Uniforms and ranks and medals!

[ATAG_Dutch]

phillip.ed is your man for RAF uniform and equipment information, although it's a real minefield.
Personal preference played a large part.
'Shoulder title patches' were utilised for commonwealth pilots from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia etc, but not for indigenous uk pilots.
I'm not sure about Ireland (Eire).
Most pilots with experience lost their collar and tie and wore a silk scarf for lubrication when turning the head.
Some wore flying boots, some wore shoes for 'feel'.
Some wore Irvine Jackets, some didn't.
Some wore silk inner gloves and gauntlets, some just wore silk inners.
Some wore goggles for fire protection, some didn't because they distorted vision and reduced field of view.
Most wore 'Mae West' Lifejackets, especially when flying over the channel.
Some ran for their aircraft wearing pyjamas with an Irvine Jacket over the top.

Here's a useful link with many country's insignia;

http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/britai...insignia.shtml

And this is the current RAF rank key, which is mostly unchanged as far as I'm aware;

http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/ranks.cfm

Uniform tunics would carry ribbons of any awards above the left breastpocket, and would mostly be DSO, DFC for officers or DFM for NCO's.

I not aware of any rank or award being shown on either sidcot flying overalls or Irvine jackets, only on uniform tunics which were worn in battle by some.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about Luftwaffe habits!

Hope the above is useful.

I'm amazed you're going into this much detail, but it's most welcome. Thanks.