Royal Flying Corps.

[Tomdanpete]

Hi I'm still trying to trace my father-in-laws flying history.
I understand he joined in 1914 and was still serving in 1918 when the RAF was formed.
I do not know if he was flying or ground crew, most lists seem to list pilots only.
He did have Malaria so perhaps he did not serve in France but middle or far east, did the RFC serve out there.
His name was James Edward John or Edward James John born about 1898.
Any guide please.
Peter.

[De grijze]

Hi there ,
                      I've browsed the FreeBMD and I've found 2 James Edward John's ;
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

I hope this will helps you
Luc

[mmm45]

http://www.britishmedals.us/kevin/raf1918.html

try here

Ady

[forester]

There is a James John who looks like he was pre-war Pembroke Yeomanry, then Horse Transport ASC before being commissioned into RAF. His medals were to be issued by the Air Ministry.

Granted temporary commission into the RAF 28th Sept 1918.
London Gazette Issue 31054; Page 14485.

Address is Sunny Bank Farm, Stepaside, Pembroke, S Wales.

Your man may be a bit young for that lot and it seems to be a popular name in Pembroke, but you never know.

Phil

[jds1949]

The National archives at Kew has information on men who served in the RFC/RAF

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/royalflyingcorpsairmen.htm?WT.lp=rg-3148

Unfortunately these records are not available online - so it's either a personal visit or getting them or a private researcher to do the look-up

jds1949

[Tomdanpete]

Thanks for all the very helpful replies to my request, It looks as if a trip to Kew is on the cards.
He does seem very hard to track down.
Thanks again.
Peter.

[Tomdanpete]

Thanks to Phil re the London Gazette, do you need to subscribe to the site?, I got up the issue and page but could not find the information you quote.
Peter.

[forester]

Peter,

Sorry, I put the wrong date in. I've corrected my original post (it should be 28th Sept).

The London Gazette site is free to use. This is the main search page:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search

Be warned, the search engine is worse than the National Archives.

The entry you are looking for is just one line, near the bottom of the left hand column.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31054/pages/14485

......... to save you looking up the entry again.

Where I've probably confused you; the address and other information, was from the medal index card. (I actually found two).

Phil

[Tomdanpete]

Thanks Phil all sorted.Will follow this line and see if anything matches up.
Regards.
Peter.