👌RARE ROYAL RHODESIAN AIR FORCE PILOT & AIRCREW FLYING WINGS – ROYAL CROWN ERA

RARE ROYAL RHODESIAN AIR FORCE PILOT & AIRCREW FLYING WINGS ROYAL CROWN ERA

Description

A superb and increasingly difficult-to-find pair of vintage Royal Rhodesian Air Force embroidered flying qualification badges, comprising a magnificent full Pilots Wing together with a single-wing aircrew brevet.

Both pieces feature the highly distinctive Royal Rhodesian armorial device, with beautifully embroidered green shield, central gold device, red lion and Royal Crown. The cream/ivory embroidered wings are particularly impressive, with individually worked feather detail against the contrasting black cloth backing.

The full Pilots Wing is especially attractive and retains a substantial shaped reverse backing/strengthener together with its horizontal pin fitting. The reverse shows considerable age, oxidation and surface deterioration, all of which has deliberately been left untouched.

The single-wing brevet has a traditional black cloth reverse with clearly visible stitching, wear and age to the material. The front remains remarkably attractive, with excellent definition to the wing feathers, wreath, crown and coloured armorial embroidery.

These are not the later crownless Rhodesian Air Force wings. The Royal Crown and armorial design place them within the Royal Rhodesian Air Force period, an important distinction for collectors of Rhodesian aviation insignia.

CONDITION

Both badges are offered exactly as photographed. They display genuine age-related wear, loose/frayed material, stitching, oxidation/discolouration and deterioration to the reverse of the full wing. Importantly, the fronts retain strong colour, excellent embroidered detail and considerable display appeal.

I would not clean, repair, trim or otherwise restore these pieces. Their untouched appearance and reverse construction are important parts of their collector interest.

The photographs of both front and reverse form an important part of the description and allow collectors to assess construction and condition for themselves.