For anyone who may be interested:
I have attatched below some pictures of a few Polish Flight badges (wings) from my collection to give everybody a idea of what to look for when searching/collecting PAF fight badges. There were 2 main makers of these wings for the Poles while serving in exile in England-the first and main maker was "JR Guant and Son" and the second maker was "Firmin". Gaunt was a maker of military buttons, badges, medals, etc for the UK troops and it's Allies during WWII. Firmin was also a jewler/badge, button,medal maker for the UK troops and Allies. They even produced many badges for the US military. To get back to may main topic, many people buy or collect "post" WWII Polish flight badges and think they are WWII era. The first thing tonotice is that WWII period badges differ in color and metal material. Post war badges (ie: observer's badge is a bright shiney gold color). The next thing that is different is the holding chain. WWII chains are bigger/thicker links and there are less of them. Post war Polish wings have smaller/thinner chain links and more of them. Now on the reverse of the badges, the JR Gaunt will be stamped "JR Gaunt & Son". The Firmin will normally have their name stamped on the holding nut. The information I mention is just to help individuals in identifying the WWII badges....keep in mind that there are "copies" or "re-cast" badges that are knowingly or unknowingly being sold or trading on the collectors market. Anyone,please feel free to comment or add to what I described. Below are original Polish "Gaunt" badges. From left to right (in the pictures with 3 badges): Air Gunners badge (circa 1944), Pilot badge, and Observer's (navigator's after 1944)badge.
Regards,
Jake
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