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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: shelagh67 on Sunday 01 March 20 12:59 GMT (UK)
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Hi
Just found this forum and wonder if anyone can help. My dad and his brother were both in the RAF, my uncle was in the India Bomber command the only clue I have to this information is a small Christmas greetings paper dated November 1943 he sent this to dad from were he was stationed, across the bottom in pencil the word APROLON has been added dose anyone know what this means
I have posted this same message on the forum but i think i posted in the wrong place
Thank you
S
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You can apply for their service records which might help you work out what he was up to:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel
There is a cost of £30 for each service record, but if either man is still living they can apply for their own records at no cost.
If they are deceased and you would like to give their names, someone may be able to help you.
I think there is some information on the National Archives website, though I find it difficult to use:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-air-force-personnel/#3-service-records
You said he sent the Christmas paper with the word Aprolon on from where he was stationed. Where was he stationed?
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There was a horse called "Duke of Aprolon".
Martin
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Hi
Thank you for replying so quickly my dad and his brother are both deceased and both were in the R.A.F but I think James still has living relatives so am shy to enter his name my dad was stationed in Methven Scotland at the time date 14 November 1943 the letter states sender name and address as R.A.F India Command, someone once told me the word APROLON could be some kind of code it seems to have been added after the letter was wrote
S
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There was a horse called "Duke of Aprolon".
Martin
Following up on Martin's post, the British Newspaper Archive shows many results for a racehorse named 'Aprolon' in the years 1943 - 1947
M
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:D
Hi
Well just had a good laugh to myself I never saw dad place a bet not a gambling man but it seems I was wrong the two of them must have had a sneaky bet, thank you for solving the mystery
Thank you
S
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is it clearly Apronol or could it be (RAF) Asansol, an RAF station in India?
MaxD
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Ref your uncle in Comber Command.
Wikipedia has an article which mentions the RAF station but it wasn't for Bomber command. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asansol_Airfield
However, Bomber Command and and the airfield is mentioned in this Document.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/Research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Bracknell-No-6-Far-East-Air-War.pdf
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If it is an Airgraph then yes it is a Code but in the general meaning of a word/abbreviation with clear meaning rather than a cypher designed to obscure understanding.
All Airgraph were written in clear script, up to 230 words on one or both sides and handed back not folded or creased in any way.
It was then photographed in minature by machine along with numerous other Airgraphs and the resulting strip film transported by air rather than the original letter. At destination the film was printed at about 1/4 size and put into envelope for delivery.
For the UK the destination was Army Postal Service, London
So Army Postal Receiving Office LONdon - APROLON
Not where he was stationed but who was handling the mail item. His service record is the only sure fire method to say where he was and when.
Ross
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Hi
It definitely says Aprolon there is a fade stamp on the note I can make out RAF 9HC/2 censorship I may try to get his war records and see if tells me if he was in India
S
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A model of clarity in matters light blue as usual Ross
MaxD
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Hi Ron
Thank you, so if the letter came from RAF India to RAF Scotland but it would first go to London for sorting is that right, I don’t have the envelop so I really don’t know I just have the small Christmas greetings letter that was inside, the word Aprolon written along the bottom, many years ago someone said “they thought it may be a code” but I am not sure I will try to get his war record and come back to the forum and let you know how I get on, and thank you everyone for your help. I can’t enter his name as he has living relatives so I may have trouble getting the records
Thank you all
S
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Hello
The other type of sending images used by the Air Ministry / RAF was by Microgram. I have scans of 4 images reporting a WW 2 air crash sent by microgram of a printed RAF Flying Accident Form with the details typed in by the Originator and that looks like 4 small reduced photographs or photographic prints in the Recipients file and only just readable, too.
Not sure if and how they differed from Airgraph?
Mark