RAF Nutts Corner. Northern Ireland

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Peter Clare, Jan 3, 2009.

  1. observer1945

    observer1945 Junior Member

    Peter many thanks for your help and information, you have put another piece into the puzzle, out of interest how many engineering officers would there have been and what exactly was their duty, would it have been hands on or just administerial. Can you tell me what Tech Branch was and did( I suppose it was something to do with the maintenance of the aircraft). Also reading previous entries there is mention of a book 'the history of No120 Squadron', is that available as it will give a good backround to the Squadron and it's part in the war effort. I wonder if the RAF museum in Hendon would be able to find this mans service record. Many many thanks again for your help, I will keep you posted as and when I get more information on SL Darker.
     
  2. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Each Squadron would have an Engineer Officer who would be responsible for the airworthiness of its aircraft, he would have been in charge of fitters, riggers, electricians etc, his job was probably more admin than hands on, but he would be very well qualified to give advice where needed and sometimes get his hands dirty.

    No book has been written covering the history of 120 Squadron, apart from a small paperback published to commemorate an anniversary. For some years now I have been putting together a history of the squadron starting with their formation in January 1918. At this minute I am up to their first U-boat kill which occurred on 12 October 1942. Whether this will ever be published is another matter.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  3. observer1945

    observer1945 Junior Member

    Peter, I don't know if it will be of interest to anyone but I will list below all the London Gazette entries I have found on SL Darker so far-
    REGINALD DARKER MBE
    Squadron Leader 44894.

     
     
    London Gazette 3rd December 1940 Page 6863
    Warrant Officer Reginald Darker 44894 Pilot Officer on
    Probation.
    Amended in London Gazette 4th February 1941
    To Flying Officer, Concerning 350727 WO Reginald Darker (44894) for Pilot Officer on probation, read FLYING OFFICER on probation.
    London Gazette 5th June 1942 Page 2520 Supplement 11th June 1942.
    Mentioned in Despatches
    London Gazette 36033 28th May 1943
    Supplement LG 2nd June 1943.
    Flight Lieutenant (Now Acting Squadron Leader) Reginald Darker MBE.
    London Gazette 37784 8th November 1946.
    Page 5527, Supplement 12th November 1946
    Tech Branch as Squadron Leader Ext Service (AMO A775/45 Scheme B) 29th Aug 1946.
    London Gazette 37092 25th February 1947 page 982 supplement 28th February 1947.
    R.Darker MBE (44894) 1st January 1943.
    Technical Branch (Squadron Leader).
     
  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Just a little more on R. Darker.....

    29 July 1942. F/L. R. Darker ceased to be attached to RAF station Nutts Corner. - ORB

    I have no indication as to where Darker was posted, but just a few days earlier on the 21 July, 120 Squadron had moved from RAF Nutts Corner to RAF Ballykelly.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  5. observer1945

    observer1945 Junior Member

    Peter, I must thank you again for all the time and effort you have put into my enquiries, when you can put a story behind an item it becomes far more interesting and you can imagine what the people went through to get it.I am determined to find out SL Darker's, full service history, so perhaps I will contact a London medal researcher and see what they can turn up for me. Are you interested in all RAF history or just 120 Squadron.I have another interesting group of items of an RAF WO, who joined air crew as a young man in 1943 and went on to qualify as an air gunner and also a singnaler. His father was in the RASC at the outbreak of WW1 but transfered to the RFC( I have his RASC insignia, RFC and RAF cap badges and numerous photos, including two large group photos), his sister was in the WW2 NFS( I have her NFS cap and collar insignia also her NFS certificate of joining etc). There is a complete service history of the man a mass of paperwork and photographs including his air gunners log book letters of appointment his metal transit trunk even his knife fork and spoon. Again if of interest I will post some of the original photos and anything else anyone would be interested in. The items a a great family history of two generations of the RAF right up untill I think it was 1977 when the WO retired( he left the RAF in 1955 to work for the VICKERS company but rejoined the RAF in 1956, retiring in 1977), best wishes and many thanks again JOHN
     
  6. observer1945

    observer1945 Junior Member

    Peter, just an update on sqd/l Darker, his recommendation for the OBE IS AS FOLLOWS-OPERATIONAL COMMANDS-PERIODICAL AWARDS 1-8-42 to31-1-43
    COASTAL COMMAND Flight Lieutenant Reginald Darker 944894)120 squadron
    This officer has been employed as Engineer Officer since September,1941 Early in the period he met with many difficulties,the Squadron was newly formed and was operating a type of aircraft new to the Royal Air Force. During this trying time Flight Lieutenant Darker displayed perserverence and keeness and the technical side of the squadrons work was in excellent order in a very short time, in July 1942 the sqaudron moved to a new location and under f/l Darkers excellent supervision , operations were not interefered with but proceeded as usual. His efficiency and leadership have at all times set an excellent example to his section leaders. So S/L Darker played an important role with the setting up of 120 Squadron when they started flying the American aircraft. I just wish I could find out more about him, when I do I will let you know, best wishes John
     
  7. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    John

    Many thanks for the update, please keep me informed if anything turns up

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  8. welshfriend

    welshfriend New Member

    I realise its a long time since these posts but my grandfather was Reginald Darker I am trying to piece together parts of his life I know he was at Nutts Corner as an engineer he joined the war effort in his 40s and won his MBE for services there. When he actually left the RAF he had been promoted to Wing Commander. I also think he was mentioned on the schneider trophy as an engineer (not pilot) and I have photographs of him being presented to the King if anyone has any further information can you please let me know. Thank you.
     
  9. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    welshfriend,

    Welcome aboard. Others may come along and help. Always apply for his Service Record, even if the turnaround is reported as a year plus now. See: Get a copy of military service records Upload the records here once you've obtained them and then the forum can get to work on them.

    Please do not pay for any site on the internet who promise you his service records they will not have them, and you would have wasted your money.

    Adding what you have already found can help, saves others from duplication. A Date of Birth and a Service Number help, though the experts here can surmount that gap.

    I have noted the 'Other Ranks' rarely feature in Google searches unless they have been awarded gallantry medals or written their memoirs.

    Searching Google will sometimes bring you back here. The site’s search engine is rather simple; two examples 53rd will bring back all mentions of 53rd; an Army unit can have after 53rd an additional official name, in one case 53rd (Bolton). You must be agile and keep going.

    War diaries can contain almost anything. At the very least, they give the daily movements and most important actions of every unit. They may also contain information on casualties, message logs, rolls of officers (but not O.R.'s), maps, orders, and much else. They are available at the PRO to everyone. Drew5233 and some others are willing to scan them for the benefit of those who cannot get to the National Archives at Kew.

    It depends of course how much you want to know, just one battle or campaign for an example.

    Please come back and tell us what you found. Scanning threads it is clear some discover the site years after your posts and add their information or request help. Good luck.

    PS Observer1945 has not been aboard since March 2009, it might be worth an attempt to make contact via a Private Message.
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2020
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  11. Guy Warner

    Guy Warner New Member

    Hello

    I am researching a writing a book about Nutts Corner 1940-63. If anyone has any info or photos they would be willing to share with me, please contact me on gwarner06 AT aol.com

    thanks Guy
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 12, 2022
  12. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    PM sent re email and using PM to contact previous members active here.
     

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