" RAF " Type Cap And Leather Jacket???

Discussion in 'General' started by Steve G, Nov 28, 2008.

  1. Steve G

    Steve G Senior Member

    :huh: Come on, people; Astonish me! This guy's a rellie of mine. Robert Morgan. He was most definitely around in time to have served in WW2. I suspect this is a war time photo.

    Only, look at it! What have we got? One of those little slice caps I always associate with the RAF. And yet he's wearing a leather jacket with it. But not the sheepskin lined one I always, fondly, imagine Bomber crews wore. No insignia on the chest of the jacket either. On the full sized version, something shows on his left breast, but it's just leather scuffs.

    Who would've worn a leather jacket, of this type, along with their uniform cap? Some section of the RAF? Tank crew? Did no one display a badge on those caps? (Yes, please; Feel free to put me out of that further misery and tell me what the head wear was called! :lol: )

    I've no reason to suspect he's in anything but a home grown unit. But, should he be in some allied force? My money's on Canadian. Just a clue from a snippet I have about his wife.

    Anyone?

    Thanks :)


    [​IMG]
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    That type of headwear is called the Field Service Cap.
    Without seeing his badge he could be in anything.
    Despatch Riders also wore the sleeveless leather jerkin.

    Actullay in the wintertime everyone wore them!
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    I would tend to agree with Owen.
    Even on the black and white photo, the fabric looks too dark to be that of the RAF blue.

    Not really much help I'm afraid, but I would stick with Army.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  4. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Steve

    Leather Jerkin as shown below

    Ron
     

    Attached Files:

  5. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    You quite oftewn see photos of ground crew wearing leather jackets / body warmers.
     
  6. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    James,

    I quite agree with your comments. The photo to me just looks more Army than Airforce.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  7. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Khaki leather jerkins were issued to both the Army and the RAF during World War 2 but were in use much later.Much in evidence on bleak wartime RAF airfields where groundcrews carried out engine changes and squadron servicing out in the open and in all weathers.I can tell you that there were worth wearing as body warmers against a chill wind.The feature has been picked up by clothes designers as gear available to those who engage in outdoor pursuits

    I think they were first issued to the troops in the Great War and were ideal for those who were doing manual work out in the open.I think I may have seen gun crews wearing the gear.

    The fledling USAAF pilots and observers of the Great War were always shown in leather coats as were the RFC and RAF, no doubt to the counter the cold of open cockpits.

    As regards forage caps which is the type shown in leather.These were issued as 'best blue" and "working blue" uniforms to the RAF ORs but were always in serge cloth.Commissioned ranks had the peaked cap with their dress uniform and forage caps with their second dress.It is almost 60 years now since the forage cap was last issued officially to the RAF.Despite this there were always those who preferred the forage cap and obtained them privately.I still see RAF commissioned servicemen wearing forage caps and it seems to be accepted by the service.
     

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