Wireless Operator/Air Gunner brevet : Flight Sergeant C F Ford, RAAF

Hand-made unofficial RAAF Wireless Operator / Air Gunner brevet. The brevet, which appears to have been made from that of an Air Gunner, is on a navy blue backing, and features a machine embroidered white wing extending from the left of a light blue wreath. The centre of the wreath has been cut out and removed, to be replaced by the letters 'WAG', which appear to have been hand-embroidered onto a black background. The reverse of the wreath has then been backed with a roughly cut piece of black cotton fabric.

This hand-made brevet was probably manufactured by Fred Ford to illustrate his dual qualification as a wireless operator and air gunner. As this type of brevet was never approved by the authorities, its wear would have been entirely unofficial. Clarence Frederick ('Fred') Ford was born at Paddington, NSW, in 1925. He was a member of the Australian Air League as a youth, and enlisted in the RAAF as soon as he reached the age of 18 in 1943. As number 432779, he underwent aircrew training as a wireless operator / air gunner, but was killed in April 1945, when he and the remainder of his crew, who were undergoing final training on Halifax aircraft with 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor, Yorkshire, were lost over the North Sea.