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I picked up kind of a neat little photo grouping recently which is related to the RAF Parachute Jump Instructors Badge. First, a published photo of what the badge looks like.

Hi all, and Happy New year. I earlier posted a pic of the 1940 dated large pack I recently picked up. Earlymb mentioned that early war dated equipment is desirable due to Dunkirk. So here are my humble collection of early war equipment. 1939 medic bag 1940 dated basic pouch, patrol pouch and binocular case. Anyone else have some to share? Mikie

Not in the rarest group but certainly a desireable formation sign, for forum to see some variations from my collection.

South East Asia Command, 1943 - 46 The insignia was worn by Headquarters staff of Admiral Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia. SEAC was in overall charge of all Allied Strategic Operations in the South East Asia Theatre. Insignia depicts a blue Phoenix emerging from red flames * the badge is said to signify the Allied might rising from the ashes of the Japanese occupied territories *. Below are some locally made (India / Ceylon) and US manufacture badges. Locally made left facing hand embroidered on twill Locally made left facing with hand embroidered bullion CDub

Thought I would try and make some sense of the many variations of British paratrooper wings from WW2 and right after. I thought I'd share what I have come across over the years which might help those that are looking to buy one for their collection. If I am wrong about something feel free to speak up as the below information is what I have gathered over the years and may not be 100% correct. This first style paratrooper wing may actually be their first issue cloth wing but I am not 100% certain of this. It is an early style which is getting harder and harder to find. You can spot this style wing by the three layered embroidery of the chute which is hard to see on a used example because of shrinkage and the like after repeated laundering. No other British paratrooper wing has this three layered embroidery. They were made on a course khaki colored wool like material and a khaki felt like material. The rare one is embroidered on black colored felt. This is where I'm not 100% sure of the meaning behind the black coloring. I know that it was used on their paratrooper wings in what they refer to the far east which I believe is similar to our CBI Theater. However some have suggested that black was worn by the British Royal Marines or British Navy who were airborne qualified. It has also been suggested that SOE members who were airborne qualified also wore paratrooper wings with a black background. Course Khaki Wool Front:

A grouping of period cloth insignia related to the British Airborne forces of WW2..

After early reports of the atrocities against Jews were made public by the Allied powers, the British Prime Minister sent a personal telegram to the F.D.R. suggesting that Jewish men of all races have the right to strike at the Germans. On July 3, 1944, the establishment of a Jewish Brigade with hand-picked Jewish and also non-Jewish senior officers was consented too by the British government. The Jewish Brigade Group of the British Army headquarters was established in Egypt in September of 1944. The Zionist flag was officially approved as the brigade standard. The brigade consisted of more than 5,000 Jewish volunteers from the Mandated Palestine region.. The units were as follows 1st Battalion, Palestine Regiment 2nd Battalion, Palestine Regiment 3rd Battalion, Palestine Regiment 200th Field Regiment R.A. The Jewish Brigade fought in Italy. Following the war, some of them would assist Holocaust survivors to emigrate into the Mandated Palestine region. Below are 2 examples of their insignia. The scroll being the typical embroidered example with a bullion and embroidered version of the patch.

I have had this group now for over 20 years now. It is a 1943 dated DFC medal group to Flight Officer Chancy Morey of 106 Squadron out of Syerston. Morey was a Canadian from Bow Island Alberta and flew 28 missions as a bomb aimer in Lancasters. I was fortunate to be able to talk to his brother over a series of phone calls about 10 years ago and he was able to fill in a lot of gaps. I also visited the Public Records Office at Kew and photocopied all of his missions and was even able to get an undedacted copy of his RCAF records. -Ski

This is a nice example of a final production stage Denison smock. A British corporal gave it to me after we consumed way too many Heinekens. The Brits were billeted on our Kaserne and REFORGER 77 was winding up. I've had it ever since. Thanks for looking.

