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| Collecting British WW2 airborne militaria |
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Uniforms |
Insignia |
Headgear |
Equipment |
Weapons |
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On this page you will find qualification badges for parachute trained and glider trained infantry. On the next pages you will find badges of rank, formation badges, sweetheart badges and cap badges and shoulder titles. Parachute qualification wings 
This qualification badge was approved by Army Council Instruction 1589 on 28 December 1940.
Early wings show a square serge patch, later it followed the shape of the wings and parachute on it. Only an embroidered version was made. To qualify, the soldier had to make 8 jumps; two from a balloon including one at night, three jumps from an airplane without equipment and three jums from an airplane fully equipped. If a parachutist refused to jump, the badge was withdrawn. The badge was worn on the right arm of the Denison smock, Battle dress, Gabardine Jump smock and Service Dress midway between the elbow and the shoulder. For NCO's this would mean placing the badge on top of their rank chevrons; ACI from 17 June 1942 then instructed the badge to be worn two inches below the shoulder. Postwar examples show stitching at an angle, also the wingtips are much more pointed. Glider pilot qualification wings 
Officially known as the Army Flying Badge, this qualification badge was introduced on 11 April 1942 by ACI 768. It was worn by first Glider Pilots and Royal Artillery Air Observation Posts. To qualify one had to pass the Elementary Flying Traing School, Glider Training School and Glider Operational Training Unit courses. By November 1942 only the first two courses were required to qualify. The badge was worn above the left breast pocket of the Denison smock, Battle Dress and Service Dress. At some point these wings were made one inch smaller (3 inch), in all other respects the design remained the same. If someone knows more about the date of introduction for the smaller wings, I'd appreciate if you could contact . Second glider pilot qualification wings 
A qualification badge for second glider pilots (co-pilots) was introduced by ACI 1128 from 19 August 1944. To qualify, a soldier had to pass the Elementary Flying Training School and Glider Training School. Glider trained infantry 
Infantry soldiers who served with a gliderborne unit and who had made at least one operational glider landing were allowed to wear a rounded serge patch with a glider embroidered in light blue. It was worn on battle dress and service dress on the right lower sleeve. A red on khaki cotton example was worn by infantry in Far-East theatres, possibly Chindits.Some units used an unofficial backing colour; the 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance for instance wore a maroon backing. Non-regular parachute trained personnel, aka the "light bulb" 
The qualification badge for non-regular parachute trained personnel was introduced by ACI 1274 on 17 June 1942.
Soldiers who had passed a recognized parachute course, but who were not members of the parachute regiment or an army jump instructor, could wear this badge on the middle of the right lower arm. The badge serge backing can be found either square and oval. An earlier printed version (1941) showed a para and chute. Polish parachute qualification wings 
These wings were made by GRTech from London and Kirkwood and Sons from Edinburgh. On the back they bear the inscription "Tobie Ojczyzno" which means "for my country". All wings were numbered and the names of their recipients were noted. The wings were worn on walking out dress and Service Dress above the left breast pocket. A para who completed a combat jump had a laurel wreath in gilt metal attached to the eagle's claws. These wreaths are also numbered. RAF pilots wings 
Some 1500 RAF pilots operated as Glider Pilot during Operation Varsity to make up for the losses of the battle of Arnhem. Canadian parachute qualification wings 
The 1st Canadian parachute battalion (1Canpara) was attached to the 6th Airborne Division, it has taken part in Operation Overlord, the battle of the Bulge and opeartion Varsity. Another 13 men were posted to the Parachute Regiment as Canloan officers.To qualify, a soldier had to complete a number of jumps from a 35' tower, a 250' tower and five jumps from an aircraft. They were worn above the left breast pocket. GQ parachutists pocket badge 
Early whitemetal pocket badge given to paras after completing their course with parachutes from the Gregory Quilter company. It was not an official qualification badge but sometimes used as such for instance by Polish paras on best dress.
Special Air Service wings 
These wings were designed by Jock Lewis in 1942, its design was inspired by the Egyptian sun god Ra. The colours are taken from his former boat club at Oxford and those of another original member Lt Langton's Cambridge boat club. They were mostly worn above the left breast pocket, but sometimes on the right shoulder. A slightly different design was worn by 5 SAS made up of Belgian nationals above the left breast pocket.
RAF jump instructor wings 
These wings were introduced around mid-1945 as a token of appreciation for their role during combat missions in the Far East.
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