WWII RAFVR Lapel Badge

The RAF Volunteer Reserve was formed in July 1936 to provide individuals to supplement the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. The purpose was to provide a reserve of aircrew to draw upon in the event of war. When the Second World War broke out in September 1939 the RAFVR comprised 6,646 pilots, 1,625 observers/navigators and 1,946 wireless operators. During the war, the Air Ministry used the RAFVR as the principal means of entry for aircrew to serve with the RAF. All those called up for Air Force Service with the RAF, both commissioned officers and other ranks, did so as members of the RAFVR under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939.

This particular badge, which is numbered on the back with the official Air Ministry number 14921, was issued to a volunteer who served as a Navigator and completed two tours of duty with Bomber Command, the second with an elite Pathfinder Squadron and beat the odds and survived the war. These badges were made by the Royal Mint and were issued to those accepted for service in the RAF, but who were awaiting call up. Worn on the lapel of civilian clothes, to show others they were doing their bit and were not avoiding "doing their bit" for the war effort.

This is a fine wartime example that came directly from the original owners family and remains in superb original condition and retaining original buttonhole fitting. Measures c. 1" (2.5 cm) tall.