R.A.F. unit in Sicily, 1944

I have recently acquired a couple of rather nice photograph albums that belonged to 1199437 L.A.C. Ernest Currill, A 9928, R.A.F.. He appears to have served in North Africa, Sicily and mainland Italy. Most of the photographs are uncaptioned, but there are a few clues as to dates and locations.

I know very little about the Italian campaign so any help wth identifying locations or vehicles, aircraft, etc. would be appreciated.

This is Ernie Currill, photographed in Sicily on the 27th March 1944.

 

This might be the crest of his unit.

 

Clearly involved in aircraft maintenance and repair, or perhaps breaking German aircraft for scrap.

 

And clearly had an interest in abandoned German aircraft.

 

More.

 

Another one. Is there any chance of identifying the aircraft from the serial number?

 

Another posed photograph from an abandoned airfield.

 

This aircraft should be identifiable, so anything that anyone can tell me about it or the location would be welcome.

 

The Luftwaffe plane in Post 8 is a Heinkel HE111. There are many images available. See: Heinkel He 111 - Wikipedia

 

Thank you, I was not making myself clear, I was hoping for information regarding the actual aircraft rather than the type. I was thinking that from the serial number, the squadron and the fate of the aircraft might be known. I would really like to put as many of these photographs into some kind of historical context and identify the locations if possible. Very few of the photographs have these unique identifiers visible. Most, like the one below, will be almost impossible to identify as anything other than a crashed aircraft of a particular type.

 

How does this fit in with your man's timeline?

Middle East Communications Squadron | RAF Heraldry Trust Search results: middle east communications squadron | The National Archives

No. 173 Squadron disbanded in late 1957. Their ORB is online at Kew.

Regards,

Dave

 

Dave,

many thanks for the link. Unfortunately, I do not know the significance of the photograph of the squadron crest, It may have been his squadron or it may have been a random photograph of another squadron's crest. I do know that he was still serving after the war had ended as I have this photograph of him wearing his medal ribbons on his K.D. tunic.

 

Junkers J U 52?

 

This is the last of the German aircraft photographs. Motor bikes and self propelled artillery still to come.

 

A greetings card sent from North Africa by Ernest Currill to his fiance Muriel Steele in Cowley, Oxford.

 

assume this is him
Births Dec 1920
Currill Ernest H White Headington 3a1900


Marriages Dec 1945 (>99%)
Currill Ernest H Steele Oxford 3a 4318

 

Indeed, Muriel Steele and Ernest Currill were married in Oxford in late 1945. Ernest was still serving in the Royal Air Force.

 

Captured, abandoned, German motorcycle?