Unit 3209 DDay landings, relatives history

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by McDonough, Aug 2, 2021.

  1. McDonough

    McDonough New Member

    Hi, I am new to the site so not sure where to start. My father in Law, Albert ‘Mac’ McDonough was in the Servicing Commandos Unit 3209 and later in 84 Group. We know he took part in the DDay landings, his boat got hit but he has always said that he was one of the “lucky ones”, he didn’t get seriously hurt and he got picked up by an American boat that took him back to England along with other survivors. After a while he transferred to 84 Group and eventually got sent to the Netherlands and then on to Germany at the end of the war. He didn’t get posted to the Far East as many of the 3209 did. Mac is now in his 97th year and is getting a bit frail, we would just like to be able to find out a bit more about what happened to him on DDay. Thanks.
     
  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Here is information on Servicing Commando that you can download and read.

    First one, the info on Servicing Commando’s start on Page 21
    https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-39.pdf

    the second starts on page 96
    https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-51.pdf

    Course for SCU’s can be found here
    'Courses at CTC Inveraray' | ͏

    Where are the above came from
    'Servicing Commando Units (RAF)' | ͏

    THE ROYAL AIR FORCE SERVICING COMMANDO
    and TACTICAL SUPPLY WING ASSOCIATION

    RAF SCdo & TSW Association
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2021
  3. McDonough

    McDonough New Member

    Hi, We are looking for some information that is more specific, especially relating to DDay. We have already researched the history of the SCU to see if there was anything that was relating to our search. Thank you though for your response.
     
  4. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Understood. From what I’m reading 3209 did not land until about a week after 6th June.

    I did spot this article, so I’ll post it up:

    D-Day 9 June1944
    No 3205 RAF Servicing Commando Unit landed on D-Day aboard 4 American LCTs. It comprised 5 officers, 176 other ranks, 20 3-ton lorries, 2 x 350 gallon water tenders, 2 x 1500cwt trucks and a jeep. The doors of one LCT were opened prematurely and two 3-tonners were driven off into deep water. The two vehicles and equipment were lost. The other SCUs of 3207, 3209, and 3210 also had their losses in men and equipment in the days after D-Day but were soon re-fuelling and servicing aircraft in sight of German guns.
    Wg Cdr Johnnie Johnstone wrote the following about 3205 SCU. "On 7 June No. 3205 RAF Servicing Commandos arrived at Croix sur Mer. They found an airfield Construction Unit of the Army busily emerged in preparing an airstrip. The Commandos knew that soon our Spitfires would be landing and requiring refueling and re-arming. However, not a gallon of fuel or round of ammunition was to be had and so they raided the Beach Dumps and waylaid supplies landing craft until they had everything they wanted to equip an operational airfield. Thus when on 10 June I led 36 Spitfires of No. 144 Canadian Wing to land at St Croix, the Serving Commandos guided our aircraft to their various dispersal points, sprang into action, helped us from our cockpits and were soon refueling and re-arming our fighters. In less than 20 minutes we were ready for take-off."


    https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/photos/a.263638134884.138827.26035834884/10152481284049885/
     
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  5. Temujin

    Temujin Member

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