Seeking help to interpret records

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by jhoward1794, Aug 26, 2012.

  1. jhoward1794

    jhoward1794 Junior Member

    Hello,
    I am trying to find information on my Father's service in the RAF in WWII. I believe he was stationed in Africa. I have his airman's service book and am including a scan of he cover here. If anyone can hep to point me in the right direction to continue my research I would be most grateful. There are a lot of things written on his book, And I'm not sure if the file actually attached, so i will include a little information here. Name - Kenneth J Howard. Service number 1448098, Draft 5939, 1 Wing, 3 Squad, BM1561 is written in pencil on the cover, and his service dates are from July of 41 to Sept. of 46. Hope this means something to someone, and thank you in advance for any information you can share.

    John
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    John
    Can you post the inner pages so we can see the information contained therein, you may also like to contact RAF Cranwell and apply for his service record that will provide you with all of his service history.
     
  3. jhoward1794

    jhoward1794 Junior Member

    John
    Can you post the inner pages so we can see the information contained therein, you may also like to contact RAF Cranwell and apply for his service record that will provide you with all of his service history.

    Yes, Thank you for the quick response. I am just including those pages that have writing on them, there are a few others that have nothing filled in, so for space reasons I am leaving them out. I also included the cover and a few pages from the Airman's pay book.
    How would I go about contacting RAF Cranwell ?

    Thank you again,

    John
     

    Attached Files:

  4. jhoward1794

    jhoward1794 Junior Member

    Would anyone have an idea of what these designations may mean?

    Draft 5939, 1 Wing, 3 Squad, BM1561

    Thank you,

    John
     
  5. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    Usually it was either Initial Training Wing or School of Technical Training class designation.

    Since he was not aircrew then it will probably be his initial training school (like being described as First year, class B at primary school but not naming the school).

    Not really helpfull in terms of his general RAF service. His record from Cranwell will give the important unit description rather than this general description of entry number/Year/Class.

    Ross
     
  6. jhoward1794

    jhoward1794 Junior Member

    Usually it was either Initial Training Wing or School of Technical Training class designation.

    Since he was not aircrew then it will probably be his initial training school (like being described as First year, class B at primary school but not naming the school).

    Not really helpfull in terms of his general RAF service. His record from Cranwell will give the important unit description rather than this general description of entry number/Year/Class.

    Ross

    Thank you for your response Ross, I will submit the request to the RAF. Hopefully my Australian birth certificate, and US residence won't be a problem !

    John
     
  7. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

  8. jhoward1794

    jhoward1794 Junior Member

  9. chick42-46

    chick42-46 Senior Member

    Hi John

    Pending receipt of the records, the Pay and Release book seems to confirm service in Africa.

    On scan 8 in your post above, RAF Bathurst is listed as one of the stations at which he was present. According to this webpage - Stations-B - that was in Gambia. So he was there in 1945.

    The station listed immediately before that is, I think RAF Medmenham - Stations-M - in the UK. He seems to have been there in 1944.

    On scan 9, Medmenham is listed, as is Melksham (Wiltshire, UK). I can't make out the first station (top of the rightmost column). The dates look like 1942.

    Hope this helps.

    Cheers

    Ian
     
  10. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Top one looks like maybe Narsham or Norsham.



    On scan 9, Medmenham is listed, as is Melksham (Wiltshire, UK). I can't make out the first station (top of the rightmost column). The dates look like 1942.

    Hope this helps.

    Cheers

    Ian
     

    Attached Files:

  11. chick42-46

    chick42-46 Senior Member

    jacksun

    This looked convincing but RAFweb didn't list either Narsham or Norsham.

    But, looking at your enlargement, could it be Horsham St Faith - Stations-H ?
     
  12. jhoward1794

    jhoward1794 Junior Member

    Thanks to all for the helpful information, I am putting together the forms and other documents to mail off to the RAF.

    John
     
  13. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    It is Horsham St Faith on the enlargement
     

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