During World War II, silk scarves were widely used by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircrew primarily for practical and personal purchase reasons rather than as standard issue dress uniform items. Tightly woven silk was smooth, lightweight, and durable, preventing heavy leather flight jacket collars from rubbing and chafing the pilot's skin during constant 360-degree head-turning and scanning.A long narrow cream silk scarf self patterned with small squares. It has long knotted fringing at each end. It was worn by Ralph Proctor under his Officers' WW2 Dress Uniform.Noneww2 raaf clothing, scarves, clothing, clothing accessories

During World War II, Australian aircrews in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) used local and British-pattern flying gear. These WW2 RAF 1st Pattern MKVII Flying Goggles were used by Ralph Proctor. They feature clip-on flip-up anti-glare sunshades. The flip attachment clipps onto a central bracket above the bridge of the goggles. Worn by Ralph Proctor. A pair of glass lens blue metal framed pilot issue RAF MK VII Flying Goggles used in WW11,with clip-on flip-up anti-glare sunshades. There is cream leather and chamois trim around the inside of the frames with a brown leather nose cover. The grey adjustable headband is made of elastic with metal clips.ww11 goggles, ww11-history, war uniform, raf clothing, flying goggles

During World War II (1939–1945), shoulder flash epaulets, tabs, and cap/sleeve insignia featuring a winged bird and a crown in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) represented specific ranks, unit nationalities, and historical design traditions. Officers slid removable cloth tabs or epaulets over their shoulder straps. The RAF officially adopted its own rank names (e.g., Flying Officer) and changed the rank braid to black with a central pale blue stripe. These were worn by Warwick Armstrong Sumner.A pair of black woollen RAAF WW2 shoulder tabs or epaulets with a buttonhole on the board or tab as well as on the underneath flap. Attached is a brass eagle or albatross badge with a king's crown above. A single pale blue and black cotton stripe is sewn below. The badge is attached at the back with small screws.ww11 uniform, second world war, raf clothing

While the iconic headgear of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the Second World War was the peaked visor cap or the side cap (forage cap), specialized operational units broke away from standard dress requirements to adopt the highly practical blue beret.The beret was a practical headgear, for soldiers who needed a hat that could be worn in confined areas, slept in and could be stowed in a small space when they wore steel helmets. An original World War 2 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wool/felt beret typically features a dark navy or air-force blue wool construction, an inner leather rim with a drawstring, black metal ventilation eyelets and is lined with black cotton inside. There is small oval white cotton patch sewn inside with the name and number of the owner.Inside the beret stitched on an oval piece of white cotton, handwritten in ink : 'W. Sumner 51845'clothing, berets, headwear, ww2 paratroopers clothing