A few shots of my "Bunker"

[LuftMike]

Thanks everyone, I've also got a deluxe torso form coming for that Aussie Pilot's uniform I posted a while back, and I have confirmed that it is indeed the Jacket of WO1 Bobby Bunting. I'm happy it is, it will make a nice centrepiece to it all. Maybe next I'll post some flightgear? or maybe some closeups of the wings....who knows?

[Mooyman]

GREAT COLLECTION!!!!

Best regards,

Ricardo.

[Hübner]

Great collection as I said before!
Thanks for the additional pictures, Mike

[LuftMike]

Is that....?

Thought I'd toss this shot in, to see how many eyebrows I can raise.

[Greg Kubasek]

... a wireless air gunner wing.. with dual wings??

[LuftMike]

Indeed Greg, manufactured during the early years of the war. When War broke out the RCAF personnel were to wear the RAF pattern brevets. This caused uproar amongst the Canadians who wanted their own style of wing to denote them as being Canadian. Several submissions to the war department were made, and one of them was a stylized set of wings like my WAG pictured here. There was a WAG, AG, N, B N.B and the Pilot. These patterns were not liked because the air staff felt that only the Pilot should wear the double wing, and the aircrew qualifications should only be one. However, several of these double winged variants were made and some worn before they were rejected. Warren Carrol gives the full store in Eagles recalled. Suffice it to say they are not easy to find!

[LuftMike]

The Boys of Summer

Just added this new one to the collection. Scored it off ebay. Amongst all uniforms, RCAF summer patterns are one of my favourites. This one in particular belonged to John Herbert Cooper DFC who flew with #432 Bomber Squadron RCAF as part of #6 Bomb Group in Halifaxes and Lancasters.

COOPER, F/L John Herbert (J6642) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.432 Squadron - Award effective 16 July 1944 as per London Gazette dated 25 January 1946 and AFRO 244/46 dated 8 March 1946. Home in Qu'appelle, Saskatchewan; enlisted Regina, 15 November 1940. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 10 April 1941), No.1 EFTS (graduated 28 May 1941), and No.5 SFTS (graduated 9 August 1941). Award sent by registered mail 28 June 1949.

Flight Lieutenant Cooper, as captain of aircraft, deputy flight commander, has completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.

This jacket was tailor made by Ben Fleisher in 1950, and has his name and service # inside. The brevet is a 1947 pattern "High C" variant which is worth more than what I paid for the jacket itself! KC Postwar RCAF Buttons and Squadron Leader rank Piston Rings complete the jacket. There's also two holes in the pleat of the pocket below the ribbons for an ops wing. I'm gonna add one of mine to it to finish it off.

It's a little wrinkly but I just pulled it out of the box and wanted to photograph it right away!

[LuftMike]

The brevet and ribbons

[LuftMike]

This next one is for Flying Officer E.R MacDonald, CVSM Ribbon an a Fancy Pilot's brevet that was hand embroidered, I'm thinking he was an instructor at #14 EFTS in Portage La Prairie Manitoba. I can't remember, but I do have it written down somewhere!

Again a little wrinkled, but that will be fixed. He's just been unpacked after my move!

[LuftMike]

Brevet

[LuftMike]

The last of the Boys of Summer for today is my RCAF Flight SGTs Khaki Drill uniform.
Note the wireless badge on the arm! The initials J.H.T are written under the collar as well.

[LuftMike]

The Arm

[ledfut]

Wow!

Great collection! You have given me some ideas of things to look for to add to my own humble RCAF collection...

[Tony Farrell]

I could never understand why the RAF (& Commonwealth counterparts) chose to use red thread on KD insignia. Very nice hoard by the way. Those double Wopag wings are a real bet loser!

[LuftMike]

I agree Tony, the thought behind the red thread is an odd one.....wouldn't they realize that it wouldn't blend in to a tropical/desert environment very well? Talk about standing out like a sore thumb.....but since this chap is air force, he wouldn't hopefully be too close to the front.

Thanks for the comments by the way. I love the WAG double....wish I had the whole set. A friend of mine does, and I'm green with envy....one day lol