Original Item: One of a Kind. This is an attractive set attributed to a R.A.F. Pilot, C.C. Young who was a recipient of the British Air Force Cross. The set includes a rare RAF Officer’s Blue Cotton Shirt with Removable Collar, 1943 Dated Battledress Jacket with RAF Wings, Battledress Trousers Dated 1943, 1944 Dated Officer’s Private Purchase Quality Overseas Cap, Neck Tie and Flight Scarf! The set makes for an incredible display when put on a mannequin!

We have not had the opportunity to conduct any research on the Officer, but we feel that with some work, the next owner could uncover some information on the service of Lieutenant Young if one so desired. This is a Typical RAF Pilot’s uniform set, all in very good condition and exhibiting little to no mothing or other unsightly damage. RAF material like this rarely comes up available for sale in the U.S.

This lovely grouping consists of the following:

- RAF Officer’s Overseas Cap. Has officer’s Cap device affixed to the left side, which appears to have been in place for a very long time. The cap is of a high quality variety purchased by officers with a velvet sweatband. The Cap is dated 1944, and there is a stamp above the date we cannot quite make out. The name “C.C. Young” is written on the right side of the sweatband.

- Battledress Jacket, Dated 1943. With stamped broad arrow acceptance stamp and original label which reads: “SUITS, AIRCREW, BLOUSE/ SIZE No. 6 / HEIGHT:5ft. 5 ins. To 5ft. 6ins. / BREAST 38ins. To 39 ins. / WAIST 34 ins. / Montague Burton LEEDS/ 1943” The jacket has a pair of embroidered RAF Pilot Wings and a Air Force Cross sewn above the left pocket which appear to have been there for a very long time. On each epaulet is the insignia denoting the original wearer held the rank of flight lieutenant.

- Battledress Trousers, Dated 1943. present is the original label which reads: “SUITS, AIRCREW, TROUSERS/ SIZE No. 8/ Height 5’7” to 5’8”/ Waist 33”/ Seat 38” to 39”/Leg 30 ½”/ B. Simon & Sons Ltd/ 1943”

- Rare RAF Officer’s Shirt w/ Removable Collar. These are almost non-existant on today’s market! One of the harder pieces to obtain for a RAF officer’s “kit”. Some numbers are written on the nape of the removable collar.

- Black Neck Tie. 1940s Era. Has the initials “EKL” embroidered on the reverse.

- Blue Polka Dot Pilot’s Scarf as observed being worn by RAF Aircrewman in countless wartime photographs.

A great WWII RAF set with some fantastic research and display potential!

Approximate Measurements:
Jacket:
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 21"
Waist width: 16.5"
Hip width: 16.5”
Front length: 23"

Shirt:
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 22”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 20"
Waist width: 19.5"
Hip width: 15.5”
Front length: 30.5"

Pants:
Waist: 33"
Inseam: 30.5"

The Royal Air Force in WWII.
The Royal Air Force underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of December 1939, the air forces of British Commonwealth countries trained and formed "Article XV squadrons" for service with RAF formations. Many individual personnel from these countries, and exiles from occupied Europe, also served with RAF squadrons. By the end of the war the Royal Canadian Air Force had contributed more than 30 squadrons to serve in RAF formations, similarly, approximately a quarter of Bomber Command's personnel were Canadian. Additionally, the Royal Australian Air Force represented around nine percent of all RAF personnel who served in the European and Mediterranean theatres.

During the Battle of Britain in 1940, the RAF defended the skies over Britain against the numerically superior German Luftwaffe. In what is perhaps the most prolonged and complicated air campaign in history, the Battle of Britain contributed significantly to the delay and subsequent indefinite postponement of Operation Sea Lion, AH's plans for an invasion of the UK. In the House of Commons on 20 August, prompted by the ongoing efforts of the RAF, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a speech to the nation, where he said "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

The largest RAF effort during the war was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany by Bomber Command. While RAF bombing of Germany began almost immediately upon the outbreak of war at first it was ineffectual; it was only later, particularly under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Harris, that these attacks became increasingly devastating, from early 1943 onward, as new technology and greater numbers of superior aircraft became available. The RAF adopted night-time area bombing on German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden. Night time area bombing constituted the great bulk of the RAF's bombing campaign, mainly due to Harris, but it also developed precision bombing techniques for specific operations, such as the "Dambusters" raid by No. 617 Squadron, or the Amiens prison raid known as Operation Jericho