Quote Originally Posted by Riverkilt View Post
Chiming in on that. Before I purchased the cloth to have my RAF tartan kilt sewn up I asked Arthur Mackie - the man who designed the tartan and controls its distribution - if it would be appropriate for me to wear in honor of my father's RAF service (Flying Sergeant 1942 - Hurrianes and Spitfires - Dieppe) and his reply was that ANYONE in the RAF family is most welcome to wear the tartan. Including children of RAF veterans.

So, should someone ask (no one has questioned me either) I can reply that my wearing the tartan is within the intent - and with the permission of - the designer and person controlling the rights to distribution of the tartan.

Hope that doesn't sound defensive - meant to be factual.

I'm proud to wear the RAF tartan and proud to explain the reason I do. Its in honor of a Montana boy who volunteered to defend his ancestral homeland.
Since this "issue" has been raised several times on the forum, I was merely curious is the Scots (or even the British) might have taken exception to the practice.

I certainly don't have any problem with someone wearing a service tartan to honor a family member or friend, though as we all know there are many in the US who take acception to anyone wearing anything they are not "entitled" to.

As an total aside, I've lately been reading several RAF pilot autobiographies (read every one I could find when I was a lad). The Hurricane has always been a favorite, as are its cousins the Typhoon and Tempest.