RAF Maintenance units

I have just been to Hendon and have some copies of aircraft movements the problem being I can not find a list of MU`s, this would help my research. Can anyone guide me to a site/book that I can use for further research into my research

 

Hello Annsamtree

I've just joined the Forum and have a similar enquiry
I'm trying to fine details about 2 MU, 57 MU and 222 MU to see where my father served.
He once said he maintained Sunderlands at Stranraar

 

Sorry for the delay in replying, my method of finding MU`s on tinternet is to go to google put in 57 mu aircraft unit then search and plough on through the results,the problem mu is something to do with computer storagr devices and fills the first pages hence putting aircraft and unit into search. I tried it with your units could not find 2 MU , 57 MU comes up with Stranraer ,I then put in to search wig bay with the rest and this refines it even more. I did the same with 222MU and this appears to be a storage unit at High Ercall (I think this is near Dundee). The interesting thing about this base there is another MU here 29MU. Hope this is of some help

 

The most complete list is the index of the body that holds the primary records.

AIR29 series at The National Achives.

Detecting your browser settings

Several MU could be based on one site as the were split into specific series of stock holding.

You will find that High Ercall is closer to Telford than Dundee.

Regards
Ross

 

Many thanks for the help. I think I have found 2 MU at RAF Sealand, Clwyd

 

In Reply to your search for RAF MUs, I have an Air Ministry publication dated October 1944 which lists ALL RAF units world wide to date. This includes MUs by number and location with abreviations denoting the operations carried out, e.g.Sealand hosted 6204 BD flight detached(poss Bomb Disposal), 30 MU, 5 REU (Repairable Equipment Unit), 47 MU, 24 Elementary Flying Training School. 2MU was at Altringham Cheshire and was an ammunition depot i.e Bomb Dump under 42 group. 57 MU was at Wig Bay near Stranraer and was FBS (Flying Boat Servicing under 41 group. 222 MU was at High Ercal which had about a dozen or more hangars under 53 wing Maintenance Command HQ Andover. It also hosted 60 Operational training unit and 29 MU which was A.S.U (aircraft storage unit 41 group, the station itself was parented by 12 group.

 

Ann,
Go to the National Archives website, click on Catalogue, enter AIR29/957 into the search engine, this will bring you to the start of the MU listings.

 

Sorry for the delay in replying, my method of finding MU`s on tinternet is to go to google put in 57 mu aircraft unit then search and plough on through the results,the problem mu is something to do with computer storagr devices and fills the first pages hence putting aircraft and unit into search. I tried it with your units could not find 2 MU , 57 MU comes up with Stranraer ,I then put in to search wig bay with the rest and this refines it even more. I did the same with 222MU and this appears to be a storage unit at High Ercall (I think this is near Dundee). The interesting thing about this base there is another MU here 29MU. Hope this is of some help

High Ercall is in Shropshire not far from Shrewsbury.

 

Go here, a list of RAF M.U.'s and the articles associated

Researching RAF Maintenance Units  (MU) (1939 to 1945)

 

Can this link be remade please?

 

Try this link, you can browse the archives available from there, also see below for other links

