RootsChat.Com

Agree - nothing jumps out as posted or attached to a BAFO formation.

Looks like you have the timeline correctly deduced.

1947 discharge also means no indirect connection between Transport Command and Berlin Little Lift in 1948.

1946 Posting to RAF Linton-on-Ouse means you can also rule out any attachment to BAFO for Cooks Tours or returning PoW as these had finished by 1946.

Just one thing " There is re-mustering to locations in Europe." Re-mustering relates to trade change not location change. I could not see any suggestion of Europe locations in your notes.

Ross



 

Air Ministry Experimental Station Kilkeel

RAF Kilkeel Northern Ireland - No.79 (Signals) Wing Administered Chain Home Station

See this for descriptions, map location - for the other NI locations he was posted to as well.

https://frontlineulster.co.uk/radar-in-northern-ireland-1939-1945/

also Observer Corps layout

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_ep=kilkeel&_cr=air&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv

Ross

These work best when related to dates of postings.

However

Promotions, reclassifications etc
(Note - Classifications are AC2, AC1, LAC rising in pay and authority/standing then moving to Rank - Cpl, Sgt, F/Sgt and W/O. This is the normal understood split of Other Ranks seniority but Regulations use Rank and Classification as blanket for both)

So on entry and on the understanding of being able to pass initial trade test given classification of AC2

Reclassification to AC1 is by minimum time (6 months as AC2 and both trade test and education standard met for AC1) - he remuster examined for trade Radar Mechanic on 5/12/41 and passed (listed in Special Qualification and Mustering.

Reclassification to LAC is mostly gained skills but also OC recommendation along with vacancy in numbers of LAC on strength of unit.

He jumps Cpl rank and is Temporary Sgt - eg trialled to see if effective in rank can be with or without pay.

Although Promotions does not record when he was made full Sgt it was between 31/12/43 and 31/12/44.

In character and proficiency columns
Usually done on major trade change and 31st Dec each year.

31/12/41 - reclassification to AC1 not fully filtered down to unit so listed as AC2
31/12/42 - LAC review not copied over by records clerk
31/12/43 - Temp/Sgt review now not just on own character but also proficiency in trade supervision of others
31/12/44 - Full Sgt
31/12/45 - Full Sgt

On entry trade given was ACH/GD u/t Wireless Mechanic  - bit of a probationary pigeon hole as Aircrafthand General duties for pay until a few weeks into the system and pay on trade/classification kicks in.

Mustering as noted before but with change of trade name post war from Radar Mechanic to Radar Fitter (trade group II) - an admin restructuring of trade names rather than a skill change for the man.

Ross

Oh - he did serve outside the UK

Disembarked Continent was when No.307 MSSU moved to Europe from Home Force.

France and followed advance after breakout with No.2 TAF No.83 Group

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159576

Ross

Thought we had crossed paths before - nice to continue.

Between the wars Fighter Command in particular was leading the way in examining ways to maximise their force.

Treasury budget decreased and the cost of the more modern monoplane fighters was increasing as well as complexity reducing the flying hours between servicing.

Dowding was one of the rare staff officers that had a technical background that gave an understanding of equipment capability both current and projected.

To lessen the impact of reducing fighter aircraft numbers and decreasing availability due to servicing requirements he led the way in using RDF/RADAR to virtually eliminate need for standing patrols and vector his fighter force to where needed.

This step in diverting Fighter Command spending into ground equipment and systems RDF/Filter Rooms/Operations Rooms/Movement Control/Observer Corps rather than airframes was a force multiplier.

As a result there was an extensive equipment system that needed skilled technical support at the start of the war eg RDF and Chain Home. As war progressed the fixed installations grew in scope Chain Home not just east/south coast but all round UK and capability increased with addition of Chain Home Low and Extra Low stations.

Again the number of servicing staff trained was low so constant movement to where needed at the moment was the answer.

Once the RAF restarted expeditionary warfare then transportable versions of the fixed installations and support/operations rooms were needed attached to local combined arms formations.

Todays buzz words of flexibile agile etc all started to the technical RAF of the Dowding era.

Ross