Royal Flying Corps militaria

[PunkReaper]

A quick browse on the Internet can reveal a surprising amount of Royal Flying Corps militaria. Not only can you start a collection but the items bring a real insight to what your average pilot had in his kit.



A body warmer cos its cold up there...





A swagger stick with a silver top


Genuine MINT Royal Flying Corps RFC Pilots Wings



A couple of RFC badges



Gloves



Flying boots



Of course a pair of Biggles goggles



Plenty of photos of fighter pilots



The most poignant item was a for a pilot KIA... A sad memorial.

Hope you find them interesting

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Nice little collection there Martin.
Maybe we should expand this to see just what is available out there to purchase.
Rob.

[PunkReaper]

Should I just post pictures or links to where they can be bought.... Just checking site rules.

[PunkReaper]

Some more items





A scarce Royal Flying Corps machine-embroidered shoulder title
A good example of the cloth machine-embroidered 'Royal Flying Corps' shoulder title, as worn on the s-called 'maternity tunic'. Fine and tight off white machine-embroidery on a dark blue wool base.



Royal Flying Corps 'sweetheart' badge in silver
A beautiful quality silver Royal Flying Corps 'sweetheart' badge. The 'RFC' enamelled in blue, and the crown enamelled in red. Reverse has a horizontal brooch fitting, and makers initials 'TLM' impressed to the base, along with the word 'Sterling'.







Doxa. Royal Flying Corps MK.V Aircraft Watch. Circa 1916
Royal Flying Corps MK.V aircraft cockpit watch made by the Swiss company, Doxa, and used by the RFC between 1916-1917.
The RFC cockpit watch with a solid nickel case, snap-on back and bezel. Hinged inner dust cover. Nickel bow (later addition in order that watch could be worn on the person). Inside case back signed, Doxa and 'metale Argente' (silver metal).
British military markings to the back include War Department arrow and letter "A" (Aviation). In addition, this timepiece has the added unit serial numbers engraved to both sides of the WD markings, 'STH - 2614'.
Timepiece diameter 52 mm.

The watch dial is typically in matt black enamel with subsidiary seconds. Bold white numerals and markers, along with corresponding white metal hands. Dial marked: "30 Hour, Non Luminous, Mk V" and "B.E.10555." The dial is in particularly clear condition with no damage to the white numbers (hairline cracks and a couple of slight chips to the outer dial edge).

High quality, nickel plated, 19 ligne, 15 jewel movement. Signed Doxa with fine Geneva Stripes to the top bridges. Bi-metallic compensation balance. Breguet overcoil hair spring. This timepiece is in running condition (no warranty implied).
Note: The RFC pilot was responsible for the aircraft cockpit watch. The timepice would be 'signed for' by the pilot priot to a mission, and returned thereafter. Watches were mounted to aircraft dashboard by a variety of different means.



Royal Flying Corps so called 'economy' manufacture cap badge
A particularly good Royal Flying Corps, 'economy' manufacture cap badge. The cap badge is fretted out to the crown, but remains with a solid background to the 'RFC' letters. Reverse is of solid construction, with two fixing loops. Mint condition, storage age only;minute specks of verdigris.




Royal Flying Corps cap badge by Gaunt, London
A particularly good Royal Flying Corps cap badge. Reverse is of solid construction, with two fixing loops, along with makers name 'Gaunt, London' impressed to the base.

[PunkReaper]

Military Medal, G.V.R. (8192 2 Cl. A.M. A. E. Pitcher, No. 3 Sq. R.F.C.), nearly extremely fine A rare Great War M.M. awarded to Flying Officer A. E. Pitcher, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, who was decorated for gallantry as a Wireless Operator on attachment to No. 3 Squadron in 1916.Footnote: M.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916; Arthur Edwin Pitcher, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. in October 1895, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps as a Wireless Operator in September 1915. Posted to No. 3 Squadron out in France in April 1916, he was awarded his M.M ?for consistent good work under shell fire? (T.N.A. records refer), and was advanced to Air Mechanic 1st Class in November 1917. Returning to the U.K. in early 1918 for training as an Equipment Officer (Wireless), he was duly commissioned in the newly established Royal Air Force, and served in that capacity until being transferred to the Reserve as a Flying Officer in September 1926.

