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AMERICAN'S VOLUNTEER'S R.C.A.F. "EAGLE SQUADRON"

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:340.00 USD Estimated At:700.00 - 900.00 USD
AMERICAN'S VOLUNTEER'S R.C.A.F.  EAGLE SQUADRON
AMERICAN'S VOLUNTEER'S R.C.A.F. "EAGLE SQUADRON" UNIFORM
Very rare American "Eagle Squadron" uniform, owned by an American flier who volunteered to fly for the Royal Canadian Air Force and likely saw action oversees before the attack on Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war. The tunic was issued to an unidentified flight lieutenant, and it bears four R.C.A.F. buttons at front, with similar buttons fitted to the chest and waist pockets. The left breast displays the cloth insignia of the R.C.A.F., sewn just above the ribbon bar for the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. On the right should is sewn a small "U.S.A." patch showing the flyer's nationality. This patch is not the typically larger patch which had an image of an eagle and "CANADA", but the flyer here probably remained in the R.C.A.F. until war's end at which time the simple "U.S.A." patch was accepted by both the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. The tunic shows field repair in the armpits needed due to wear from use. Matching pants are also present, though they bear moth damage in the crotch. Provenance: Purchased directly from the (unidentified) pilot in Philadelphia, ca. 1970, thence displayed by The War Museum. The "Eagle Squadrons" were America's "Flying Tigers" of the European Theater. Before America's entry into the war, many recruits simply crossed the border and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force to learn to fly and fight. Many early recruits had originally gone to Europe to fight for Finland against the Soviets in the Winter War, while others flew for the R.A.F. Some of the recruits were men rejected by the USAAF as "lacking in intrinsic flying ability", and instead enlisted with the RCAF. During the war, over 9,000 men joined the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F.. When American became engaged in 1941, 5,000 returned to fight for the U.S., while thousands of others remained with the Canadians and British. Our uniform shows a long-term commitment to the R.C.A.F. Provenance: The War Museum, New York.