Can anyone identify the attached badge? I suspect that it is connected with radar operation in the RAF during WW2 – my late mother-in-law served at RAF Truleigh Hill and the badge was amongst the possessions of her recently deceased husband – but I have failed miserably to find anything on the internet to help me identify it.
By: Maple 01 - 24th June 2010 at 22:16
The F/s on the right looks like a colonial type, good men, but don’t let them near the women!
By: super sioux - 24th June 2010 at 21:21
The clue is in the crown1
In the photo below, 15 Sqdn. Mildenhall 1944, is that not the badge on the upper arm of the Sergeant on the left ? If this is so then, I think your initial image is upside down …. aa …. ?? not a problem !
Keith.
There is a Flight Sergeant at each end of the line up! We called them ‘Chiefy’ in the sixties.:D
By: John Aeroclub - 23rd June 2010 at 10:21
All telecommunications personel (Air and Ground, Radar and Wireless and Telegs) wore the “Spider” on their right arm, as indeed did I for too many years.
John
By: avion ancien - 23rd June 2010 at 07:20
I’ve sent a PM to you, GEE Operator.
By: GEE Operator - 22nd June 2010 at 23:36
WAAFs at RAF Truleigh Hill
This does not look like the Truleigh Hill technical site in wartime. It possibly is a domestic site and the building behind is a billet. Truleigh Hill did not have a domestic site in wartime. All of the WAAFs were billetted with local families.
What was your mother in law’s maiden and married names. I may have some info. I have pictures of T.Hill WAAF radar operators wearing the ‘sparks’ badge that was in your original enquiry.
By: avion ancien - 6th June 2010 at 15:33
More from the in-laws papers – can anyone tell me whether this photo is of WAAFs at RAF Truleigh Hill? I apologise for the size of the image – the original print is only 60 x 40 mm!
By: Andy Fletcher - 31st May 2010 at 10:06
Surprised you havent had more replies AA
I was a ‘heavy’ in the RAF so not an expert on the ‘Fairy’ trades.
The short answer is probably ‘yes’ it would have been worn by a radar tradesman…
If you scroll down this link there is a short paragraph about the ‘sparks’ badge…
As an ex “Fairy” I can confirm Bazv’s assumption, that the badge is worn by comms and radar trades (both air and ground) in the present day (80s and 90s anyway) RAF.
Best Regards
Andy Fletcher
By: bazv - 31st May 2010 at 09:00
Just out of general interest…I had forgotten that there had been an earlier ‘sparks’ badge used by the RFC/RAF…
image from the rafyatesbury association website…
By: keithnewsome - 30th May 2010 at 22:31
aa … yes sods law working at its best …. :rolleyes:
Moggy C. Very good point ! this photo came from a very large collection, which featured in a thread just over a year ago, if I remember correctly, there are names on the reverse of this group of photos, and one mentions “the addition of Sergeant” ?????
Your assumption could answer another question ?
Keith.
By: bazv - 30th May 2010 at 22:28
And also wearing a webbing belt 🙂
By: Moggy C - 30th May 2010 at 22:21
In the photo below, 15 Sqdn. Mildenhall 1944,
Do we assume that’s a normal Lancaster crew of seven and the sergeant in the middle without the wings is ground crew?
Moggy
By: avion ancien - 30th May 2010 at 22:08
Many thanks everyone. Regrettably the badge does not have a ‘this way up’ indication on it! But of course it’s sods law that when there’s a 50/50 chance of getting it the right way up, I got it the wrong way up. C’est la vie. But at least I am better informed than when I started.
By: keithnewsome - 30th May 2010 at 21:09
In the photo below, 15 Sqdn. Mildenhall 1944, is that not the badge on the upper arm of the Sergeant on the left ? If this is so then, I think your initial image is upside down …. aa …. ?? not a problem !
Keith.
By: Maple 01 - 30th May 2010 at 21:09
and it’s upside down!
By: RadarArchive - 30th May 2010 at 20:38
Thank you, bazv. That link is very helpful. I think that I can safely assume that the badge amongst my father-in-law’s possessions came from his wife and she, in turn, had it in consequence of her service in the WRAF as a radar operator at RAF Truleigh Hill during the last war.
This badge was worn by both Radar Operators and Mechanics on ground radar stations during the war. The male personnel were in the RAF, the female in the WAAF (the WRAF was only set up after the war). The badge was worn as a shoulder flash, on the top of the sleeve at the shoulder.
By: avion ancien - 30th May 2010 at 18:29
Thank you, bazv. That link is very helpful. I think that I can safely assume that the badge amongst my father-in-law’s possessions came from his wife and she, in turn, had it in consequence of her service in the WRAF as a radar operator at RAF Truleigh Hill during the last war.
By: bazv - 30th May 2010 at 17:51
Surprised you havent had more replies AA
I was a ‘heavy’ in the RAF so not an expert on the ‘Fairy’ trades.
The short answer is probably ‘yes’ it would have been worn by a radar tradesman…
If you scroll down this link there is a short paragraph about the ‘sparks’ badge…
By: avion ancien - 30th May 2010 at 14:11
Many thanks, bazv. Do you – or does anyone else – know whether radio operator/mechanic would have encompassed radar operation?
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May 30, 2010 at 1:42 pm