Australian British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Pilots

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was established in Canada for the duration of WW2 at various RCAF bases from Ontario to Saskatchewan, to train the large number of Commonwealth pilots and aircrews needed for the war effort. Canadian made wings were awarded, but these often did not follow the precise authorised patterns of each nation involved. For example the Australian wings were made with a dark blue, sometimes purple/blue wreath (instead of pale blue)and with a wing pattern totally varied and unlike the authorised Australian pattern. These wings were worn on uniform at issue, but were usually replaced with Australian or British made wings on posting out of Canada.




Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge, if available









#1
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    August 25th 2004
    John Macdonald
    sewn




    Note large block of white in mid crown



#2 Sharp shoulder version
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    August 25th 2004
    Windrum Collection
    sewn




    Note the very sharply defined shoulders on top of the wings, the less angular and better defined crown and the fact that the "jewels" on top of the crown are 4 on the face-left side and 5 (standard)on the face-right side.

#3 Soft shoulder version
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    August 25th 2004
    Windrum Collection
    sewn




    Note the softly defined shoulders on top of the wingsand the slightly increased depth to the wings. Well defined and detailed crown.



#4 Drooped wing version
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    August 25th 2004
    Windrum Collection
    sewn




    Remarkably unusual version with heavily drooped wings.Note large block of white in very angular crown.



#5 Drooped, stubby wings version
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    August 25th 2004
    John Macdonald
    sewn




    Another somewhat markedly less drooped wing, using a rather short or stubby wing. Note large block of white in crown


#6 Slightly lifted wing version
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    August 25th 2004
    Windrum Collection
    sewn




    In this version the wings show slight uplift at the ends of the wingstips. The crown detailing represents a midway between the large white block crowns and the well detailed crown.


#7 Stubby version
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    August 25th 2004
    John Macdonald
    sewn




    this wing presents a horizontal but stubby appearance. Note that the RAAF lettering is soemwhat thicker than usually presented


#8 No red in crown
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    August 25th 2004
    Anon
    sewn




    This variant demonstrates a seldom seen feature, the red being omoitted from the crown centre.The crown detailing is very similar to #3


#9
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    August 25th 2004
    Windrum Collection
    sewn




    Note white block in crown is smaller than in #1,4 or 5 but is still obvious.



#10 Badge King, unapproved
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    August 25th 2004
    Chris Langley
    sewn




    This is a wholly unapproved version made by Badge King. This wing would not have been tolerated on uniform. Note that there was a new release of this badge format in the early 1960's for the souvenir market