17 air formation signals

Discussion in 'Royal Signals' started by M A F, Feb 1, 2019.

  1. M A F

    M A F Member

    Hi all, I posted a thread on here a few months ago with a photo of my grandads No51 juniors leaders course up in Catterick (of which a lovely chap replied saying that his father was on the course before him), sorry I can’t remember your name !! Anyway obviously I wanted to find out how to obtain more info on him. With your help I have now received his military history. I can fathom a lot of it out although it’s quite difficult to read. It looks like he was posted to 17 air formation signals in October 1943 and then somewhere inbetween 04/05/44 and 18/07/44 it says that he embarked NWE(or could be NWF) and disembarked uk. Is there anyone who might be able to shed some light on this please?? Would he of been over in Normandy at this time ??
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi

    The best way for members to help you would be for you to scan/photo and upload the images if his service record, so that members can decypher what it says

    NWE would be North West Europe

    TD
     
    timuk likes this.
  3. M A F

    M A F Member

    Ok, lovely, I will do that.
     
  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Here is the 2nd Air Formation Signals portion of the Comms Plan for the allied landings in Greece in October 1944.

    I can't guarantee it will be anything like the Air Formation Signals unit of your grandfather was in when he was in NWE, but Army units do tend to be very similarly structured. It might give you a rough idea of what they were doing and with what equipment.

    Hope this helps.

    Gus
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 1, 2019
  5. M A F

    M A F Member

    Hi, thanks for that.
     
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    17 Air Fmn. Sigs. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 166/12419
    Description:
    17 Air Fmn. Sigs.
    Date: 1943 Sept.-Dec.

    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    17 Air Fmn. Sigs. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/2005
    Description:
    17 Air Fmn. Sigs.
    Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    17 Air Fmn. Sigs. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/5984
    Description:
    17 Air Fmn. Sigs.
    Date: 1945 Jan.- June

    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    The above are the War Diaries for the formation you mention. We have members on the site who offer the service to copy them if you cannot do that yourself. But first really need to see the full service records so that no one is going down blind alley's

    TD
     
    timuk likes this.
  7. M A F

    M A F Member

    I’ve tried to upload the images of his records but it keeps saying that the files are too large !! I’ve uploaded photos on here a few months ago in exactly the same way and had no problem at all. Any suggestions to what I’m doing wrong ?? Sorry, I’m not good with technology?!?!
     
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The maximum size of file you can upload is 2Mb - so I assume your files are larger than that so they would need to be resized/made smaller.

    Have you scanned them or photographed them ?

    TD
     
  9. M A F

    M A F Member

    Photographed them
     
  10. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Why don't you download a copy of "Fotosizer".

    Its a very easy to understand image resizing tool that handles multiple files at a the same time.

    Drop the image size or quality by 50% and change it to black and white and watch the file size drop dramatically.

    Gus
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2019
  11. M A F

    M A F Member

    Ok, thanks, I will give it a go.
     
  12. M A F

    M A F Member

    I’ve looked at it and unfortunately I don’t have windows. I only use iPad or iPhone!!!
     
  13. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Woops.

    Sorry can't help you. I am sure someone else will who uses apple stuff will pop up soon.

    Gus
     
  14. M A F

    M A F Member

    Phew, at last. I think I’ve done it (with much head scratching). Hope you can all see these files ok.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    5/11/42 - 18/8/44 UK (Home)
    19/8/44 - 17/7/45 North West Europe (France)
    18/7/45 - 11/1/46 UK (Home)
    12/1/46 - 16/5/46 India
    17/5/46/ - 11/6/46 UK (Home)
    17/6/46 Demob and Reserve

    TD
     
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    It looks as though he was in 3 units

    10 3 1944 -- 18 7 1945 17 AFS - so this would cover his time in NWE

    He was also in 20 AFS and 7 AFS

    I note during his time in India he also worked at Calcutta and Singapore

    TD
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2019
  17. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    As an example of other War Diaries you may need

    Air Formation Signals: 7 Air Fmn. Sigs | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 172/8422
    Description:
    Air Formation Signals: 7 Air Fmn. Sigs
    Date: 1945 May-Dec.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    TD
     
  18. M A F

    M A F Member

    Thanks for all the info. I’ve been on the national Archives website and found the files. How would you say is the easiest way to get copies ? You said earlier that there are people on this forum who could help. Would it be easier to go through them ?
     
  19. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  20. M A F

    M A F Member

Share This Page