About 3 years ago. I secured a helmet of the style I'd been hunting for, for over 5 years. The rarity of it is beyond compare for me since it involves my three focus area's: Helmets, Malta Militaria & Chaplains. This is the WWII helmet of a British Chaplain by the name of Oscar Muspratt, painted in the very hard to find Malta "Rubble Camo". It was attained directly from the estate of the Muspratt family. Thus, I am excited to be the first collector to own this. Chaplin Muspratt's history and helmet are incredible: * He was posted to the 1st Battalion the Rifle Brigade of the 1st Armoured division recovering from Dunkirk. * In 2 1/2 years of war service in the Middle East he tended the wounded and dying from both the first and the second battles of El Alamein. * He then volunteered to replace casualties at the height of the blitz on Malta(where the rubble camo pattern was applied). * In Malta, he became the anti-aircraft gunners Chaplain and was said to be preaching while loading. * During the invasion of Sicily, he was posted to the famous 51st Highland division and then returned with them for the Normandy Invasion. * After his wife took ill in late 1944 he was released from service to tend to his family and become the Vicar of Penn Church in Buckinghamshire. * When an 8th Air Force B-17 of the 398th crashed, killing it's 9 crew members near his church, he went directly to General Doolittle and asked for the names and address of the 9 members families. He wanted to write to each one to honor them for their loss and thank them for the sacrifice they had made. Till the day he died in March of 2000 he maintained 9 U.S. flags at the place where the crash occurred.

Like most American soldiers, I've always had a fascination with foreign camouflage. Other armies always seemed to have just a sharper look, whether the camo was effective or not. This item was given to my son by my trading partner from Hong Kong in the 1990's. It is a ridiculously small size, but it still provides a sample of the cloth and pattern.

I have always had and interest in this subject but rarely come across any of it. I love the early photos of the Polish paratrooper in Scotland wearing the 1st model British paratrooper helmets with the Polish eagle stenciled to the front. Here is one such photo of Clement Attlee inspecting the Polish paratroopers at Cupar, Scotland. Of course Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowski is on the right.

Group Captain Thompson, RAF. Joined the RN at 12, served on the HMS Furious during the Battle of Jutland. Moved to the RNFC and then RAF as an observer pilot. Served in the Midde East (Iraq specifically) among other duties throughout his career. Intgerestingly was offered promotion to Air Commodore but turned it down in order to retire and care for his wife who was ill.

This is a very nice attributed (I will respectfully not be naming him) and patched Denison Smock. This particular example does have some holes in the sleeves and some paint marks on the reverse, but overall still very appealing. The smock was worn by a Sergeant of the 15th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion (TA), later re-designated 15 PARA (SV) in 1967. The smock has a unique individual modification, the zippered pocket going across the upper back. Also it has the white night tabbing marker under the rear collar. The Sergeant was a qualified Assistant Parachute Jump Instructor (APJI) and those are the wings displayed on the right sleeve along with the drop zone flash for the 15 (Scottish Volunteer) Battalion and his sergeant strips. On the left sleeve is again the drop zone flash and above it is a small Company Indicator patch, originally green (B Company) it has faded to a light blue. On the inside front right is a very nice makers label showing height and chest measurements along with the contract number. Denison Smocks like this one are becoming more and more difficult to find. I was happy to become the caretaker of this example and it is displayed in the living room fitted with Pattern 58 web gear that I also received from the Sergeant. Thanks for looking.

Here is a group to Corp. William Landy who served in the 5th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War. He earned a Queen’s South Africa medal with the clasps South Africa 1902, Orange Free State and Cape Colony. The medal is named to him around the rim. Landy’s name is spelled Laudy. Along with the QSA is a Manchester cap badge. Landy served in Battery “D”, 55th Artillery of the 26th Division during WW1. He was wounded in action during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on Oct. 3rd, 1918. The group has all of Landy’s original paperwork including his birth certificate, British Army Discharge, US Army Discharge, US Naturalization papers and his Death Certificate. His Purple Heart is #3558. Dick

My little collection of British (Scottish units) Formation Signs (Formation Badges). A few date to WWII.

Aloha Everyone, This came along with a large grouping of USAAF photos which belonged to an US Army Air Corps officer. Early in WWII, he was posted as a technical observer with the UK forces in the Western Desert. Unknown Royal Artillery Unit assigned to the 4th Indian Division "Red Eagles" - Two Officers and thirty six Other Ranks wearing the Red Eagles formation badge