chevpol Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Ok folks, a quick question, when was the last time the RAF were allowed to use Khaki Battle Dress, ( Heavy Duty Dress)? I assume wartime issue only? Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Ok folks, a quick question, when was the last time the RAF were allowed to use Khaki Battle Dress, ( Heavy Duty Dress)? I assume wartime issue only? Mark It certainly continued in use with the RAF Regiment, existing stocks being used up in parallel with the Army pattern 1946,47 and 49 Battledress post-war and probably in odd instances until khaki BD was abandoned during the early 60s.......I also have a feeling that khaki serge RAF BD ("Heavy Duty Dress") was still on issue throughout the late-40s and 1950s as a cold-weather working dress for most personnel at RAF stations in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern theatres where KD clothing was the norm for warm weather.......... Interestingly, the RAF pattern khaki serge BD appeared around 1942......the blouse was a dead copy of the army economy pattern BD with exposed buttons and no pocket pleats.......although the trousers were not the same, lacking the front field dressing pocket but having instead an additional rear pocket on the left-upper in a similar fashion to 49 pattern BD trousers.......additionally, blouse and trousers carry the description "Heavy Duty Dress" on the labels...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 thats interesting, thanks, now another question, anybody got any piccys regarding the above? Also, as cold weather working dress, what footwhere would be worn, and also headgear if any? Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 (edited) Headgear always remained the RAF blue-grey items.....usually the forage cap, but from 43 onwards the beret began to appear but was by no means common until post-WW2........ Insignia worn on the HD blouse was generally the blue-grey patterns as worn on the same uniform.....although some NCO's did use army pattern chevrons........shoulder eagles were also not always worn by ranks below WO.......the blue-grey blouses were usually issued with eagles sewn-on but this practice was later dropped as many were issued to aircrew and officers whom wore no eagles so had to be removed......the khaki pattern were generally issued without eagles attached and many couldn't be bothered to sew 'em on anyway..... Most RAF trades in WW2 were issued ankle boots along with shoes......the black boots were similar to army pattern ammo boots but often without the metalwork (due to sparks) and the RAF type boots usually had no toe-caps, similar to Naval pattern working boots still made until the 80s.........army stocks of ammo boots were also worn where RAF-specific stocks were low........anklets (webbing gaiters) were generally not worn by RAF personnel unless Regiment.........shirts were usually the blue-grey European pattern (without black tie) although some army stocks and KD varieties were often worn, particularly in Italy and the Middle East........ Webbing, where worn, was a mixture of RAF blue-grey 37 pattern, army 37 pattern in khaki, or RAF '25 pattern in blue-grey and khaki...........check out "Karkee Web" website for massive info on the latter......... Edited July 23, 2012 by wdbikemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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