Parachute Regiment Cap badge Plastic 'Economy' WW2

Plastic Parachute Regiment Cap Badge

Plastic Parachute Regiment Cap Badge Reverse

Plastic Cap badges were introduced in 1941 during the World War 2, as a result of shortages of metals due to the demands of the war effort. They were mostly made from Bakelite. They were only manufactured during World War 2 so are, in general, rarer than other brass/bi-metal badges of the period. Being made from old plastics they damaged easily and the soldiers did not like to wear them so they would be discarded for pre war badges this also adds to their rarity.
The Parachute Regiment 'economy' badge is silvered and has two brass prongs to the rear as can be seen from the example above. Plastic Parachute Regiment Cap Badge

The Parachute Regiment Cap Badge

Parachute Regiment Cap Badge 1942-

Rare 1st pattern Parachute regiment badge 1941-

The success of German airborne operations at the begining of WW2 prompted the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to direct the war office to invetigate the possibility of creating a corps of 5000 parachute troops. On June 1940, No. 2 Commando was transfered to parachute duties and on 21 November, re-designated the 11th special Air Battalion, with a parachute and glider wing. The Battalion took part in the first British Airbourne operation, Operation Colossus, on Februaury 1941. The Battalion was later re-designated the 1st Parachute Battalion in September and was asssigned to the 1st Parachute. The Army Air Corp was created as the command formation of the Parachute Regiment and the Glider Pilot Regiment.
The Parachute regiment badge consists of a parachute with a pair of wings either side. A Kings crown is fixed above the parachute and this is summonted by a lion statant gaurdant. The badge is of white metal and is attached to a beret with two lugs. The 1st pattern badge has a voided crown and legsof the lion. The 2nd pattern is not voided. This badge is far more common. The Parachute Regiment Badge was worn on a maroon coloured beret. Major-General F.A.M. 'boy' Browning who had been appointed General officer comanding Airbourne Forces in November 1941 was responsible for the adoption of the maroon coloured beret.

The Glider Pilot Regiment Cap Badge

WW2 Glider Pilot Regiment Badge

In 1940 the German military were pioneers in Glider and Parachute operations. The Allies, impressed by this decided to form there own  airbourne formations. Of these the Central Landing Establishment was formed 1n 1941 tasked primarily with training parachute troops, it was also directed to investigate the possibilities of using gliders to transport troops into battle. It had been decided that the the RAF and the army would work together on forming the new airbourne establishment.
Volunteers were sought from the army and had to pass RAF selection precedure. The first part of training lasted 12 weeks and this qualified them as pilots on light aircraft. After this they then went on to do their glider pilot training which lasted a further 12 weeks. The troops also went under more military training as they would be expected to fight alone side their fellows.
By 1942 the Glider Pilot Regiment come under the arm of the Army Air Corps along with the Parachute Regiment and the wartime Special Air Service (SAS).
Well known operations were:
Operation Freshman
Operation Turkey Buzzard
Operation Ladbroke
Operation Fustian
Operation Deadstick
Operation Tonga
Operation Market Garden
Operation Varsity
Operation Dragoon
The Glider Pilot Regiment Badge is shown above. It stamped out of white metal and has two lugs to the rear.

German War Merit Cross 2nd class with swords

War Merit Cross 2nd Class
with swords

Reverse

The German War Merit Cross (Das Kreigsverdienst kruez) was created by Adolf Hitler in 1939. It was to replace the non-combatant Iron Cross. The award came in same grades as the Iron Cross Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class. Two variants existed. The first with swords given to soldiers who showed execption service in battle above and beyond the call of duty, but were not worthy of the Iron Cross. The second variant came with out swords and was awarded for meritoriuos service behind the lines and could also be given to civilians.
The War Merit Cross was bronze plated and constructed from a wide range of metals including zinc. Later war variants were made with inferior materials and tend to lose their bronze wash over time. The ribbon of the War Merit Cross is red-white-black-white-red, the red and black being the reverse of the ribbon of the WW2 Iron Cross.

WW2 Army Air Corp

Army Air Corps Cap Badge

In 1942 prime minister Winston Churchill announced the establishment of the Army Air Corp, which was to be a new  branch of army aviation. The corps initially comprised of the Glider Pilot regiment and the Parachute Battalions (later the Parachute Regiment). One of the most successful missions of the AAC was the Operation Deadstick the attack on Pegasus Bridge on 6 june 1944 prior to Normandy landings.
The AAC badge as seen above is of white metal. It has two lugs to the rear. The originals like the one above have a flange that runs along the top of the eagles head, the restikes don't. Also this badge is very rigid as expected from all original badges.

5th Don Cossack Badge

5th Don Cossack Badge

The 5th Don Cossack were the first complete Russian unit to fight for the Germans in World War 2. Comanded by Oberstleutnant Ivan Kononov. The badge was awarded for membership and service.

The badge consists of a Cossack cross with two crossed swords and a dark blue and red shield,for the 5th Don Cossack. On  top is the  numeral 5 to donate the 5th Don Cossack regiment. The date the unit was formed at the bottom and the name of the commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Kononov, across. Made from aluminium and with a steel pin to the reverse. The edges are slightly vaulted. Now considered to be a rare badge. Click to view 5th Don Cossack Badge