WW2 British Glider Pilot Regiment Padded Wings

The WW2 British Glider Pilot Regiment Padded Wings are an insignia representing qualification within the Glider Pilot Regiment of the British Army during the Second World War. This embroidered badge features a winged design, typically with a crown and laurel, constructed with padded detailing for definition and durability. Worn on the left breast of the uniform, these wings identified personnel who had completed glider pilot training and were authorized to operate military gliders, which played a significant role in airborne operations such as D-Day and Operation Market Garden. The use of padded embroidery was standard for period insignia, providing both a distinctive appearance and resilience under field conditions. The Glider Pilot Regiment formed in 1942, and its members were tasked with flying assault gliders that transported troops and equipment silently behind enemy lines. Original examples of these insignia are considered significant items for collectors of British WWII militaria.