insigne.org

The SF Wing

by Les Hughes

© 1987 by author 

Return to OSS

Return to Articles

Home Page

Although one of the more sought-after cloth insignia of the WWII period, the history of the Special Force (SF) wing remains obscure to many collectors [1]. (Note that the singular form, Special Force, is correct.)

This insigne originated with the joint OSS/SOE Jedburgh teams [2]. As was the case with many insignia, the design of the SF wing emerged from a contest, in this case one held among the Jeds at Milton Hall, Peterborough, which served as their Headquarters. The winning design, upon which the SF wing is based, was submitted by one of the British Jeds, Captain V. A. Gough [3]. 

After its creation, the SF wing spread to other units operating under the control of Special Force Headquarters (SFHQ): to members of the OSS’s Operational Groups (OGs) based in England; to members of the Polish Independent Grenadier Company training with the OGs for Operation Bardsea; and to a few uniformed SOE teams operating in France. (The SF wing can also be found on the uniforms of some Canadian members of Force 136. Evidence suggests these SF wings were privately purchased in England by the Canadians following completion of their duties with Force 136.)

That the SF wing enjoyed a measure of official recognition within OSS is reflected by Order #71, issued by the Chief of OSS’s Special  Operations Branch, London, on 28 October 1944. The third paragraph of this order states: “Upon release from the SO Branch, OSS, ETOUSA, personnel will remove the SF (Special Force) sleeve insignia.” Upon completion of their operations in the ETO, some of the OSS and SOE personnel who wore the SF wing were sent, respectively, to OSS units in the CBI  Theater and to Force 136, and by this mechanism the SF wing was carried (in spite of Order #71) far from its origin. (A wing of the style found among veterans of Force 136 is illustrated below.) Today, one encounters versions of this insigne attributed to just about every theater of operations, but the fact is that the wing was worn almost exclusively by OSS and SOE troops operating in the ETO (i.e., primarily in France) or who previously had operated there. Furthermore, its use was much more extensive among OSS than among SOE personnel, few of whom wore the insigne.  And while some of the Jedburghs and other OSS special operations troops that operated in France were inserted from bases in Africa, OSS troops that operated in the Mediterranean did not wear the wing.

The claim has made its way into print that the SF wing originated with the RAF’s Special Duties Squadrons that supported SOE from the RAF base at Tempsford. A careful examination of these claims, one that drew upon the statements of members of these squadrons and of the SOE Liaison Officers to the squadrons, clearly shows that the SF wing neither was created nor was worn by RAF personnel [4]. 

Over many years, I and two friends in the UK have developed extensive contacts among veterans of OSS and SOE in the course of which we have seen numerous authentic SF wings in the hands of these gentlemen.  The simple fact is that the wings are nearly always one of the two variants shown at the top of the four illustrated here.  (All of those illustrated here are documented to OSS veterans, but the bottom two are uncommon.)  I suspect that many collectors will have a difficult time accepting this fact, because today one encounters many more variations of the SF wing than these.  Collectors are urged to be cautious when offered the opportunity to acquire a SF wing, especially one other than two two variants noted, because the potential for disappointment is very high.