Hi. I've recently started researching some family history. I've found some photos of my grandfather, one of which has the following info: 55068 C.B. M.S.U. 35 Wing 84 Group 2nd TAF attached to the 1st Canadian Army 1944 I know "MSU" is "Mobile Signals Unit", and it would seem that 35 Wing, 84 Group were a reconnaissance unit. I'm just confused as to how it all fits together. I know he served in Normandy at some point, and I'm interested in finding out more, but I'm struggling to find info. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away a few years ago so I can no longer ask him for more information! Could someone please shed some light on what it all means so that hopefully I could find out more? Thanks, Gareth P.S. I'm in the process of digitising and cleaning up as many of the old photographs as I can find. This is the photo that had the information on it. My grandfather is the one in the middle, John Richard Jones. https://flic.kr/p/YtvTNp
Gareth - following on from Timuk's post, Wiki is your next stop for RAF Second Tactical Air Force - the page has some basic background. Elsewhere on this forum: 2nd TACTICAL AIR FORCE Next to Google "35th Reconnaissance Wing" 1944 (or "35 Reconnaissance Wing" 1944) From a Ubisoft forum - "During the autumn of 1943 the RAF Mustang squadrons were dispersed as follows: No 83 Gp, 39th (RCAF) Reconnaissance Wing had Nos 231 (RAF) and 400 (RCAF) Sqns at Redhill and Nos 414 (RGAF) and 430 (RGAF) which were at Gatwick. No 84 Gp strength included the 35th Reconnaissance Wing with Nos 2 and 4 Sqns at Thruxton and Nos 167, 170 and 268 Sqns at Odiham. All units flew Mustang Mk Is except Nos 168 and 268 Sqns, which had Mk lAs." "For the actual invasion, No 168 Sqn RAF and two RCAF units, Nos 414 and 430, flew Mustang Mk Is while No 400 RCAF, which had by then relinquished its Mustangs for Spitfire Mk XIs, completed the 39th Reconnaissance Wing of No 83 Gp, tasked with supporting the Second British Army. The First Canadian Army was served by No 84 Gp's 35th Recon Wing, comprising veteran ACC units Nos 2 and 268 Sqns with Mustang Mk lAs and Ils, while another ex-Mustang unit, No 4 Sqn, also now flew the Spitfire MkXI"
Thanks both. I had already glanced down the 2nd Tactical Air Force thread (although haven't yet had the time to read it in detail). I'm curious about what the 55068 C.B. M.S.U. refers to - I know it was a mobile signals unit, but what is the 55068 bit? (Sorry, I don't know a lot about the military!)
This is not the exact one you are looking for but is close Reference: AIR 29/150/21 Description: 55098 (CT) Mobile Signals Unit (MSU). Based in Germany (Munchen-Gladbach). Note: Open in 1972 Date: 1945 Dec-1946 May Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Perhaps you need to keep searching down these files Search results: Mobile Signal Unit | The National Archives TD
Thanks. That might not be the one I'm looking for but it might have some useful information and give me a clue as to where to go next. Much appreciated.
