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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: rafmike on Monday 17 March 08 19:19 GMT (UK)
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Hello all
I wonder if any one has any knowledge of Fighter Command squadrons of WWII and if so if they recognise any of the faces in the accompanying photo (part of) of a squadron assembled in front of a Hawker Hurricane.
Many thanks
Mike
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Hi,
It looks like you might have an American (possibly Canadian) in there, Sergeant who likes like he has a badge on the shoulder.
Regards,
Ann
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Hi,
The full pic might help. Is there any numbers and letters on the hurri?
I would try the researchers on Ross McNeill's RAF Commands board at:
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=127
Someone there might recognise a face.
Regards,
Ann
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This is Polish Fight.Squadron -probably No.302
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Hello Lukas and thanks for your reply.
Wow, was it really 6 years ago that I posted this question.
A lot of things have happened since then, and quite a few RAF research branches have I been along.
This photo was loaned to me by the son of a Bomber Command flight engineer who was part of a crew that I am interested in. I was told that the flight engineer is the man in the top left of the photo extract.
I had thought that the aircraft was a Hurricane and therefore that the FE had been on a fighter squadron. However, last year I applied for the service record of this man and it shows that he served at No.2 Air Gunners School, Dalcross (Inverness). This unit operated Bolton Paul Defiant aircraft - single-engined fighters with turrets - slightly larger than a Hurricane but from the front, could be confused.
So, I believe that the photo is of personnel of No.2 AGS; probably the permanent staff.
Also I think the aircraft is a Defiant.
The date is likely to be somewhere between September 1941 to October 1942.
Thanks and regards
Mike
I've attached a copy of the full photo.
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Wow Great Photo !
Yes now I see Defiant :)and few polish faces
Regards
Luky
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;)
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Hi Lukas
Can you help me to put names to any of the faces?
The reverse of the photo has many signatures on it but none of them Polish.
There are one or two Polish pilots who are named in the Dalcross Operations Record Book.
I have the pages from July 41 to May 42.
There were a lot of crashes during that time.
It was a risky business to do just the training - either as a student or an instructor.
Regards
Mike
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Can you post a scan of the back with the signatures? That may help with ascertaining time period, and possible histories of those pictured.
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the faces are familiar but I'm not sure yet
I have to check the documents and I'll let you know
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I'm not sure but probably the same course
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Thanks for the replies
With regards to your photo;
I'm not sure but probably the same course
Are you sure you have a 'course' there - I assume you mean training course.
Are they all Polish airmen? I see many nationality badges on shoulders.
I also see different ranks below sergeant (or its Polish equivalent).
By 1943, Sergeant would have been the lowest rank for an aircrewman in the RAF.
For the 'Dalcross/2 A.G.S.' photo; I do not believe that any of the men are students.
I suggest that they are the pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel.
My man Eaton was an airframes mechanic at Dalcross from Aug 41 to Oct 42.
Several of the men are wearing scarves and some of the officers are wearing heavy coats so maybe the time frame is from late autumn 41 to spring 42.
regards
Mike
Here is the reverse of the photo
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yes you're right
but I see some similar faces
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Mike
If you or a member of your family is on Facebook there are some great groups that you might want to post this on :)
Dee