1 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/5694
1 Heavy Glider Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/819
1 R.I.M.U. (Abourkir, Tura) - AIR 29/153
2 Civil Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/788
2 Heavy Glider Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/819
2 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6889, AIR 29/789, AIR 29/258
2 Altrincham - AIR 29/958
2 R.I.M.U. (Sion. Bombay) - AIR 29/153
3 R.I.M.U. (Calcutta, India) - AIR 29/153
3 Maintenance Sub-Unit - AIR 29/1011
3 Milton - AIR 29/959
4 Civil Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/788, AIR 29/1452
4 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10107, AIR 77/152, AIR 29/2517, AIR 29/960, AIR 29/960
5 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/788, AIR 29/962, , AIR 29/971
6 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10040, AIR 29/963
7 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/17641, AIR 29/2518, AIR 29/964, AIR 29/965
8 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10007, AIR 29/966
9 Cosford - AIR 29/967
10 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10059, AIR 29/968
10 Civil Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/789
11 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6843, AIR 69/358, AIR 29/4509, AIR 29/969
11 Maintenance Unit Storage - AIR 29/789
12 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/2568, , AIR 29/970
13 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/971, , AIR 29/972
14 Maintenance Unit - , AIR 29/974
15 Maintenance Unit - , AIR 29/975
16 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/12556, AIR 29/2519, AIR 29/976
16 Civil Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/788
18 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/978
19 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10061, AIR 29/979
20 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/2520, AIR 29/980
21 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6967, AIR 2/9162, AIR 2/9163, AIR 17/8, AIR 17/10, AIR 17/12, AIR 17/14, AIR 29/1208, AIR 29/1011, AIR 17/66, , AIR 29/981
22 Maintenance Unit - ,AIR 29/982
23 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6713, AIR 2/6757
24 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9787, AIR 29/2521
25 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6925, AIR 2/17423
30 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6897, AIR 17/88, AIR 17/89
31 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/16893
32 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6912
34 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9783
36 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1005, AIR 29/1006
38 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/12211
39 Maintenance Unit - AIR 17/29, AIR 2/9969
41 Maintenance Unit - AIR 17/29
43 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1010
45 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10060, AIR 17/30
53 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1011
54 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9779
57 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/6631, AIR 2/16937
58 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9791
60 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9819
61 Maintenance Unit - AIR 17/43, AIR 17/46
63 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9782
71 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9771
81 Maintenance Unit - WO 188/2050
91 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1524
92 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9675, AIR 29/2522
93 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9674
94 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/2523
101 Maintenance Unit - AIR 20/5534, AIR 29/778, AIR 49/289, AIR 29/778
102 Maintenance Unit - AIR 23/7560, AIR 23/7561, AIR 23/7562, AIR 23/7563, AIR 23/7564, AIR 23/7565, AIR 23/7566, AIR 23/7567, AIR 23/7568
103 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/290
104 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/291
105 Maintenance Unit - AIR 54/157, AIR 49/292
106 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/293
107 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10138, AIR 49/294
108 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/295
109 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/296
110 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/297
111 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/298
112 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/299, AIR 29/1059
113 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/300
113 Maintenance Unit (S.A.A.F) - AIR 54/153
114 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/301, AIR 2/16512, AIR 29/2524
117 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/302, AIR 23/1050
118 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/303
120 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/77, AIR 49/304
121 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/305
125 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/306
131 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/16337
132 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/307
135 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/308
136 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/309
136 Maintenance Unit (A.A.D.) - AIR 54/154
137 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/310
138 Maintenance Unit - AIR 23/3410, AIR 23/3410
140 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/311
144 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/312
155 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/313
156 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/314
159 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/315
160 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/8825
161 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/316
164 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/317
167 Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/318
202 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/16945, AIR 2/16948
206 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/787, AIR 29/787
207 Air Sea Rescue Maintenance Unit (ASR) - AIR 29/435
214 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1060
216 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/10135
217 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/15046
218 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/9781
220 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1063
221 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1063
227 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1064
229 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/787, AIR 29/787
230 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1065
236 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1066
238 Maintenance Unit - AIR 2/12994
314 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/778, AIR 29/778
321 Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/788, AIR 29/788
322 Maintenance Unit - AIR 20/5666
351 – Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/319
353 – Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/783, AIR 29/783
375 - Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/320
378 - Maintenance Unit - AIR 49/321
398 - Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/2525
“B” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1059, AIR 29/956
Base Maintenance Unit (Tawney, UK)- AIR 29/776
“C” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/956
“D” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/956
“E” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1060
Explosives Maintenance Unit (Burma) - AIR 29/956
“F” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1066
“G” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/956
“H” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1063
“K” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/956
“L” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/956
“M” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/956
“R” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1063
R.I.M.U.(Singapore) - AIR 23/4833, AIR 29/153
“S” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1064
“T” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/1065
“Z” Maintenance Unit - AIR 29/778, AIR 29/956

Abbreviations
A.A.D – Advance Aircraft Depot
R.I.M.U. – Radio installation and Maintenance Unit
S.A.A.F. – South African Airforce

 

Thank you

 

My father in law, 654111 AC2 Lucas Henry Victor Oldridge (known as Vic), was in 137MU and served in Malta during WW2. He created a photograph album which I have published here ( http://www.kenripper.co.uk/vic/vic_album02.htm ). The album makes reference to Steve Weight, Titch Watson, Ginger Satterthwaite, Ken Munro and Jock Young. If you know any of these chaps, please get in touch and I can send a decent image of the photo(s) ... kenripperATbtinternet.com .

Vic's service record reads as follows:
23 May 1939 03 August 1939 Linton on Ouse, Lincolnshire - 72 days
04 August 1939 28 September 1939 Central Flying School, Upavon, Wiltshire - 55 days
29 September 1939 08 February 1940 #2 Wing Henlow - 132 days
09 February 1940 08 November 1940 613 squadron - 273 days
09 November 1940 27 February 1941 29 squadron - 110 days
28 February 1941 19 March 1941 SSG Digby - 19 days
20 March 1941 19 July 1941 RAF Hospital Ranceby, Wiltshire - 121 days
20 July 1941 28 August 1941 Hibaldstow A, Lincolnshire - 39 days
29 August 1941 15 September 1941 29 squadron - 17 days
16 September 1941 27 September 1941 Malta - 11 days
28 September 1941 11 January 1942 Kalafrana - 105 days
12 January 1942 27 March 1942 Hal-Far - 74 days
28 March 1942 28 March 1942 Kalafrana - 0 days
28 March 1942 22 September 1942 Hal-Far - 178 days
23 September 1942 17 March 1943 Kalafrana - 175 days
18 March 1943 17 December 1943 M Wing, Malta [137 Maintenance Unit] - 274 days
18 December 1943 24 January 1944 229 squadron - 37 days
25 January 1944 27 July 1944 Hal-Far - 184 days
28 July 1944 11 August 1944 Home embarkation - 14 days
12 August 1944 19 August 1945 8282 SE - 372 days
20 August 1945 06 March 1946 Calshot - 198 days
07 March 1946 07 March 1946 100 PPC - 0 days