[PunkReaper]

WWI Royal Flying Corps Group to Lieutenant H. Hickson, 206 Squadron - Includes three RFC Wings Badges (one is brown and white embroidery on black wool, 31.5 mm x 105 mm; one is a unique version, fabricated from leather in the familiar RFC style, with an "RFC" insignia sewn in place, 40 mm x 97 mm; one is gold and silver wire bullion, with a raised embroidered crown, blue wool behind the "RFC" insignia and the "Royal Flying Corps" ribbon banner, on black wool, 73.5 mm x 134 mm); a pair of RFC Aircrew Triplex Folding Flying Goggles (metal framed with sprung sides, fur backing, both leather side pieces marked in gold "Triplex Safety Glass"’ and their trademark "STG", marked with patent information on the bridge, yellow tinted glass lenses, missing their elasticized strap); an Instruction Booklet entitled "FIGHTING IN THE AIR" (issued by the General Staff, dated "MARCH, 1917." and named "H. Hickson 206 Squadron" on the front and front inside cover, 24 pages); a Royal Air Force (Officers) Central Flying School, Upavon, Wilts., Graduation Certificate (dated February 14, 1918); photograph of Hickson in Uniform; a newspaper article entitled "Air Transport Pioneers, The First British Mail Services" (with a notations in ink at the top of the article, "1919 F/LT HICKSON 18.SQN RHINE ARMY" and "ALSO 206 SQN BICKENDORF"). A fine WWI Royal Flying Corps group, very fine.

Footnote: No. 206 Squadron was formed on December 31, 1916 as No. 6 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, a fighter unit operating Nieuport 17s and later, Sopwith Camels over the Western Front before disbanding on August 27, 1917. The squadron was reformed on January 1, 1918 as a bomber and reconnaissance unit, operating Airco DH9s. With the establishment of the RAF in 1918 the squadron was renumbered No. 206 Squadron, RAF, being used for photo-reconnaissance in support of the British Second Army and for bombing support during the Allies final offensive. Following the Armistice, it was used to operate an air mail service for the British occupying army in Germany, before being deployed to Helwan, Egypt in June 1919. It was renumbered as 47 Squadron on February 1, 1920

[PunkReaper]

Although unnamed, this uniform did originate from the family of Lieutenant John Henry Smith, who was born on March 9, 1894 in Campbellford, Ontario. He joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) on June 29, 1917, at the age 23 and was commissioned the following November. Four months later, on March 3, 1918, he was posted to 46 Squadron. He is credited with having scored eight victories as a Sopwith Camel pilot. His totals are impressive, including one shared balloon, one shared capture, one and one destroyed, two and two shared out of control. On July 2, he was hospitalized and had to cease operational flying for the remainder of the war. Smith died in Forest Hills, New York in 1959. Victories (by Date, Time, Unit, Aircraft, Opponent, Location) include: 1. March 23, 1918 0930 46 Sopwith Camel (C1685) Albatros C (OOC) 1 N of Croisilles (Shared with 2/Lt Donald R. MacLaren (B9153) and 2/Lt HP Blakely (B5435)); 2. March 23, 1918 1800 46 Sopwith Camel (C1685) Albatros D.V (DES) Vaux; 3. April 2, 1918 1315 46 Sopwith Camel (C1617) Balloon (DES) 2 (Shared with 2/Lt Donald R. MacLaren (B9153)); 4. May 2, 1918 1700 46 Sopwith Camel (C1575) Pfalz D.III (OOC) 3 Estaires (Shared with Capt Cecil J. Marchant (B9211)); 5. May 6, 1918 1800 46 Sopwith Camel DFW C (CAPT) 4 St. Venant (Shared with Capt Donald R. MacLaren (B9153), Capt Cecil J. Marchant (B9211), Lt Victor M. Yeates and 2/Lt H.T.W. Manwaring); 6. May 9, 1918 1200 46 Sopwith Camel (C1575) Fokker DR.I (DES) 5 S of Lestrem (Shared with Lt H.L.M. Dodson (C1643); 7. May 22, 1918 1815 46 Sopwith Camel (D6509) Albatros D.V (OOC) Richebourg St. Vaast; and 8. May 22, 1918 1815 46 Sopwith Camel (D6509) Albatros D.V (OOC) Richebourg St. Vaast.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I would tend to just put the web address to avoid too many pictures jamming up the works.
The Oberst is O.K. with anything that does not cut across things which can be obtained officially, or can be provided by advertisers on the Drome like 7-11.
Uniforms and such should be O.K. but if in doubt just run it past him.
Rob.

[Baldrick62]

I would tend to just put the web address to avoid too many pictures jamming up the works.

... or stick them in an album. http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=1011

[Oberst Hajj]

Martin,

These are pretty cool. Please follow the image posting rules per this thread though. Thanks.