Cousin X tells me he has an idea that uncle Y was in the RAF during WW2, but he's not sure. A very basic question: Is there any simple way I can find out whether a given person was in the RAF during WW2 or not?
Cousin X tells me he has an idea that uncle Y was in the RAF during WW2, but he's not sure. A very basic question: Is there any simple way I can find out whether a given person was in the RAF during WW2 or not? Will this http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/raf.html link help u?
Royal Air Force Personnel Management Agency (PMA) Obtaining service records for those who served in the Royal Air Force during world war 2 is more or less straightforward, but Innsworth will only divulge service information to the person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain permission from the person about whom they are enquiring or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them. In some cases the PMA make a charge of £30.00 for any information they provide. Except to the person to which it refers, or the widow or widower of that person. To obtain service records you will need to write to: PMA(Sec)1b(RAF) Room 5, Building 248A, RAF Personnel Management Agency Raf Innsworth Gloucester GL3 1EZ The PMA do not have a website or contact telephone number and all correspondence must be forwarded by letter. TIPS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR RECORDS: 1. If you know the service number of the person then quote it in your correspondence. 2. Give the Full name of the person, with the dates served in the RAF if known. 3. Give your relationship to the person in regard to the records you are applying for (you may have to send proof of your relationship). 4. Send a copy of the death certificate of the person (if you have one, along with copies of any relevant papers such as release certificate etc. Do not send the actual documents. A photocopy is sufficient. 5. If applying on behalf of the widow or widower of that person then send copies as above plus a copy of the marriage certificate. Be patient as it can take up to 6 weeks or more to receive personnel records.
Thank you, gentlemen. So, the answer to my question is No. There is no simple way to find out whether a given person was in the RAF during WW2 or not. But what you can do is write off to Innsworth, pretend that you know the person was in the RAF, ask for his service records, and see what happens.
Sure, I've got two cases: Michael O'Brien - in Gibraltar, either in RAF or maybe schoolmaster employed by RAF ? Aspey - in Palestine, either in RAF or Army See, if there was an easy way of knowing whether either was actually in the RAF, then I'd know whether it was worth taking the trouble to search for their records.
Thanks for your interest, Owen. Yes, I got my cousin to go through the procedure and we received documents about the war service in the RAF of Michael O’Brien. Their content is very sparse. They show that he was a Pilot Officer in the Training Branch of RAFVR and (simultaneously, I assume) in 461 Squadron of Coastal Command. Nothing else much. This leaves a few questions unanswered: What would he be training people in? Basics like reading and arithmetic? Or military specifics such as how to navigate or how to fire a gun? Did he ever leave the training school (which was in the UK, I suppose) and fly on a mission? According to family lore he spent time in Gibraltar – long enough to get to know his future wife. But is that so? Any hints on how to to get anywhere with such questions would be welcome. Thanks.
Post an image of the relevant sections of the service record here and we will try to guide you further. Ross
Ok, He was RAFVR(T) and a officer at No.461 Squadron Air Training Corps not No.461 Squadron RAF. So no overseas posting very much UK based at Chichester. Ross
Thank you, Ross. That is very helpful, although not very exciting. Indeed he lived in or near Chichester. I suppose an Air Training Corps unit in WW2 was a lot more practically oriented than the equivalent today. Also, I see that nowadays 461 is specifically for teenage cadets. I suppose in WW2 it was for anybody of any age who was new to the service and so needed training. Maybe, too, it would give courses to experienced airmen who needed to learn about new weaponry and navigation devices etc.
The ATC has always been a youth organisation - as in wartime it gave service life experience to cadets so that if they wished to enlist the could do so with some advantages and basic skills in drill and airmanship general knowledge. No RAF recruits would be trained on unit. Ross
Ross Now I need to check that I understand. If an 18-year-old was conscripted into the RAF in WW2 he would not go to an ATC squadron. Neither would a 25-year-old. All conscripts would get their initial training in some other part of the RAF. The ATC in WW2 was only for volunteers who were less than 18. Have I got that right?
Yes. Think of the ATC like the Scouts - it's a youth group 13/14 year old to 18 year old who are civilian children - they are not volunteering for any armed service when part of it. Because the RAF had a vested interest in being the first choice of air minded recuits it provided funding/staffed the units with civilian and VR(T) staff and gave opportunity to the kids to have air experience and some access to RAF stations/equipment. There is really quite a bit on ATC activities in wartime on the web eg History Ross
Thanks. I couldn’t easily find an answer to what seems to me a key question. If in WW2 a man was conscripted at 18 or later he could not choose the service he was sent to (AFAIK). But suppose he had already been a cadet in one of the three services - RAF, RN or Army. Could he realistically expect on conscription that the authorities were more likely to send him to that particular service?
Not seeing the relevance to F/O O'Brien at 37 when he was commissioned. Unless it was peer pressure for someone to join the ATC most were eyeing bypassing the conscription route and walking into a Combined Recruiting Centre before papers issued. If conscripted then like F/O O'Brien there would be a record of Previous Service even if it was Private in an OTC 1922. As a recruit with some previous all arms would have an interest - where sent would be aptitude/medical/current manpower demand led. In late 1944 the RAF issued a special range of service number to ex ATC cadet to recognise potential. Ross
