British Royal Air Force RAF Machine Gun Trade Badge

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) Machine Gun Trade Badge is an embroidered insignia awarded to personnel qualified in machine gun operation within the RAF. Typically constructed from dark blue or black wool with a machine gun motif, the badge is embroidered in light blue or white thread, reflecting the traditional RAF color scheme. It was worn on the lower sleeve of the uniform, indicating specialized training and skill in machine gun handling. Trade badges like this one were introduced to recognize technical proficiency and serve as a visual identification of an airman’s role or area of expertise. Issuance of the Machine Gun Trade Badge dates primarily to the World War II era and the years following, when the RAF maintained a distinct system of insignia to distinguish different technical trades. These badges are of interest to collectors of military insignia for their historical context and association with the broader framework of British military uniform accouterments.