Royal Air Force

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Officer's Mess Dress

1933 altered to 1934 pattern

 

This 1933 London manufactured Mess Jacket has undergone tailoring; the alterations making it partly compatible with a revised design introduced in 1934.  No doubt this was as result of a reluctance by its original owner to discard an expensive uniform item that was less than year old when the new pattern was released.

  
   
 

The RAF first introduced a specific Mess Dress for officers in 1920, which looked quite different to that of today's as the rank was not displayed on the cuff but on shoulder straps in the same way as it had been on Full Dress uniforms.

  

     

 

The three button holes to each fore-part of the jacket, two of which are false are a defining feature of the its 1933 origin. In 1934 this was reduced to two buttons holes.   

        Buttons were of Gilt metal with a separate mounted Eagle and Crown.  
           
       
  Miniature Observer's badges were authorised for wear on Mess Dress during 1938, albeit in Gold wire unlike this example which incorporates a silver "0" in the same style as the larger Observer's badge worn on Full Dress. The ribbed silk facing of the lapel was a feature that was introduced as part of the 1934 changes, prior to that plain silk was used.     The original feature of false cuffs along with their 3 buttons and button holes has been removed and a plain cuff added, the seam of which lies underneath the middle row of added Gold rank lace. Prior to the introduction of the 1934 design rank was shown on shoulder straps, which have been removed from this particular jacket.     
           

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