Hello all,
Today’s article looks at the 3 known manufacturing variations for the 6th Aviation hat badge. The most obvious variation, is the trial pattern with the red enamel background. Production information (sourced from the Unit), indicates that a small number of different trial pattern items were supplied by the ADF’s manufacturer, for evaluation.
The trial items with a red enamel background, were quite predictably rejected. No one with any sense, wants a uniform item that will serve as an obvious aiming mark on their headdress.
The other trial pattern hat badge shown in this article, includes the ‘black chrome’ horse torso figure on a black enamel background. That trial pattern image is positioned alongside the final and approved ADF issue item (shown on the far right of the image).
The above image, shows the variance in the tone of the black background of trial pattern items, compared to the more uniformly flat back treatment applied to the approved ADF issue item. Note that the ‘N/S’ and ‘E/W’ position of the badge pins is not a definitive identification detail, since the issue item has been seen with pins in both pin arrangements.
Finally, the following image shows some further manufacturing detail for the 6th Aviation Regiment badges. In this case, an unfinished collar badge (sourced directly from the ADF manufacturer), shows that the badge body is made in one piece and the Crown device is fitted to that body as a second and separate layer of detail… before a third (chromed) piece of the design (the stallion torso) is then fixed to the lands of the badge design, as a final assembly step. This manufacturing process in known to be identical for both hat and collar badges, however in the interests of image size, only one incomplete collar badge has been shown here.
Enjoy your research and collecting efforts!
The Authors
charliebravobooks 