RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Lydart on Sunday 01 April 12 09:01 BST (UK)
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These were my late father in laws.
Can someone please 'read' them and tell me what you can about them ?
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There is also a khaki jacket ........
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Flight Lieutenant, not a flyer, sometime in the desert (probably North Africa) no medal ribbons - a bit odd for someone serving in WWII. The hat looks little used.
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He was working for the USAF in WW2 as a met officer; then was posted in Aden in the 1960's, we think attached to the RAF .... he didn't fly !!
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So is this uniform consistent with someone working as a top met officer in WW2 and later in Aden with the British forces ? And if he was a civilian, why give him the uniform ??
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His cap badge has the King's Crown, so predates the 60s.
As an officer in the RAF his name should be in the London Gazette. Usually starting with when he was commissioned and with which branch.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search
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I forgot to mention that here are two chaps whose expertise is the Met service of the RAF over on rafcommands. Would be worth asking them, if you supply a name (Lyffe and Resmoroh:
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/index.php
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The top pic is a WW2 (well pre1947) tunic...It has x4 brass buttons...These changed to x3 and a plain one apres this date...
The bottom one looks more like a 60s one to me...More of a poly/cotton mix to the cloth.
The titfer has the wider brim of the wartime issue/purchase
It was (is sometimes even today!) unknown for old kit to be worn at later dates...Most "old and bold" in the army wear a 1958ptn belt...I wear a 1944ptn, just to be awkward!
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Thank you Scrimnet ! I was hoping you'd appear !
So I think we can say the cap and blue jacket are what he was issued with in WW2 when he was stationed in Bermuda and working for the Americans (we think); the khaki jacket probably then dates to his posting in Aden.
One last question .... why was a civilian met office, working with the RAF, given a uniform ? Was that usual for civilians ?
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Its probably more likely that he was on the reserve and "reactivated"
And of course...If you want a good home for them where they will be used as educational tools for younger (and not so younger) generations..... ;D lol
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Thanks .... but my grandson is taking them to school and then they will stay in the family ! Heirlooms, you know !
Thank you for your help. Much appreciated.
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Best place for them...BUT...ensure that they are kept in moth free suit covers and be very wary of them in a school....
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Hi Lydart I have just seen your post on the WWII site . I don't have great deal of time to come on RC these day I'm very busy working. I do pop on now and then just to see how you all are. Now about the post . I was intersted to see you Father in Laws uniform . It was not unusual to have met officer in uniform . Like Scrimnet said he was probably voluntary reserve. That said he would have had a VS badge on his lapel. My father was in the Air Force he flew in the war, left the RAF then joined again in the late 50's this time he went into Air Traffic Control. The ATC worked very closely with the met office . My Father's first posting was to Mildenhall in Suffolk At the time an American Air Force Base . And then in the early 60's , guess what he went to Aden. Now the big question , did my father know your father in law. Sadly my father has passed on so we will probably never know . Wouldn't it be nice to think that they did. All the best BN.
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Quite possible BN ! But as you say, we'll never know ! F-in-L was there I think from 1962 or 3 until about 1967. Living at Steamer Point in the quarded officers compound.