RAF Volunteer Reserve Badge

The RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was set up in 1936 as a reserve of personnel to be called upon in time of conflict for service. It was initially for the recruitment and training of aircrew, but was later extended to some ground roles including Signals and Intelligence.

When war broke out in 1939, the RAFVR served as the principal route for aircrew entry to the RAF and officers were commissioned temporarily 'For the Duration of the Emergency'. VR recruits wore distinguishing badges: officers had a metal lapel badge and non-commissioned ranks a cloth sleeve badge, an example of which is displayed here. The distinguishing badges were phased out in 1943 when the roles of the VR recruits had become fully integrated with that of the regular RAF.