Scarecrow Posted January 17, 2019 Share #1 Posted January 17, 2019 Here are some photos of an Other Ranks tunic for a Polish Sgt. Pilot who flew with 301 (Polish) Squadron. 301 started flying the Fairey Battle, transitioned to Vickers Wellingtons in October 1940 and when posted to Italy transitioned to the Handley-Paige Halifax around November 1944. Unfortunately this tunic is not named but does contain one of the scarce squadron badges which I believe were unique to the Polish squadrons. His sewn on ribbon rack contains the Polish Wound Badge on top, then left to right Polish Cross of Valor, Polish Air Force Medal, RAF Distinguished Flying Medal, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe with clasp, Defense Medal and the War Medal. The two medals shown are sewn onto the tunic. I am by no means a Polish awards expert so the magenta colored cloth beneath the Sgt. Pilot crown is a mystery to me. If anyone knows the purpose of this colored background to the crowns I would be happy to hear. The last photos are of his side cap made by Gieves with Polish Air Force buttons. Just wish this tunic could talk. Hope you enjoy the photos. Paul (aka Scarecrow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted January 17, 2019 Photos #2 : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted January 17, 2019 Last: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamski Posted January 17, 2019 Share #4 Posted January 17, 2019 Incredible. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted January 17, 2019 Thanks Ski! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish Posted January 17, 2019 Share #6 Posted January 17, 2019 Indeed a great looking tunic. Has all the bells and whistles you would hope to find. It appears to have the smaller sized RAF wing often attributed to Polish pilots. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RRA227 Posted January 17, 2019 Share #7 Posted January 17, 2019 Nice uniform. Rich A. in Pa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46IR Posted January 17, 2019 Share #8 Posted January 17, 2019 thats a beauty ive never seen a polish raf tunic with the polish collar tabs present before medals top one is the 1941 cross of valour medal the medal underneath I cant identify have you got a close up of the medal itself as the I can't see any polish awards with that ribbon pattern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted January 17, 2019 Share #9 Posted January 17, 2019 That is a super tunic Paul. I really appreciated seeing the 301 badge which I have never seen before. It falls into the category of one of those rare/valuable things that if I saw in a box at an antique store for $5 I wouldn't buy it because I would have no idea what it is. It certainly is not overtly military. I picked up my first (ever) named BD last month to a Polish paratrooper who jumped at Arnhem. Am really happy with it. Thanks again for showing this great piece. Do you have examples of other squadron badges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted January 17, 2019 Share #10 Posted January 17, 2019 Paul, Thank you for sharing this wonderful OR's BD. Would you mind shooting a photo of the miniature RAF wing for me? Also, is the Polish pilot's badge English made? By whom? I need to stop drooling on my keyboard. It makes the keys stick. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted January 17, 2019 Share #11 Posted January 17, 2019 A great uniform. What a history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicjoy1945 Posted January 18, 2019 Share #12 Posted January 18, 2019 Beautiful uniform Paul !!! The extremely proud Poles were known to were spiffy up there uniforms...many times adding personal embellishments. I suspect the magenta background under the Kings crown was just that....something to make it stand out !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share #13 Posted January 18, 2019 Indeed a great looking tunic. Has all the bells and whistles you would hope to find. It appears to have the smaller sized RAF wing often attributed to Polish pilots. Jack Irish, According to Warren Carroll in his great reference book "Eagles Recalled" Polish Pilots were authorized to wear the miniature (sometimes larger) RAF brevets at or near the end of the war. The Poles were not the only ones authorized to wear the RAF brevet/wing. Many Americans that later transferred to the USAAF also wore them on the right side of their jackets. This also holds true for RCAF brevets for those that served with that air force prior to US entry. Here is a photo of the mini brevet on the Polish tunic. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share #14 Posted January 18, 2019 That is a super tunic Paul. I really appreciated seeing the 301 badge which I have never seen before. It falls into the category of one of those rare/valuable things that if I saw in a box at an antique store for $5 I wouldn't buy it because I would have no idea what it is. It certainly is not overtly military. I picked up my first (ever) named BD last month to a Polish paratrooper who jumped at Arnhem. Am really happy with it. Thanks again for showing this great piece. Do you have examples of other squadron badges? Hi Eric, I have three Polish Pilot tunics one more of which has the squadron badge. This pilot flew with 303 squadron and was later transferred to 309 Squadron (as a squadron leader if my memory serves me correctly. Along with the badge I also have the award card that went along with it. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share #15 Posted January 18, 2019 thats a beauty ive never seen a polish raf tunic with the polish collar tabs present before medals top one is the 1941 cross of valour medal the medal underneath I cant identify have you got a close up of the medal itself as the I can't see any polish awards with that ribbon pattern 46IR, Attached are photos of the other medal. It is the French Croix Du Combattant. I am by no means an expert on French awards and medals but I don't recall ever seeing a ribbon for this medal. If I'm wrong, i can only guess he didn't wear the ribbon as it might spoil the symmetry of his present ribbons. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share #16 Posted January 19, 2019 Beautiful uniform Paul !!! The extremely proud Poles were known to were spiffy up there uniforms...many times adding personal embellishments. I suspect the magenta background under the Kings crown was just that....something to make it stand out !! Thanks Vic. I have always wondered if the cloth crown background has something to do with his Cross of Valor award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted January 19, 2019 Share #17 Posted January 19, 2019 Here are some photos of an Other Ranks tunic for a Polish Sgt. Pilot... resized_IMG_3825.jpgresized_IMG_3832.jpgresized_IMG_3831.jpgresized_IMG_3827.jpg What may be interesting for non-Polish fans of history there is small difference between his Polish and British rank. The Polish rank is Sergeant; the British one is Flight Sergeant. And this is not the same, i.e. both ranks are not their precise equivalents. But it was normal in that time in the UK-based Polish Air Force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share #18 Posted January 19, 2019 What may be interesting for non-Polish fans of history there is small difference between his Polish and British rank. The Polish rank is Sergeant; the British one is Flight Sergeant. And this is not the same, i.e. both ranks are not their precise equivalents. But it was normal in that time in the UK-based Polish Air Force. Gregory, Thank you for your explanation, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted January 19, 2019 Share #19 Posted January 19, 2019 The British appreciated Polish airmen a little higher than Polish military authorities. Strange but true. That's why the Poles were overranked by the British. Polish Major could be then British Lt. Col. or Col. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
509thPIB Posted February 13, 2019 Share #20 Posted February 13, 2019 Paul, could we please see the backside of these pins? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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