Royal Air Force Uniform Caps, Hats and Helmets

**Michael Ryan** · 11-18-2016, 03:51 PM

Following yesterday's cock up, a further cap and three helmets to view.

AO 449 Although basically, a No1 SD cap for wear by an Air Officer, this particular cap is strange in that rather than a shinny black visor, it has a mat black materiel covered visor? I do not know why the cap has such a visor and am open to suggestions or opinions please.

JO 318 Modeled on a Royal Flying Corps flying helmet, this helmet was worn up to the mid 1930's by commissioned Officers with the RAF Full Dress uniform. The uniform was very unpopular and both the helmet and uniform are now quite rare. Contrary to popular belief, the uniform is not obsolete and is still in current service but only worn by Directors of Music. The badge worn uniquely on this helmet is called "The RAF Badge" and comprises a silver RAF Eagle superimposed across a circlet bearing the RAF Motto "Per Ardua ad Astra" which translates as "Through adversity to the stars". The badge is ensigned by the King's Crown.

JO 402 The current generic style Full Dress helmet worn by all ranks of the RAF established bands. In this case, for wear by Directors of Music. For Officers, the fore strap is of gold metallic thread, the plume is of bright red and the badge is the standard Officer's pattern.

WO 403 The Full Dress helmet for wear by Warrant Officer Band Masters. The plume and four strap are identical to those worn by Officers and the badge is very similar to the officer's pattern but varies in the style of the laurel semi wreath and in that the RAF eagle is embroidered in metallic threads rather than made from gilded metal.

**Michael Ryan** · 11-18-2016, 04:29 PM

As an aid to clarification, the Full Dress helmet badges are shown below in detail.

The obsolete Full Dress helmet badge. The Royal Air Force Badge.

Current standard pattern RAF Officer's cap badge worn on the current Directors of Music Full Dress Helmet.

Special Full Dress Pattern Warrant Officer Band Master cap badge worn on the Full Dress cap and helmet.

Special Full Dress Pattern Other Ranks Musician's cap badge worn on the Full Dress cap and helmet. Caps are currently being marketed with the standard embroidered Other Ranks badge. This is wrong.

**Michael Ryan** · 11-19-2016, 12:41 PM

Hi, Today, I thought that some perhaps, out of the ordinary items of headdress, may be of interest?

OR 327 Other Ranks No1 Service Dress cap of 1950's vintage. This cap is badged for an Apprentice or Boy Entrant of Number 3 Radio School at RAF Locking. The School is identified by the replacement of the standard black cap band with a band of double dicing in brown and white. These bands were employed in a variety of mixed and plain colours by the various RAF training establishments to identify either the school, wing or trade etc. The brass OR badge is mounted on a coloured disc, usually used to designate the squadron or trade branch within the school.

OR 337 and OR 338 All ranks general service berets. Both are badged to Number 4 School of Technical Training at RAF Hereford. On the SD cap the school was identified by the wear of a red over white cap band of identical pattern to that shown above. The coloured discs were employed on both the cap and beret and represented, light blue, Number 1 Squadron, trainee Clerks Secretarial and yellow, Number 2 Squadron trainee Chefs. Number 3 Squadron wore the discs in grass green for trainee Suppliers General.

OR 608 An unofficial baseball style cap worn by members of the RAF Police based at RAF Coltishall. This particular cap was used by a Corporal as can be seen by the imprint of his metal rank insigna above the embroidered title on the cap

**colt45** · 11-21-2016, 11:42 PM

Great RAF hats .. EXCELLENT!

**reneblacky** · 11-22-2016, 01:11 AM

Outstanding Michael Mate!

**Michael Ryan** · 11-22-2016, 06:46 PM

Back to blue uniform hats today!!

OR 365 1952 manufacturer dated WRAF No1 SD cap. The cap still wears its pre 1953 brass Other Ranks cap badge and the pattern is unusual in that the cap band is worn as a fan rather than going around the cap. "22L" is the RAF Domestic Section and Subsection for WRAF Blue uniform clothing and the three digit number is the item reference number.

JO 457 WRAF Other Ranks SD hat (usually referred to as the "Air Hostess" hat). As preciously stated, WRAF OR's headdress could and still can be purchased by Officers to wear as a No2 Dress hat and in this case worn by a female Chaplain's Assistant. The miniature WRAF cap badge has been replaced by a Chaplains collar badge which is the norm for Chaplain's Assistants who are civilians and not permitted to wear the RAF Officer's cap badge.

JO 384 Standard RAF Officer's No1SD cap worn by Officers of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). Whilst their rank insignia was comprised of black lace, cap badges and cap embellishment was always in gold. The cap was worn by ranks of Observer Officer (Flying Officer) to Observer Commander (Wing Commander) inclusive.

AO 426 A nice cap worn by Air Rank Officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The cap device is of the Tri Service pattern rather than the RAF pattern and the materiel is of a slightly paler blue/grey to its RAF equivalent.

**Michael Ryan** · 11-22-2016, 07:40 PM

Hi Colt, Thank you for your very kind comment!! Keep watching, there are quite a few more to come.
Regards and best wishes Michael R

**Michael Ryan** · 11-22-2016, 07:50 PM

Hi Rene and G'Day, Many thanks for your comments!! I was beginning to think that I had upset you or that you had emigrated to New Zealand?? LOL
From anyone else Rene, I would take your message as a great complement!! However, from you, having seen some of your stuff, I take as tantamount to a personal blessing from the Pope!!!!! Now then, where are your Air Force hats and or uniforms etc???
Cheers and very best wishes Michael

PS, How do you feel about a third sister thread on Naval caps and hats?????????????

**reneblacky** · 11-22-2016, 07:57 PM

Ahh Cheers Michael thank you for your extra kind comments, I've shown pretty well all of my caps, I can post uniforms as well, and will late next week if you wish? Navy would be great, I can contribute to that RAN but not a lot.

**Michael Ryan** · 11-23-2016, 02:57 PM

And some more!! This time some Air Rank Officer's headdress.

AO 345 Number 2 Dress all ranks beret of private purchase quality. The beret wears a King's Crown miniature Air Officer's badge and was manufactured by Burberry.

AO 397 Current style No1 and 1A RAF Air Rank SD cap. The cap is of private purchase quality and is by Gieves and Hawkes

AO 422 RAF Air rank Chaplain's cap by Gieves. The cap device being obsolete, has now been replaced by the current pattern AO cap badge.

AO 483 By far the rarest current item of RAF headdress. This is a Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) hat for the Director of Nursing Services RAF. The owner was an Air Commandant (Air Commodore) of which there is only ever one at any time. Her rank can be ascertained by the presence of a double band of Russia braid in gold attached to the black hat band. The next subordinate rank is Group Officer (Group Captain) who wears a single band of braid on an identical hat but with the standard Officer pattern cap badge.