Good People of the Forum. I have found my way here trying to understand a critical entry in my fathers service records. He was a dispatch rider. 72 Wing, RAF. What I understand so far. Various technical training schools etc, to Chigwell, where I believe Radar and Oboe were instructed upon. What I am trying to achieve is an honest representation of his service for future generations of my family. I am the only one, (youngest boy) of the family he confided in regarding his service before his death. He saw some things (The Bulge, Buchenvald.) It changed him. I need to reconcile his accounts with his records. The offending entry is listed separately. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Andy
Hi Andy Good luck with your search. I've had a good look at this but just can't make out what it might be. I wondered if it was "W" something. But then wondered if if was "25" something. The "something" looks like it might be "Group" but I'm really just guessing. Either way, it still seems to be 72 Wing. On his other entries, do you know what "55008 D Unit, 72 Wing" was? Given his trade, could it have been "Despatch Unit"? And there's something odd about his rank history. He goes from Corporal down to AC2 in December 1944 then back up to Corporal. Is there as story behind that? Cheers Ian
Could it be W Europe ? Could the next bit in brackets be a "H" - for Holland?? The date of that entry seems to tie in with his change of rank - 31/12/1944 He may have taken a drop in rank to get out of training / base squadron work and make his way over to the continent (units in operational areas don't want non-experienced NCOs in charge of a section). He picked his rank up again shortly afterwards. cheers Dave PS - can you add his name & service number etc to the thread, it can't hurt and may provide another source of research By the way - have you checked this thread out - http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/33651-raf-radar-units-battle-bulge.html - it might explain why he was posted over to Western Europe in December 1944
I also note that he spent 6 days at 8th RAF General Hospital in February 1945 - this unit was in Brussels in May / June 1945 Permalink: UK2893 | Australian War Memorial Brussels, Belgium. C. 1945-05. At the 8th RAF General Hospital Corporal F. C. Leney, RAF, of Brendesbury Park, London, in the process of casting a silver splint for a fractured jaw. He also makes the special dentures required for the maxillo facial cases on completion of their treatment. It looks like the hospital didn't move much as it appears to have been located in Brussels in November 1944 - The following day a further aircraft was lost, in the shape of Spitfire MB907. Warrant Officer LVA Burgis, on his return from an operational sortie, came in to land too fast and overran the runway. The aircraft overturned and was so badly damaged as to be written off. Thankfully Burgis was not badly injured, but he was taken to the 8th RAF General Hospital at Brussels. 4 Sqn - History Part 3