Can you help me by explaining any of the items shown in red and also if you can see a connection here with 185 squadron, which we believe he served with. Thanks

Ken

 

Linton is a Yorkshire aerodrome rather than located in Lncolnshire.

SSG is a transcription error and should be SSQ for Station Sick Quarters. This accords with a subsequent move to a hospital for more intensive care/recuperation.

Home Embarkation is an error in the official abbreviations list - it should read Home Establishment and was when the paper transfer happened to move him from Middle East to UK unit establishment.

8282 SE is a Servicing Echelon

100 PPC is a transcription error and should read PRC or PDC for Personnel Reception Centre or Personnel Disposal Centre.

Ground staff could be assigned to any of the following formations, Force, Command, Group, Wing, Station, Echelon. When on the strength of these units they may be attached to Squadrons or Units for training or work duties but they were not officially on the Squadron/Unit strength and so would not automatically move when the Squadron/Unit moved. You will find that sometimes this is denoted by HH (Headquarters Holding) or A in the reason column.

If you have an association with No.185 Squadron I would look to where the Unit location he was at and the Squadron location coincided.

Where a Squadron is specifically listed then he would be part of the squadron establishment as Immediate or Immediate Reserve Manpower and usually would be moved to as part of the Squadron Transfer.

Ross

 

Hi Ross.

I'm very grateful for your interpretation. I am now so much better informed and all down to you!

I've published an improved biog and photo album today (4Oct2015). http://www.kenripper.co.uk/vic/vic_album02.htm

Many thanks

Ken

 

I am trying to find the circumstances of the death of Arthur Medlicott, 941069, Leading Aircraftman, 156 Maintenance Unit, RAFVR on 6th October 1943 in Algeria. I see that there are records available at the National Archives, but I don't think that they are downloadable.

Local newspaper reports in his home town of Cardiff just give 'death on active service' as the cause. He is on my local war memorial and I am trying to establish the circumstances of the deaths of all those named on the memorial.

Presumably it is not likely to be from enemy action, more likely to be from an accident or illness?

Can anyone suggest any other potential sources for information?

Many thanks, Ceri.

 

His death may well not be mentioned in the ORB in any case . It’s quite common unfortunately. DOAS is usually illness or natural causes . What war memorial is it Ceri ?

 

Arthur is one of the casualties from the Whitchurch area of northern Cardiff. He is remembered on the St. Mary's Church war memorial plaque.

 

Kaerdiff, tidy mun I knows it like .

if you want to message me your outstanding list I’ll see what I’ve got

 

Hi John,

Thanks for the message. Here are the outstanding details that I am trying to resolve. One from the RAFVR, seven from the Army and two not known.

RAFVR
Arthur Medlicott, 941069 Leading Aircraftman, 156 Maintenance Unit, RAFVR (06.10.1943) Algeria. Cause of death?

ARMY
David Prosser Davies, 328797 Lieutenant, Intelligence Corps (16.06.1944) India. Cause of death?

David Glanville Davies, 14256775, Gunner, Royal Artillery (21.11.1944). Netherlands. (CWGC - Glanville David Davies) Lived in Tymaen, Port Talbot. Connection to Whitchurch?

Glyndwr Morgan Davies, ABRO/539 Captain, Burma Army Service Corps (27.06.1942) Burma. Cause of death?

James Harold Davies, 2069071 Sapper, 246 Field Company, Royal Engineers (27.09.1944) Netherlands. Accident details?

John Leslie England, 3972759 Corporal, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (26.06.1945) North East India. Cause of death?

Victor Gwyn Protheroe, 2585885 Signalman, Royal Corps of Signals (09.12.1941) Egypt. Accident details?

Alexander Trevor Thomas, 2079629 Sergeant, Royal Engineers (31.12.1944) Greece. Died of Wounds - Where in Greece?

SERVICE DETAILS NOT KNOWN
Audrey Winifred Davies (15.01.1946) - Died of TB in Kensington, London - Service details wanted (Stores assistant - military?).

Thomas Kennedy Griffiths (15.11.1945) - Died of respiratory failure in Cardiff - Service details wanted. Not in the services at time of death.

Any thoughts - from anyone - very welcome.

Cheers,

Ceri.