I wonder if anyone can help----A relative of mine died recently and all i know about his WW2 service is that he was in the RAF[ground crew] based in India 1941-1945.I've tried looking on th'net but had no joy.Can anyone tell me what squadrons were based in India during this period? Thanks
This may be a good place to start. RAF Third Tactical Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Regards, Nick
Just looked on the net and only thing I came across was on Wiki it looks like you want the Raf Third Tactical Air force regards, Jason
This may be a good place to start. RAF Third Tactical Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Regards, Nick I must say that some squadrons are not on the list. Do you have some more information, did he served in Burma?
This may confuse you further however there we 60 Aussie lads buried in India and their listed "Posting at Death" shows these squadrons etc. "Some" are RAAF squadrons but mostly RAF. 11sq 22 Ferry Control 27sq 28sq 30sq 31sq 34sq 43sq 45sq 60sq 62sq 70sq 79sq 82sq 96sq 98sq 99sq 110sq 135sq 146sq 155sq 1572 Gunnery High 159sq 194sq 215sq 227 Group 3 RFU Poona 3 Tactical 308 M Unit 21 Ferry Control 353sq 355sq 357sq 358sq 615sq SAC Station Poona HQ UACSEA This will either help or hinder. Cheers Geoff
Not many of them were in India in 1941. So far I only found these: No.5 Squadron (No. 5 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War) No.20 Squadron (No. 20 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War) No.31 Squadron (No. 31 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War) No.60 Squadron (No. 60 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War) No.67 Squadron (No. 67 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War) Probably there are some more units and without more information you only can guess.
Hi Ranville - trying to help, but a few more details from you might help. What is your relative's full name? Date of birth, where born etc. Someone might get lucky in one of the available unit histories. Do you know if he served for the entire period of 1941-45 in the far east or if he spent some time during the war period over there (not the whole time)?? cheers Dave
Hi Ranville - trying to help, but a few more details from you might help. What is your relative's full name? Date of birth, where born etc. Someone might get lucky in one of the available unit histories. Do you know if he served for the entire period of 1941-45 in the far east or if he spent some time during the war period over there (not the whole time)??---- cheers Dave Thanks Dave and EVERYONE who has replied---Certainly given me stuff to work on. His name was ernest francis mullings---born in London in 1920 and i'm pretty sure he was in the far east for the duration of the war.[though it could have been 42-45] Thanks again everyone!
Thanks Ranville - I hope that something turns up. This doesn't help you, but here is an example of the sort of random stuff that turns up in Australian files - Burma. 1945-03-22. After visiting Mandalay, the Supreme Allied Commander Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, visited a forward RAF airstrip to congratulate pilots and ground crews on the capture of Mandalay. Here he is shaking hands and chatting to an RAF fitter, Aircraftman V. O'Connor of Manchester.
Try and get hold of a copy of Henry Probert's The Forgotten Air Force: The Royal Air Force in the War Against Japan 1941-1945. It contains details of units assigned to the region. Ross
Thanks Ranville - I hope that something turns up. This doesn't help you, but here is an example of the sort of random stuff that turns up in Australian files - Burma. 1945-03-22. After visiting Mandalay, the Supreme Allied Commander Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, visited a forward RAF airstrip to congratulate pilots and ground crews on the capture of Mandalay. Here he is shaking hands and chatting to an RAF fitter, Aircraftman V. O'Connor of Manchester. Cheers again dave----I shall keep eye open.
Try and get hold of a copy of Henry Probert's The Forgotten Air Force: The Royal Air Force in the War Against Japan 1941-1945. It contains details of units assigned to the region. Ross I certainly will.And many Thanks
Most of the RAAF deaths were from mid year 1942. Have added the dates and burial places. 34sq 13/07/1942 DELHI WAR CEMETERY 308 MU RAF 13/07/1942 DELHI WAR CEMETERY 45sq 29/08/1942 DELHI WAR CEMETERY 45sq 11/10/1942 DELHI WAR CEMETERY 82sq RAF 27/10/1942 MADRAS WAR CEMETERY, CHENNAI 88sq RAF 21/11/1942 MADRAS WAR CEMETERY, CHENNAI 79 sq (INDIA) 3/12/1942 CALCUTTA (BHOWANIPORE) CEMETERY 155sq 1/01/1943 RANCHI WAR CEMETERY 99sq 4/01/1943 RANCHI WAR CEMETERY 135sq 7/01/1943 CALCUTTA (BHOWANIPORE) CEMETERY 34sq (INDIA) 15/03/1943 GAUHATI WAR CEMETERY 194sq 15/04/1943 DELHI WAR CEMETERY 110sq 21/04/1943 RANCHI WAR CEMETERY 11sq RAF 5/08/1943 RANCHI WAR CEMETERY 227 Group (RAF) 15/08/1943 KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY SAC STN POONA 1/09/1943 KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY 11sq 13/09/1943 MADRAS WAR CEMETERY, CHENNAI Cheers Geoff
Don't forget 656 AOP Sqdn, more operational hours than any other world wide and still flying Apaches in Afganistan. 656 went to India about 1943. 656 Squadron Association
Following on from my original post i have found a group photo with my relative in it.It's headed ---FITTING BAY, MACHINE SHOP---322 M.U. S.E.A.A.F 1945 This cardboard photo is marked --Azure Studio,Lucknow Cent. Can anyone suggest what he might be doing there? Thanks
Struth Ranville - try this site.... He must have been at RAF Cawnpore RAF India 1944-46 Photo Gallery by ashley69 at pbase.com photos of 322MU at Lucknow etc
Struth Ranville - try this site.... He must have been at RAF Cawnpore RAF India 1944-46 Photo Gallery by ashley69 at pbase.com photos of 322MU at Lucknow etc You're a genius!----He's not in in the pics but it has given me a clearer idea what he was doing.---I only dug up the photo by chance by clearing an old box of photos that has been in the garage for ages.----I also found an old theatre programme[dated xmas 1945]--'Christmas Review' at the Chakeri theatre----printed by 'The star press' Cawnpore.! The S.E.A.A.F bit, is that they were attached to the Australian air Forces? Anyway, many,many, Thanks
Hardly a genius, just brilliantly clever (and modest too) There are some good points of contact below the photos for ex-members and their families. Or try this for more background info - 322 MAINTENANCE UNIT AND THE DEMOLITION OF SEAC LIBERATORS By J.E.H. FAIL 322 Maintenance Unit and the demolition of SEAC Liberators An aircraft he probably worked on is in the RAF museum in Cosford and another in the USA - Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N7866, Pima Air and Space Museum and try here - BBC - WW2 People's War - India - There and Back the Hard Way basically just use Google and "RAF" 322 Maintenance
