A Rare American & Canadian Second War Hat & Leaf Squadron Membership Badge

Sterling silver with red, white, blue and green enamels, hallmarked, maker marked "BIRKS" and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, illustrating an American top hat fronting a maple leaf, on a wings base, a ribbon banner below inscribed "HAT & LEAF SQUADRON", 14.5 mm x 38.5 mm, horizontal pinback, extremely fine.

Footnote: All Americans who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force prior to January 1943 were eligible for membership in the Hat & Leaf Squadron. It was similar in nature to the Lafayette Escadrille of the First World War, which was composed largely of American volunteer pilots flying French fighter aircraft.