RAF Pocket badge?

[Elliebob]

We have been looking at this photo of my husband's cousin, Ray Jackson, who was serving at RAF Down Ampney in 1942.  The photo isn't of high enough quality to identify the badges on his breast pocket and sleeve beneath his sgt chevrons.  Has anyone a thought as to what it could be?  Many thanks.

[Andy J2022]

Do you or someone in your husband's family have the original photograph? If so, look very closely at the mark on the breast pocket as I suspect it's a scratch on the surface,  or a dust mark from the developing, rather like the one on his right trouser leg. It wasn't normal practice to wear a badge on the breast pocket. The one on his right is more likely to be a badge, probably one designating his trade branch.

[Elliebob]

Thanks.  I think that the small, wartime print we have may be the original. We can't tell about the breast pocket mark/badge.  We thought that the sleeve was probably trade e.g "sparks". 

[Crumblie]

I don't think there is a badge on the sleeve and if there is it is certainly not a sparks badge because it was worn immediately under the chevrons.

[Elliebob]

Thanks, I didn't think it was a sparks badge, that was just an example! However, I think you're right and it is possibly another flaw on the photo!

[Crumblie]

He looks happy though considering it was wartime. I only knew where a sparks badge would be because I wore it myself for 23 years.

[Andy J2022]

He looks happy though considering it was wartime.

Well he's not flight crew so he wasn't flying over enemy territory or particularly close to any fighting, and after 1942, being based on an airfield meant that he was no more in danger of being bombed than any civilian in Britain.