RAF Cap Badge for Balmoral Bonnet?

[room2ndfloor]

This question is especially for our military/veteran members. My Dad would know, but just last year he got promoted to the Lord's Army. ith:

I have a brass cap badge from the RAF. It fastens with a cotter pin. I got it at an estate sale in a bag full of military patches. Would there be anything improper to offer it to my sweetheart to wear on his Balmoral bonnet?

Here are the circumstances. We are assembling his first kilt kit for Scottish events this summer. He is a USAF veteran (flight navigator) and his own late father served in the Royal Air Force before the United States entered WWII. This father had a Scots family name and was keen on his Scots heritage. As soon as Sweetheart got the new kilt on, he said, "I wish Dad could have seen me in this."

My intention is that the RAF cap badge be a tribute to his father, and by extention, the father's Scots heritage.

Here is an image of the badge. Mine is less oxidized.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As well intentioned as your thoughts are, it really wouldn't be appropriate to wear an RAF cap badge on one's balmoral. It would, however, be totally appropriate to mount it, along with his father's medals, in a shadow box and display it on the wall. If you are looking for a special gift, you might want to contact Matt Newsome at the Tartans Museum and order a clan badge in sterling silver for your special fellow.

[theborderer]

+ 1. Displaying the Badge is in order, but wearing it, having not served personally,is definately a nono.

[Jock Scot]

+ 1. Displaying the Badge is in order, but wearing it, having not served personally,is definately a nono.

I agree. However I do understand the sentiments behind your thoughts. I think MoR has made a fine suggestion as an alternative.

[robbiethepiper]

Wearing any military badge is restricted to serving or retired members of the unit. Not law, but common decency and humility....Robbie

[Chas]

I am RAF retired - Northern Ireland and the Falklands.

The badge you have is called "King's Crown" and is a WWII style. The style changed to "Queen's Crown" some time after 1953. It is the Other Ranks style; that is to say, all airmen under the rank of Warrant Officer.

In the British forces and ex-forces it is unknown for a person to wear the cap badge of a force that is not their own. My father was a Major in the Royal Engineers and spent the war behind Japanese lines. His life was on the line everyday for over four years and I believe that he was a true hero. That having been said, I would never contemplate wearing his cap badge, as a cap badge.

If you were to take the badge to a jeweller and have a pin soldered on the back, you would have a very elegant kilt pin. A bit of blue/grey ribbon as backing would look very good. No one could criticize that.

Regards

Chas

[Thor271]

As well intentioned as your thoughts are, it really wouldn't be appropriate to wear an RAF cap badge on one's balmoral. It would, however, be totally appropriate to mount it, along with his father's medals, in a shadow box and display it on the wall. If you are looking for a special gift, you might want to contact Matt Newsome at the Tartans Museum and order a clan badge in sterling silver for your special fellow.

As a currently serving member of the Canadian Forces, I wouldn't recommend wearing it on his Head dress. BUT I'd see absolutely no problem if it were made into say a Kilt Pin and worn that way.

My Grandfather served in the Black Watch of Canada, then after WW2 took a transfer to become an Electrical Mech Engineer (now my Trade). I have one of his old Cap Badges, and wear it as a Kilt Pin on our Family Tartan, and received nothing but compliments on it.

[CelticSire]

I second (third?) the idea of having it made into a kilt pin, especially if he is a USAF veteran. It would be a way to honor his father's service and his memory while maintaining proper protocol as to wearing military devices. Another alternative would be to find a duplicate to have made into a kilt pin thus preserving the original.

[room2ndfloor]

Thanks to all who replied, your answers were very helpful. I'm a person with a great deal of respect for the military traditions; that's why I asked.

I really like the idea of making the cap badge into a kilt pin, and this is an idea I may have the skills to execute.

[Riverkilt]

I have a bit of a different opinion. Since the badge is the King's Crown I doubt anyone would think he's impersonating....easy to explain the honor should someone ask.

For sure, consider the purchase of an RAF tartan kilt as another way to honor his father.





The designer of the RAF tartan has repeatedly stated that he has no truck with descendents of RAF members who wear the tartan to honor their father's service. Hence, Alex and I wear the tartan in honor of our fathers.

See you're from Washington. My father drove over from Missoula to enlist in the RAF in Spokane. He flew Spits and Hurries for the RAF in 1942. I have his RAF 1942 badge that mounts with a cotter key too. Would like to adapt it for a kilt pin.