richjh
Lance Corporal
Posts: 10 
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Post by richjh on Aug 12, 2015 2:16:27 GMT
I requested my fathers WW2 record from the RAF. They arrived and in the cover letter they apologized for the bad shape they were in. I am really proud of my dad for his war effort. He was a mechanic that kept the Spitfires airborne. Even though not on the front line he paid a very pivotal role. I have his record scanned and I can use everyones help figuring out what the heck this record shows. Any help will be greatly appreciated.  
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Post by shred on Aug 13, 2015 20:05:12 GMT
Hi rich,
As I had previously stated I do not have any experience of reading RAF records and you may get better information from the forum that I linked to.
All I can make out is that your father Joined the Reserve (Padgate) on the 22/2/1941. It looks like he was stationed at Kirknewton during 1942. Something about Loughborough (I think it says he was admitted for medical attention) and was then discharged on the 05/3/1943. He must have overcome his illness/injury/wounds as he is back with the force in 1945 at Stapleford Tawney and was given his final discharge on the 13/08/1946.
His ranks are as follows:
AC2: Aircraftman Second Class
AC1: Aircraftman First Class
LAC: Leading Aircraftman
T/Cpl: Temporary Corporal
He held special qualifications on De Havillands, Pegasus XVIII engines and some others that I am struggling to read.
Please try and post the information on the WW2talk forum and see is they agree or can add anything to my interpretation of the record.
Good luck.
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Post by prospectroad on Aug 14, 2015 18:04:55 GMT
Garry/Rich, I think the discharged 05/03/43 means discharged from hospital, not from the service.
Cheers
Pete
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Post by shred on Aug 14, 2015 19:58:04 GMT
Garry/Rich, I think the discharged 05/03/43 means discharged from hospital, not from the service. Cheers Pete Pete, After looking again I agree. |
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richjh
Lance Corporal
Posts: 10
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Post by richjh on Aug 14, 2015 20:06:32 GMT
 Going through my box of pictures I found this picture of my dad working on the propeller. What a gem of a picture. Can anyone make out the make of plane he is working on? Was it a Hawker Hurricane or a Spitfire? All that shows is the front end, hopefully it can be determined from the picture. I didn't think about it much about it but I imagine a specialist in propellers would have been needed and dad was one of them. He never talked much about the war. He just mentioned meeting my mother in London so I thought the RAF base would probably be close by. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped or is helping read my dad's severe record. Hand written and for the most part very illegible. I am looking to assemble a shadow box with the insignia of the squadron he was assigned to. Can anyone make that out? Hi rich, As I had previously stated I do not have any experience of reading RAF records and you may get better information from the forum that I linked to. All I can make out is that your father Joined the Reserve (Padgate) on the 22/2/1941. It looks like he was stationed at Kirknewton during 1942. Something about Loughborough (I think it says he was admitted for medical attention) and was then discharged on the 05/3/1943. He must have overcome his illness/injury/wounds as he is back with the force in 1945 at Stapleford Tawney and was given his final discharge on the 13/08/1946. His ranks are as follows: AC2: Aircraftman Second Class AC1: Aircraftman First Class LAC: Leading Aircraftman T/Cpl: Temporary Corporal He held special qualifications on De Havillands, Pegasus XVIII engines and some others that I am struggling to read. Please try and post the information on the WW2talk forum and see is they agree or can add anything to my interpretation of the record. Good luck. |
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richjh
Lance Corporal
Posts: 10
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Post by richjh on Aug 14, 2015 20:41:22 GMT
I want to thank everyone for their reply about my father. I just wish that I had taken the time to get additional information. He passed at 98. He always said he felt like a young man trapped in an old body.
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Post by shred on Aug 15, 2015 10:59:23 GMT
Using the gun as the main reference point I would guess that the plane your father is working on is a Spitfire. A few more points on your father's service record. RC = Recruits Centre (3 Recruit Centre, Padgate 1939 Apr.-1950 Feb) linkLTTB = Local Trade Test Board (he scored 80%) 15(P)AFU see Ramsbury AirfieldUnder the "reason" column H = Home F = Field X = Training/Qualifications - A total guess on my part, but the "X"s do seem to correspond with his special qualifications. I cannot make any attachments to a particular squadron, apart from the 15 (Pilots) Advanced Training Unit, he may have always worked maintaining aircraft for training squadrons. |
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richjh
Lance Corporal
Posts: 10
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Post by richjh on Aug 15, 2015 23:28:40 GMT
Thank you so much for all the information you have provided it means so much to me. It's like I am on a quest trying to figure out his record. Again thank you so much,
Rich
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richjh
Lance Corporal
Posts: 10
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Post by richjh on Aug 16, 2015 1:00:13 GMT
again, thank you so much,
Rich
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