RAF winter service tunic : Flight Lieutenant J R Williams

RAF blue winter service dress jacket made of wool gabardine. The tunic has two pleated breast pockets and two patch pockets at the waist, both with buttoned flaps. A small inset change pocket is located above the bottom right pocket. All buttons are made of brass and have the RAF insignia. A padded embroidered brevet (pilots wings) is sewn above the left breast pocket above campaign medal ribbons. Each sleeve bears two rank stripes for flight lieutenant on the cuff. The tunic has a woollen belt, with a brass buckle, sewn across the back waist.

Worn by Flight Lieutenant John Reginald Williams. Williams was born in 1913 and joined the RAF in the 1930s. His flying log books refer to service from February 1933 to May 1938 in the United Kingdom, Amman, Ismailia and Naorobi with 40, 14 and 13 Squadrons as an Air Gunner. From 1938 to 1940 Williams served with 223 Squadron in Nairobi and 9 Squadron in Pehrhos, Wales as an Observer and Air Gunner. From 1941 to 1948 he served as a pilot, flying Spitfires in the United Kingdom with 234 Squadron. He transferred to Australia in 1944 to serve with 549 Squadron and No 1 Kittyhawk Squadron.