pathfinder emblem. This is my first post to the Forum and I thank those in advance that may respond to my question(s).
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