Hat badges from 1&2) #5 AOS (Air Observer School) in Winnipeg, MB, 3) #7 AOS, Portage La Prairie, MB, 4&5) Central Manitoba Flying Training School, possibly in Virden, MB, 6) #13 EFTS, St. Eugene, Ontario, 7) #15 EFTS, Regina, SK, 8) #20 EFTS in Oshawa, Ontario and 9) a standard issue EFS hat badge. Bill Hampson's book, Canadian Flying Services Emblems and Insignia, 1914-1984 is a good source of info on these, as well as Carroll's above-mentioned Eagles Recalled. Scans courtesy Ken Keegan, Ray Provick and yours truly.
Here are some instructor's badges, the second one from the Central Manitoba FTS, which is the match for the above hat badge. The other two are probably generic EFTS issues. The first two would be designated as breast pins, while the third is thought to be a shoulder pin (possibly for more than just instructors).
These hat badges were made by the Scully company of Montreal and issued in Canada to airmen of the appropriate air force. I'm not sure what proportion of these badges were made by Scully, but it seems that most you see up do not have the Scully designation on the back. Of the Scully badges, the RCAF and RNZAF types seem to be easier to find than the RAF and RAAF.
This wedding picture taken in Vancouver shows an instructor and his new wife. Although she is gorgeous, I'm afraid the close-up is of him wearing his gold bullion EFTS cap badge and commonly used EFTS breast badge. Warren Carroll names four eastern schools where the breast badge was used. Perhaps there were western schools who used it also. A close examination of his buttons reveals standard RCAF issue.
The first buttons are from #15 EFTS in Regina, SK. The Central Manitoba buttons were used at bases such as Virdon, Brandon and the like, but I have photos showing the standard EFTS buttons also in use there. The second image EFTS buttons were from #5 EFTS in High River, Alberta, according to the description from the auction in which I purchased them. However, from photos I have, it is obvious that they were in widespread use on both men's and women's uniforms of permanent uniformed staff on other BCATP bases. The third set of buttons was made specifically for #5 EFTS, with the "5" tucked between the wings (hard to see on the scan). The AOS buttons were apparently also in general use at Navigation Schools throughout the BCATP, but according to pictures in Eric Smylie's fine book "Buttons of the Canadian Militia, Army, Naval and Air Forces, 1900-1990",there were two variations of buttons specifically made for #6 AOS in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Just a note of interest. The #6 AOS buttons are probably very rare as this school was open for only a little over a year. You see, Prince Albert was Prime Minister Mackenzie King's riding and he was able to influence the BCATP to put both an EFTS and an AOS there. The problem was that there were inadequate paved airstrips at the AOS and their production of navigators was so poor, not even King's political influence could stop its closure. Oh, those wacky politicians!
