Airfield Defense 1940

[manchesterreg]

I know that their were Army units defending Airfields, such as the Buffs at Hawkinge, plus RA and RA units, but it also mentions a RAF defence detachment, wondering what they would have been wearing, and webbing etc, also what colours (vallejo or GW) are best for painting them. Thank You

[Ultravanillasmurf]

My guess is they would be equipped with similar kit to the British Army.

[Arlequín]

They were, but wore the RAF blue-grey SD uniform with it at first, due to the shortages of army uniform. The RAF Regiment was raised in 1942 iirc, at which point their field detachments wore army kit, but base defence (i.e. AAA) still wore RAF SD.

I'm pretty sure helmets, webbing and puttees were left 'khaki', but you might want to check up on that.

[dadlamassu]

My father's diary of the period, he was an air gunner/radar operator on night fighters (Boulton Paul Defiant then Bristol Beaufighter), mentions everyone (including aircrew) getting training in defending the airfield.  This included rifles, his squadron had Canadian Ross Rifles, pistols, Lewis guns, Vickers K guns, grenades (no mention of Brens or SMGs). A couple of badly damaged Defiants were stripped and their fuselages and turrets converted to AA Gun positions.  Not everyone got a firearm and many made pikes from wood shafts or metal pipes and 18-inch bayonets.  Officers bought their own pistols and some brought shotguns, sporting rifles etc. from home.  Lots of improvised weapons too. Other squadrons did likewise.

They would be wearing standard RAF uniform (only aircrew got battle dress in 1940).  Webbing was the old WW1 08 Pattern unless you could acquire some 38 Pattern from the army.  Helmets could be Khaki, Green or RAF blue/grey when issued.  The Station Warrant Officer would make sure that they were all RAF blue as quickly as possible.  Same goes for the 08 and 38 webbing which was usually blancoed with "Blue" - RAF Blue/Grey.  RAF Police webbing and helmets were white earning the nickname "snowdrop". 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

@Dadlamassu, thank you for those details.

[Arlequín]

Yes, excellent information there. 

[manchesterreg]

Great stuff, many thanks to you all.

[Harry Faversham]

Here's a nice couple of examples...

 

[manchesterreg]

Cheers Harry!

[FramFramson]

My father's diary of the period, he was an air gunner/radar operator on night fighters (Boulton Paul Defiant then Bristol Beaufighter), mentions everyone (including aircrew) getting training in defending the airfield.  This included rifles, his squadron had Canadian Ross Rifles, pistols, Lewis guns, Vickers K guns, grenades (no mention of Brens or SMGs). A couple of badly damaged Defiants were stripped and their fuselages and turrets converted to AA Gun positions.  Not everyone got a firearm and many made pikes from wood shafts or metal pipes and 18-inch bayonets.  Officers bought their own pistols and some brought shotguns, sporting rifles etc. from home.  Lots of improvised weapons too. Other squadrons did likewise.

They would be wearing standard RAF uniform (only aircrew got battle dress in 1940).  Webbing was the old WW1 08 Pattern unless you could acquire some 38 Pattern from the army.  Helmets could be Khaki, Green or RAF blue/grey when issued.  The Station Warrant Officer would make sure that they were all RAF blue as quickly as possible.  Same goes for the 08 and 38 webbing which was usually blancoed with "Blue" - RAF Blue/Grey.  RAF Police webbing and helmets were white earning the nickname "snowdrop". 

Ross Rifles!

My god those poor bastards! Those things were so terrible they're pretty much a self-inflicted war crime.

[Harry Faversham]

Lovely shooting rifle the Ross...
provided you didn't wind up with the bolt stuck in yer forehead!