I spent the other day going through all my early pictures of my mother circa 1940 when I looked on the back of the picture and it had nothing to do with my mother but for some reason my father scribbled early RAF postings and officers. The writing is in cursive and hard to read but his early Squadron Commander appears to be Flight Lieutenant Eldridge MC. His chief instructor was W.O. Carragher and that is just half the page. The other officers I am having a tough time with the spelling. I am hoping that once again members of this group can help and see if it's possible to determine the base where my father was posted and any information on his training officers. I want the thank everyone in this group who helped me decipher my fathers RAF service record. Hopefully you can help me figure out his early postings. This was really quite the find. Who would ever figure that this wealth of information would have ever been found on the back of one of my mothers pictures. Rich
I would suspect the MC was Military Cross, not his initials. There was a Captain Horace Malcolm Eldridge, MC who became a F/Lt 1 September 1939. Service number was 75257. The Squadron Leader Read, MM could be Arthur Henry Read, MM http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?auction_id=196&lot_id=99079 The Group Captain is undoubtedly Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall, VC MC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Insall Regards, Dave
Dave, I have only had this posted for less than 1 hour and you have already posted your reply. Thank you so much. Who would ever guess that my dad would scribble this information on the back of a very early picture of my mother. Rich
Dave, My father Samuel Hagan was a very private person who never really talked about the war that much. You have helped me with my understanding who he served with during WW2. He always had a picture of him hung on the wall of him sitting on the wing of a Spitfire along with his crew, a picture of him working on a VP propeller and a picture of the Squadron 129 insignia. I now understand why it was called Mysore with the government of India giving millions to support the war effort. My father spent from the entire war era from 1939 to 1946 with the RAF working as a Spitfire mechanic supporting the men that you are referring to. His specialized in engines such as the Merlin 60, Pegasus XVIII, Sabre and more. He also had specialized training in the de Havilland V.P. (Variable Pitch) propellers. Who would have that a few lines of scribbled writing on the back of a early picture of my mother would have this crucial information about who he served with. Thanks for giving me this information helping to unlock a bit more about my fathers past, Rich
Dave, If my father served under men like you suggested do you know the location of my father in WW2? Rich
Rich, About all I can add is that G/C Insall commanded RAF Uxbridge: http://www.xisquadronassociation.co.uk/feature/install/install_story.html Did your dad happen to enlist there, either September 1939 or May to November 1940? Regards, Dave
Rich Why not apply for his service record which should tell you where he served - link - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#how-to-apply-for-service-personnel-records TD
TD, I did apply for my father's service record. He was in the RAF from 1940 to 1946. His Service Record was just as bad as the scribbled piece of paper. He was a Spitfire mechanic supporting the men that you are referring to. His specialized in engines such as the Merlin 60, Pegasus XVIII, Sabre and more. He also had specialized training in the de Havilland V.P. (Variable Pitch) propellers. He was trained as Fitter, Mechanical, Engines at No.2 School of Technical Training. Received score of 80% qualified as Lead Aircraftman I am very proud of my father and what he did during the war. All of the questions I am asking I should have asked while he was living. Now I hunt through scraps of papers. The photo of him sitting on the wing of a Spitfire was my start and the writing on the back of my mother's picture gives me a glimpse into my father's history. It was only luck that I turned over the picture of my mother and found the info about his squadron. His service record is in such bad shape. Do you have an idea what Squadron he was in based the information on the back of this paper? I thank you and Dave for helping me better understand his history. I can't thank you enough. I believe I have been able to piece together just about everyone of my father's list. Could you give it a once over and let me know if everything looks correct. The last spelling I can't figure if it's Sarfleet or Darfleet. Any ideas? Rich Squadron Commander Captain Horace Malcolm Eldridge, MC who became a F/Lt 1 September 1939. Service number was 75257. Chief Instructor Warrant Officer Carragher O.C. Squad Leader Arthur Henry Read, MM Commanding Officer of Station Group Captain Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall VC MC (14 May 1894 – 17 February 1972) Squadron Office Warrant Officer Harfleet or Darfleet <script src="safari-extension://com.ebay.safari.myebaymanager-QYHMMGCMJR/6542c276/background/helpers/prefilterHelper.js" type="text/javascript"> </script>
Hi Rich It still may be worth posting his service records on here someone may be able to decipher them - if not all then perhaps part to help your search. TD
He did People did http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/58686-raf-ww2-record-of-my-father/ http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/59175-help-in-figuring-out-my-fathers-raf-qualifications/ Ross
As Ross mentioned I did attach my father's service record in an earlier post. Ross, David and Kevin Battle helped me deciphering a lot of the information on his service record when I first got his service record. Record keeping back then was hand written and very sloppy. A big thanks to Dave and TD on this information. This is a written list of his Officer’s and Warrant Officer’s. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks to Dave, TD, Ross for helping me with his record. Squadron Commander Captain Horace Malcolm Eldridge, MC who became a F/Lt 1 September 1939. Service number was 75257. Chief Instructor Warrant Officer Carragher O.C. Squad Leader Arthur Henry Read, MM Commanding Officer of Station Group Captain Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall VC MC (14 May 1894 – 17 February 1972) Squadron Officer Warrant Officer Harfleet or Darfleet
Based on the above information and that my father told me he was outside of London what base and what squadron do you think my father was assigned to? Rich
My father would talk about the evacuation on Dunkirk and watching thousands of boats heading over to evacuate our soldiers. If my dad was able to see these vessels where would my father have been stationed? Rich
I am not an RAF airfield person but I would guess he would need to be somewhere within 20 miles either side of Dover. Check out what wartime airfields were around there in 1940. Or add the tags 'RAF' and 'Kent' to your title to draw in those that are more knowledgeable than I on such matters. TD
Based on my father's Squadron commander being Captain Horace Eldridge MC who became a F/Lt1 on September 1939 would one guess where my father was located at this time? As you can see from his service record they weren't kept in the best of shape at this time. He also mentioned that my father's Group Captain was Gilbert Martin Insall VC MC. These were some pretty well known people. Someone would most certainly know where my father was during the 1939/40? Rich
Not in the RAF. Look at the clear service record that you have requested comment on both here and from RAF Museum He did not enlist until 1941 Ross
