PAF blouse

**A.J. Zawadzki** · 12-27-2009, 09:35 AM

by ccj

Tony,

Thats a 1st class set you have with a nice history.

Are the buttons Polish or RAF?

Thanks Charles. This is one of my favorite uniform sets.

The buttons are all British made. The original buttons are marked Gieves, the maker of the tunic. As mentioned, not all buttons are original. The four replacements are marked Gaunt. From ‘the outside’ they appear virtually identical to each other. Only the names stamped in the back are different.

Regards,
T.

**marc b** · 12-28-2009, 11:52 PM

Great uniform Tony

The “warsztatowy” pilot’s badge is a killer.
You said they got these short after their arrival in the UK when they had lost one. This means they were made in the UK?

Cheers,
Marc

**A.J. Zawadzki** · 12-29-2009, 12:16 AM

Many thanks Marc. Yes, my understanding is that these badges were made in the UK in 1940-41 to issue to arriving Polish airmen who had lost theirs since the September campaign and often harrowing escape to the west. In the case of Michniewicz, he was captured by the Soviets but managed to escape.

At this early time there was not yet a production order issued to Gaunt, Spink, Firmin, etc. These badges were supposedly made by the Polish squadron ground crew mechanics. Over the years I've save images of these "warsztatowki" as I've encountered them. Posted below is a sampling.

Regards,
Tony

**wadowicznic** · 12-29-2009, 12:34 AM

T
This "warsztatowy" is top.
I have seen examples of those hand made badges on tunics only 2 times over years
A

by A.J. Zawadzki

Many thanks Marc. Yes, my understanding is that these badges were made in the UK in 1940-41 to issue to arriving Polish airmen who had lost theirs since the September campaign and often harrowing escape to the west. In the case of Michniewicz, he was captured by the Soviets but managed to escape.

At this early time there was not yet a production order issued to Gaunt, Spink, Firmin, etc. These badges were supposedly made by the Polish squadron ground crew mechanics. Over the years I've save images of these "warsztatowki" as I've encountered them. Posted below is a sampling.

Regards,
Tony

**ccj** · 01-01-2010, 03:04 AM

Here's a set of wings for a Pilot in WW2.

These are porportedly the wings to the same group as the tunics I posted belonging to Jozef Tyszko.

P/O in 301 Sqn

F/L in 24 Sqn I would guess late war or post war.

I haven't found much on him on the net.