Mystery photo in need of a better look!

[PaulaToo]

Don't like the drag round the button hole.... perhaps that's just the way he is standing...
I see what you mean...
Golly, my Dad would have 'died' at the thought of having his coat done up on the ladie's side...

[O1dgobbo]

Hi All

The two ORs with dark buttons also have a button as fastener on their tunic belts.  All the others that can be seen except the WO have a buckle as belt fastener - the WO has a shiny button fastening his belt.  In the army we had shiny buttons on our best battle-dress and dull buttons on our fatigues dress.  Was there something similar in the RAF?

Gobbo

[Rabbit B]

Hi Gobbo,

Well that explains that then, so have we a mix of Army and RAF here? OR's in the RAF have metal buttons on their uniforms, except on their overalls/working clothes or do I mean fatigues?  I will look at the pictures of Dad!

Rabbit B   

[O1dgobbo]

Hi Rabbit

They have all got RAF cap badges (except the civilian) so there is no mix of army and RAF in the photo.

Good luck

Gobbo

[Rabbit B]

Hi Gobbo,

Have another look.  the chap this the tie and the tie [very modern is definitely RAF but the other badges look different to me! 

My eyes are not as good as yours, but I have blown them up and looked at them closely, not very  RAF like compared with the other chap!  Wish I has a photographic programme!

Rabbit B 

[O1dgobbo]

Hi Rabbit

The RAF cap badges vary with rank.  Officers have something like an eagle on a laurel wreath under a crown while other ranks have the initials RAF inside the laurel wreath in place of the eagle.  You can check this out at

http://www.rafweb.org/Badges1.htm

This page shows officer badges and you will need to click the button at the bottom to get to the next page that shows ORs' badges.

Good luck

Gobbo

[Rabbit B]

Hi Gobbo,

I had already got this site, but thanks anyway, it was very nice of you to take the trouble! 

I just cannot see the &**&^*, other badges properly, have tried blowing them up again, but they are no better! 

OH states that sleeve badges on chaps on back row are Army badges, I wouldn't dare argue with him on that!  He knows yer know!

What we need are blow ups of these Badges!

Rabbit B

[O1dgobbo]

Hi Rabbit

Like you I could do with larger sharper cap badge images but this lack of detail is quite common on this photo dating strand.  What I tend to do is try to find a picture of the likely badge and then reckon how well the smudges on the test picture match the reference.  In this case the RAF cap badge is generally round but with the crown protruding slightly at the top and there are large holes at the base and top of the letters.  On the photograph you can just about make out the circular wreath shape and the protuberance at the top.  In addition you can make out two large holes toward the bottom centre and right corresponding to the spaces in the base of the A and F of RAF and two holes at the top corresponding to the space either side of the A.  There is also a suggestion of a hole at the middle of  the left side corresponding to the space before the R.  So my guess is that they are all RAF and I will hold that opinion until somebody produces a picture of an army badge with a similar arrangement of holes.

Good luck

Gobbo

[jc26red]

Sadly, as previously mentioned, we are not able to obtain a better scan of this photo. 
Please believe me we have tried!
Jenny