R.A.F. Badge: County of Chester (B) Squadron 610 (Original)

Artist: 20th Century unidentified artist
Medium: Watercolour on Paper
Size: 8" x 12" (210mm x 300mm)
Date: c. 1950
Code: 20thRAFSq610

This is the unique original Watercolour painting by artist unknown.

This is a very rare original painting by an unknown artist, produced for an unpublished run of cigarette cards featuring R.A.F. badges, most likely by John Player & Sons Cigarettes.

This artwork features the badge of the R.A.F. County of Chester (B) Squadron 610.

No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force. Comprising very high quality pilots, often ex-RAF officers and occasionally locally based company Test pilots from companies such as de Havilland and Airwork, its pilots were initially part timers who would spend their weekends and spare time flying and practising combat manoeuvres.

The squadron was named the "County of Chester" and adopted the motto "Alifero tollitur axe ceres"; which translates as "Ceres rising in a winged chariot", Ceres being the Roman Goddess of Wheat, a reference to Chester's Agricultural sector. Its badge contained the image of a garb (sheaf of wheat).