Mystery photo in need of a better look!

[PrueM]

I think some of our questions could be answered by getting high res scans of certain bits of the photo, such as the book (probably a ledger book if it's from the stores), the medal ribbons, cap badges etc.

For now, I've been looking at the chap front and centre, and whilst I am in no way an expert in these things, is he wearing a ribbon for the Air Force Cross?  It has diagonal red and white stripes.  Have attached small clip from the photo, to illustrate (hopefully!)

Prue

[Rabbit B]

Well folks,

My eyes are not as good as yours, but I still think that a couple of these men are of Russian/Polish/Ukraine appearance.  I wish we could get a blow up of the badges, they look different to me!

I still think that the RAF would be glad to see this or perhaps the Imperial War Museum, how about them!

Prue my OH says that it is a DFC.

Rabbit B  

[PaulaToo]

Imp. War Mus. most certainly, Rabbit.

People are so nice and helpful, I found that with the V&A and Portsmouth Naval Mus. when I sent them my mystery sailor.

[scrimnet]

Well, not that I can see much but i reckon the first one is an MC...

The DFC was instituted in June 1918 the same as for the AFC...The only difference is in the colour of the stripes...Blue for DFC and red for AFC...

The others are too indistinct...These are in order of precedence, and the marks are distinct, so fairly easy to ID...

[Rabbit B]

Hi Scrimnet,

I know, I looked that up this morning, but as this is a Sepia/B/W picture so I cannot see the colours. 

That's what OH did for a living, newpaper pictures, so  I am not going to argue with him.  He was looking at the stripes on the medal ribbon.  His own medal ribbon matches the one on his medal.

I only know what I looked up, I have not been in the services whereas he has.  One of you is right no doubting that!

The only way to find out for certain, is to consult the Imperial War museum or the RAF

Rabbit B   

[scrimnet]

Hi Scrimnet,

I know, I looked that up this morning, but as this is a Sepia/B/W picture so I cannot see the colours. 

That's what OH did for a living, newpaper pictures, so  I am not going to argue with him.  He was looking at the stripes on the medal ribbon.  His own medal ribbon matches the one on his medal.

I only know what I looked up, I have not been in the services whereas he has.  One of you is right no doubting that!

The only way to find out for certain, is to consult the Imperial War museum or the RAF

Rabbit B   

His own medal?

oooh err....

Something you should tell us??? 

[Flakdodger]

Looks like I left Scrimnet fighting a rearguard action yesterday evening. (Steady The Buffs).
WW2 No
Faroes Gap No
Gentleman of colour No No
(Sounds like a re-run of Margaret Thatcher at the dispatch box).
Things are bubbling nicely on the RAF Commands forum and I thought I should back.
Well done Gobbo - loads of house points....
The instrument by the CO's legs is identified as a Finemann nephoscope, used for determining wind speeds from cloud movement.
The white objects are slide rules used to calculate upper wind speeds from balloons followed by theodolite.
The two chaps with headphones are thought to be the wireless telegraphy (W/T) operators who received data in those far off days before teleprinters.
No doubt the book is the unit's data ledger.
A tentative ident has been suggested for the CO (those medal ribbons are distinctive) and efforts are underway to contact living family to see if they can eyeball their relative.
Watch this space!
Cheers
Dave

[scrimnet]

Buffs sir?

No sir!!!

Steelback sir!!!





(Well Poacher and now Grey Mafia...)


So my balloon bit was a good educated guess then eh??  Bonus!   

[jc26red]

A tentative ident has been suggested for the CO (those medal ribbons are distinctive) and efforts are underway to contact living family to see if they can eyeball their relative.

fingers crossed!

I'm not making any comments as I'm well out of my depth on this one