Decipher previous engagements

Super proficiency as Wireless operator mechanic?

So AC2, AC1, LAC, T/Cpl, what is the last one? And what is the trade of AC2?

 

Oh aircraft hand/wireless operator.
Why are there different columns both with trades in them?

 

I know he didn't want to fight and I believe that's why he would be aircraft hand. He was a communist.

Really appreciate you going through this with me.

 

Ok
ACH W Oper 27/7/39
W/opr 29/4/40
WOM 20/4/44

So he was a pre war entry to the RAF and as such his Musterings are a little different from Ron's record

Prewar most trade training was done either on unit or is small intakes at specialised schools

ACH is aircraft hand and denotes a trade - this is the least skilled RAF trade and is in Trade Group V. Entrants were appointed into this trade but usually quickly moved to u/t or under training for a trade that was assessed as suitable for them - prewar no u/t - so he entered as Aircraft Hand Wireless Operator.

on the 29/4/40 he passed trade training as is now established in trade as a Wireless Operator - you should see something on Postings that links to this trade date.

Wireless Operators were usually Trade Group II but as more advanced equipment came into service with the RAF the trade suffix expanded eg WOp Slipreader, WOp/AG eventually in 1944 all these splinter trade descriptions were declared obsolete and he was remustered as Wireless Operator Mechanic which was a Group I trade eg highest skill and highest paid.

Ross

 

To the right of mustering is the columns for his annual assessment - this was done on 31st of each year in service and gives a snapshot of rank and trade on that date - should be in line with promotions we talked about previously.

I see that one year is missed - again clerical error on this sheet - the assessment would have been done just the info not transferred to this form.

His character is assessed as V/G - Very Good on each return.

Moving to columns labelled A B C

A is his proficiency as individual trade - Sat is Satisfactory, Supr is Superior

B is his proficiency as supervisor of others in trade - Sat - remember I said Cpl and Sgt were typically ranks for supervisor of others in trade - ties in with his Temporary Cpl rank for 31 dec 1943

Although he rapidly regained T/Cpl in WOM trade it was still a bit too early to access his supervision so only A was returned in 1944.

To complete the story - if he was supervising other trades eg F/Sgt or W/O rank his assessment for this would have been entered into column C

Coming together now?
Ross

 

One thing to consider about his political views - he did voluntary sign up for Army and RAF combat arms before both outbreak of war and before conscription.

Ross

 

Aircraftman 2nd Class. Aircraftman 1st Class and Leading Aircraftman are classifications that were not trade specific they were recognition of the ability to have particular RAF general conduct/authority and leadership skills.

All AC1 were the same standing throughout the RAF.

Fortnightly Pay was built up of components eg Trade Group + classification/rank + war service increment (WSI - usually shown on front page with effective date if due) + Good Conduct etc

Ross

 

If you are happy to do so then post up the section on postings and I'll go through that.

Always pleased at how much the sections other than posting can reveal for a record, you just need a bit of background info to unlock it.

Ross

 

Sorry, there's been a huge police and paramedic presence metres from my property with air ambulance too. I'm back now.

 

So, generally satisfactory, with very good character. Ill take that. Yes, it's making sense.

 

Where is the section on postings?

 

Inside page to the left of mustering.

From lefthand edge Dep Cas Form to Occ M Qtrs column

Should be where you say 206 Group

Ross

edit - yup thats it

 

Can you read it ok? Why so much general hospital? I'm confused about this section.

 

Nice busy record - I'll do this in lumps

First a bit of background - RAF used a Form 747 Casualty Form (Personnel Occurrence Report POR)from units to report any change of individual personnel circumstances. Records Section got routine copies of these and used it to update the master service file they held.

This is a mock up from the 1942 Admin Manual


This is what is referred to as Dep Cas Form and Cas Form confirming arrival on the sheet for the early part of record and POR on the later.

the admin ref recorded is in the format of sequential number issued/year each year the sequence reset to 1 and each unit operated their own records of signals/document logs that generated the sequence number. So 14/41 means the 14th POR sent by that unit in 1941.

The service record was a mass of individual documents and called collectively Form 280
Form 280 - Certificate of Service, Airman

After the airman/airwoman became non-effective the contents were culled gradually - according to the preset parliament destruction process - until only the ledger wrapper was retained - Form 543 which nowadays is called the Service Record.

Parts of the background documents for units was preserved at the TNA but not all the daily admin correspondence.

Ross

 

Sure.....

 

Entered the RAF into No.2 RAF Depot July 1939
No.2 Depot to Cardington undated
Cardington to No.4 Wing, No.2 Electrical and Wireless School 14/9/39 Reason H

Single names such as Cardington are short hand for Royal Air Force Station Cardington and denote a posting to that formation rather than to a specific formation lodged at that location

No location is shown for units - as this was duplication of effort to show - elsewhere in the RAF Records Registry they had Record Books that showed where each unit was and when. So all that was necessary of F543 to show was date posted in and out - the unit could change location while he was there but that would usually be shown elsewhere and duplication on F543 not needed.

So No.2 Depot record from the Registry was preserved and can be found at TNA - this gives location, tasking, anything else of note (type of contents vary but naming of individuals is rare - more an admin record of number of bods in/out).

2 RAF Depot. Formed at Henlow (UK) in July 1937. Moved to Cardington (UK) in September... | The National Archives

This fills out that he initially was at RAF Henlow then moved to RAF Cardington along with the unit.

No.2 Electrical and Wireless School was located at RAF Yatesbury - mainly involved with training aircraft WOp but as the training schemes of the RAF changed from peace to war footing this unit was also doing ground operators at RAF Compton Basset

ROYAL AIR FORCE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (Code B, 69): No.2 Electrical and Wireless School,... | The National Archives

No 2 Radio School RAF Yatesbury 1941 | WW2Talk

At this point he had be officially signed up to RAF service and was allocated to the RAF Home Force eg UK as denoted by Reason H

No.2 Wing was a section within No.2 E&W School for a whole intake - think of it as like one of Hogwarts Houses.

At end of training he passed out from No.2 E&W School as a trade trained WOp 4/May 1940 and was posted to No.7 Squadron as Reason HH

Squadron Number: 7 Summary of Events: Y | The National Archives
This Form 540 summary of events forms the unit ORB and can be downloaded for free from TNAusing the account you signed up for.

Again unlikely to mention him by name but this will tell you complete details of what he was experiencing and the unit tasking - his posting reason was HH which is Headquarters Holding so he was not posted to squadron strength more to a manpower reserve for RAF Home Force. The unit would be responsible for paying/training/equipment etc and in return could use him as WOp to cover establishment leave/sickness etc.

Only there for 26 days them posted to No.10 Operational Training Unit
10 Operational Training Unit, based at Abingdon, with satellite at Stanton Harcourt and... | The National Archives

Similar ORB available at TNA but not digitised yet so needs a visit to TNA to read.

16th Nov 1940 a file note of paper transfer to RAF Middle East. Note this is when his paperwork moved he moved to a different pace.



Ross

 

This is so incredibly helpful, interesting and useful. I am taking it in.

 

I'm currently transcribing it from top to bottom, onto a word doc.