Im looking for any information regarding 308 Maintenance unit. My Grandfather was stationed with them for most of the war in Allahabad, India. There is virtually nothing on them other than they were stationed in Allahabad, even that I'm not 100% sure of. Can anyone shed any light on this forgotten MU? Other then the National Archive, is there any where else I can look? Does anyone specialise in MU's on here? Were MU's moved around or were they stationed in one place for the duration of the war? Sorry for all the questions but I'm a little stuck. Many thanks Dan
Not much help but the closest hit in the AWM archive https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P04454.001 Group portrait of members of No 10 Pilots' Course. Identified, left to right, back row: Lieutenant (Lt) Ballard; 401175 Pilot Officer Alan Gibson Swann; Lt Jones; Lt Richardson. Second row: Lt Leech; 407756 Pilot Officer (PO) Jack Trenberth; Lt Chapman. Front row: Lt Beesley; Sergeant (Sgt) Minchin; PO Hickey; Lt Dorner. PO Trenberth, of Bondi, NSW, was killed in an aircraft accident on 13 July 1942 near Allahabad, India, whilst attached to 308 Maintenance Unit RAF.
Helo Dan Have a look through the link Also have you applied for his service records https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18490-raf-units-in-india/
It wouldn't hurt to add your GF's details - his name etc - to this thread Long shot, but attached are some names of unit members
According to the description given for the unit's Operations Record Book, it was based at Bamrauli, Allahabad and Phaphamau between 1942 to 1947. Lee
Thanks for the responses guys. Really appreciate it! My Grandfathers name was Alfred James Ives. Service Number: 846806 He joined the unit in 43 so the crash and the photos would be previous to that. I will cross check the photo to the ones that I have to see if the same men were still in the unit. would also put names to faces. Its also on the list for my trip to the National Archive. If anyone has anymore leads or ideas, keep em coming! Many thanks Dan
Just come across this thread. 308 MU was formed in May 1942 at Bamhrauli (Allahabad) as an Aircraft Storage Unit. It disbanded 11/46. This comes from RAF Flying Training and Support Units Published by Air Britain. Unfortunately that is the sum total of the information therein. As no movements are listed I would expect that this unit stayed in the one place throughout its life as most (but not all) MUs did. This unit was just one of over 50 Maintenance Units spread across India looking after everything from aircraft (assembly, storage and repair) to all forms of other equipment used by the RAF including transport and explosives. They were part of the very unglamorous logistics tail of the RAF in India / Burma necessary to keep the fighters and bombers on the front line flying.
My father was in MU308, there is a gap in his service records but it shows he was with an SAR flight at the end of war. Where stationed I do not know and cannot find any info with certainty. Maybe your relative was assigned to an SAR flight?
Oddly the Imperial War Museum Oral History Collection shows it has two interviews where 308 MU is indexed, but neither person served in WW2. It might be worth asking them why the error is shown. A RAAF death dates their possible location: ELLERS Frederick Leonard 406142 | Aviation Heritage Museum A little history here: From: 1943 They were still active 12/11/1946, from a Mosquito crash report: http://ww2f.com/threads/dh98-mosquito-loss-records.51595/page-2 There is an old thread: RAF 308th Maintenance Unit This thread indicates 308 MU was part of 21 Ferry Control in India; their role being: From: RAAF Ferry Command Losses Some photos: Ronald Watson LAC 307,303,308 MU | WW2Talk See Post 20 for a 308 MU crash: The first seven days of peace An 2000 entry on a previously unknown website: From: Air & Ground Research - units section A RAF Sgt posting temporarily to 308MU: From: IAW Gilmore Two smaller items: From: EL Wood This helps to explain 177 Squadron's part: From: https://tt.ciwanekurd.net/11041-no-177-squadron-raf-second-world-war.html A hint as to 308MU's workload: From 30/6/2010 post: What RAF Squadrons flew the C-45 (Expeditor)?: Another role revealed: Within a book: Eyes for the Phoenix Allied Aerial Photo-Reconnaissance Operation in South-East Asia 1941- - PDF Free Download Regarding the time with a SAR unit, presumably in India, I did spot whilst searching the TNA website that RAF SAR units do appear; my focus was North Africa and nowt was recorded.