Unusual and Very Impressive Post WW2 RAF ‘90 Group’ Shooting Award - Gilt Brass Trinket Box Dated 1952

Here on offer is an unusual and very impressive, Post WW2 RAF ‘90 Group’ shooting award gilt brass trinket box.

The heavy brass metal box has a very impressive large copper based alloy plaque, fixed to the top of the lid.

The highly detailed plaque has the RAF wings and cap badge image at the top and various scrolls and laurel leaves around the edges.

The centre has an inset brass disc with crossed rifles and a laurel wreath.

The scroll at the bottom has the award details engraved into it, which read as follows:


No. 90 GROUP
.22 INDIVIDUAL
CHAMPIONSHIP 1952


So this award was awarded to the winner of the .22 rifle competition held by the RAF 90 Squadron, in 1952.

The top of the lid has a small chequered pattern and the rest of the box has a plain finish. I believe the case originally had a gilt finish, the remains of which you can still see on the base. It now has a beautiful aged brass lustre finish, which looks like gold!

Internally it has a wooden (cedar) lining set in the base, with a central divider. It may have originally held playing cards or even cigarettes or small cigars? It makes an ideal trinket box for men’s jewellery, cufflinks etc.

Some history relating to 90 Group/Squadron during this period:

The squadron started as a light bomber squadron during WW2 and continued to operate the Lancaster in the post-war Bomber Command until May 1947 when the squadron re-equipped with Lincolns.
It carried out regular detachments from Wyton to Egypt and Rhodesia before it disbanded on 1 September 1950.
The squadron reformed post-war at RAF MARHAM on 4 October 1950 and was equipped with the B-29 Superfortress known in Great Britain as the Boeing Washington.
On 8 January 1953 a Washington from the squadron WF502 mysteriously crashed near Llanarmon-yn-Ial in Denbighshire with the loss of all 10 crewmen, it had flown into the ground at night.
In November 1953 the squadron began re-equipping with Canberras. The squadron was disbanded on 1 May 1956.
On 1 January 1957, the squadron was reformed at RAF Honington as a V-Bomber squadron, receiving Vickers Valiants from March that year. The squadron started to convert to an in-flight refuelling mission in August 1961, becoming a dedicated tanker unit on 1 April 1962 when it officially lost its bomber role. Structural problems with the Valiant fleet caused by metal fatigue resulted in the RAF's Valiant fleet being permanently grounded on 26 January 1965, the squadron finally disbanding on 16 April 1965.


The box is in excellent undamaged condition and makes an impressive collectors piece for any RAF collector.

It measures 6.75” (17cm) by 4.75” (12.1cm) by 1.2” (3cm) and weighs 445g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 50287