Badges and Uniforms of the RAF Paperback – December 19, 2012

great reference item

This book was a great idea and it's surprising that no such book appears to have been attempted before this one. It contains a fair bit of interesting information especially on the Air Training Corps, another neglected subject. I do have a few criticisms though. It uses abbreviations such as "BG" for "Blue-Grey" several times which seems a little unnecessary. It also refers to "Khaki" a number of times without being clear on whether it is referring to "Khaki Drill" (the lighter shade of khaki) or "Drab" (the darker green-brown shade). Uniform and badge collectors tend to want to know that level of detail from a reference book. It could also do with a great deal more photographs. I'm sure the the RAF Museum and Imperial War Museum could have provided images of most if not all the badges described in the book. Private collectors, I am sure would also have been happy to provide suitable images. Perhaps this is something that will be improved on in future editions. Still, not a bad little book for the price and certainly a starting point on RAF badges and uniforms.

Well presented and portrayed.

While this book offers beautiful illustrations of a wide array of RAF insignia and provides fundamental information about their origins, I found myself wanting much more. Since my primary interest as a collector is WWII insignia, I would have welcomed more examples of pilot wings, more information about the various types of material used, variations in color, subtleties in design, theater-made wings and how to identify WWII-era wings. I would have appreciated some discussion about fakes and how to spot them. As for the uniforms, why were there no illustrations? Having said that, Malcolm Hobart should be commended for filling a void and providing a good ready reference for collectors and historians.

Disappointed in the very few of the pictured examples were dated to period. Fairly useless to a collector trying to tell if a piece is from a given period. No photos showing the variants in type nor construction. The periods in the book are overly broad, basically RFC and RAF to present day. Simply not a book for the collector. Almost no period photos of the insignia being worn.

Hi, one of most difficult tasks to obtain on uniforms and insignias information of any military organizations in the world, is the Royal Air Force. And sadly, this book is no exception to the rule. Yes, the author going into detail on some obscure badges and even rank insignias, but almost nothing on uniforms. Therefore, the book should bare a title of Badges and Insignias of the RAF. I hope this clarify a little, but as the saying goes: "it better to have a little something than complete nothing at all!"

as advertised would purchase again from this seller

The more reference books the better !!

I bought this book thinking it would provide me with the information I sought for between the wars uniforms.The book has some descriptive information but lacks any supporting photographs, it has a great deal of information on items that can readily be found on-line. There are also areas where the research really has not been conducted thoroughly.For example: In the WRAF section: the WRAF Officers/female RAF Officers ‘Mess dress’ is described as being similar to that of the mens but with a full length skirt - which is quite correct - but the implication in the book is that it has always been so. However, in the 40 years I was in the RAF I can remember the ladies wearing a Royal blue long sleeved dress, a grey long dress made from a heavy satin type material and, back in the early 70’s the ‘uniform’ was a very unflattering item that a Woolworth shop assistant might wear. (I have no one to contact to determine which was earlier, the Royal blue or the Grey dresses).As far as I am concerned, the author had a potentially sound titled book but failed to deliver.

A bit disappointing, for someone who has served on the RAF’s Clothing and Dress Policy Committee, I found a good few anomalies.

This book is about 20 years out of date! Also the information it does contain is incomplete. There is no mention of apprentice or boy entrant ranks and badges.

It was unfortunate that the book did not contain the RAF Lapel badge for a medical orderly. It was the badges my father wore during his national service and for his wedding to my mum. It would have been great to understand the history of the badge.

Very well received and useful information.