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Category: Badges

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Badges of the Australian Flying Corps

  • Because the AFC was a Corps within the Army its members wore the General Service hat badge of the AIF, the famous Rising Sun (see above left). 
  • These other badges were for Pilots & Observers as trade badges and Unit badges. Image left is the colour patch of the AFC.
  • All Australian Flying Corps badges were loosely based on their British equivalents from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC)
Shoulder title of the Central Flying School Aviation Instructional Staff NCOs, Pt Cook Victoria

This wing is speculated to be a post Australia Flying Corps period(1911-1921) AFC pilot wing that would have been worn on a pilot's uniform to denote that he was once a pilot in the AFC. The date of manufacture of this wing is not known. Constructed of white thread for the wings, "AFC" lettering, and King's crown, with a brown thread wreath and red, green, and black thread in the crown, all on a black background. This wing is very well made but has a new looking appearance. The wing has a black cloth backing and is padded. There is some white paper stuck to the back and someone has written on it, "Australia Flying Corps". The wing measures 114mm wide by 42mm high.

1915 Pilot's badge with Crown & AMF (Australian Military Forces) embroidered between the wings and inside the wreath.

1916 pattern, AMF without Crown. Lettering over, not in, the wreath.

1918 Pattern, AFC with Crown. Lettering over, not in, the wreath. Original font.

1918 Pattern, AFC with Crown.  Lettering partly in the wreath. Different Crown. Variation in font.

1918 Pattern, AFC with Crown. Lettering over, not in, the wreath. Variation in font.

No 2 Squadron AFC Pilot's badge. Original font. Lettering inside the wreath. Wreath in red.
Pilot's badge on khaki Post WW1 AFC pilot's badge as worn by RAAF pilots who had previously served in AFC.
  • Possible Australian Flying Corps wings. This set found in Scotland in 2005. It is also possibly a Royal Flying Corps badge. It all depends on how you read the first letter.
  • Australian Flying Corps wings.

Image; Chris Langley

 

  • Australian Flying Corps wings.

Image; Chris Langley

 

  • Australian Flying Corps wings.

Image; Chris Langley

 

 
  • Australian Flying Corps mess dress wings.

Image; Chris Langley

Associated with Captain Herbert Gillis Watson, 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. 523 Sapper Watson enlisted in 2 New South Wales Signal Troop, 2 Light Horse Brigade on 28 October 1914. Departed Australia for overseas service in late December and underwent training in Egypt. 
He went ashore at Gallipoli at 7 am on 25 April 1915 and was wounded in the foot or leg in late July or early August(?). Evacuated to England, he later transferred to the Australian Flying Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Watson returned to Australia on 21 November 1918.
Australian Flying Corps embroidered pilot's qualification brevet with a brass and copper backing and pin. The brevet has cream cotton embroidered wings, a King's crown, and the letters 'AFC' within a khaki embroidered laurel wreath, on a dark blue wool ground.c.1918
Australian Flying Corps embroidered pilot's qualification brevet. The brevet has cream cotton embroidered wings, a King's crown, and the letters 'AFC' within a khaki embroidered laurel wreath, on a navy wool background. The top edge of the wings has been reinforced with extra stitching to form a raised surface.
Australian Flying Corps embroidered pilot's qualification brevet. The brevet has cream cotton embroidered wings, a King's crown, and the letters 'AFC' within a khaki embroidered laurel wreath, on a dark blue wool ground.
All 3 badges above were worn by 549 Second Lieutenant John Joseph 'Jack' Pengilley who served in the AIF and the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) during the First World War. Pengilley was born in 1893. He was working as a station master when he enlisted in 12 Light Horse Regiment in January, 1915. He sailed for Egypt in June 1915 aboard the troopship 'Suevic'. After training at Oasis camp, Heliopolis he sailed to Gallipoli with 6 Light Horse Regiment. He served at Gallipoli until December 1915 then returned to Egypt. Six weeks later the regiment was reformed without horses at Oasis camp and posted to garrison duty at various places on the Suez Canal with 12 Light Horse Regiment. Pengilley transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in December, 1916. 

He left for England with 68 Australian Squadron, RFC in February 1916 as a transport driver. He qualified as a pilot and received his commission in November, 1917. After serving at several air force stations as an instructor ferry pilot he was posted to No 3 Squadron, AFC in France. While serving on the Somme in France and in Belgium he flew DH6, DH4, SE5, Bristol Fighters, BE 2E and BE 2C aircraft. He returned to Australia in March 1919 with the rank of First Lieutenant and was discharged on 9 August, 1919. Pengilley re-enlisted for service in the RAAF during the Second World War with the service number 262020. He enlisted in December 1940 with the rank of Flying Officer and served as a Flying Control Officer at various air force stations in Australia until October, 1945. He was discharged on 27 September, 1945 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

Observers in the Australian Flying Corps

After 1 Jan 1916 men who passed the Observers Course at Point Cook were issued with these badges.

Variation 1 Observers badge AFC

Variation 2 Observers badge AFC

Variation 3 Observers badge AFC

Flight Sergeants & Air Mechanics in the AFC

  • Flight Sergeants (a new rank at that time) wore a 4 bladed propeller design (shown left) above the 3 stripes of an Infantry Sergeant. >>>

 

  • 1st Class Air Mechanics wore a 2 bladed propeller.
Some images from Australian Army Badges: Cloth insignia of the Army in Australia 1860-1993 by J K Cossum ISBN 0 949530 14 X
 

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Digger History:  an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces