Tattoo help? (British Air Force)

[Michael J]

The date each side of the sword at the bottom appears to be 1942.

If this is so, the words at the top may be "RAF Torch" relating to Operation Torch in North Africa that year.

Michael.

[Ruskie]

Is there a word on the banner too?

Hopefully Alana will return soon to enlighten us.

He may have been in Air-Sea Rescue or in a Maintenance Unit ( MU ). Or something unusual perhaps?

The OP is not asking for guesses as to her grandfather's service. If she wants to know about his service she can apply for his service record! 

[ScouseBoy]

Hi all,
I'm not sure if this is the right place to be posting this, so I can delete if needed.
My grandfather got this tattoo while he was in the airforce (WW2), and we are trying to figure out whether there were any references to the airforce in it. If anyone could help it would be much appreciated. 

Looking at the different components  comprising  the tattoo, I would venture the opinion that he may have been on special Anti submarine operations

[Ruskie]

Hi all,
I'm not sure if this is the right place to be posting this, so I can delete if needed.
My grandfather got this tattoo while he was in the airforce (WW2), and we are trying to figure out whether there were any references to the airforce in it. If anyone could help it would be much appreciated. 

Looking at the different components  comprising  the tattoo, I would venture the opinion that he may have been on special Anti submarine operations

Can you please elaborate about which components of the tattoo lead you to believe that?
Earlier you suggested he was air sea rescue or MU .... I am confused. Which is it? 

[John915]

Good evening,

I see nothing to suggest anti submarine, air sea rescue or maintenance on the tattoo.

The poster asked if there was any RAF related components to the tattoo and not what he may have done in the RAF.

John915

[Alana81]

Wow! I was surprised to log in and see so many responses. Thank you so much for your extremely helpful info.

This is the clearest I that we could scan the picture. This is actually enhanced quite a bit using photoshop, as in every other photo it is much harder to see.

We aren't sure what the writing says and that is, I guess, what we are trying to decipher. I now agree that it probably says RAF on the left hand side at the top. What i know is that he was an airman who was employed on the repair and maintenance of aircraft armament equipment. He was in India for a few years and was awarded a Burma Star.

He didn't really talk about it much. He actually told us grandkids that it was an anchor (it was faded enough by then that we believed it!).

[Ruskie]

Is it too much to hope that there are family members who may know more about it? Does the tattoo appear in any other photos of him (even partially, or from a different angle).

Do you have, or would you consider purchasing his service record? That would tell you if Michael J's suggestion is on the money. 

[John915]

Good morning,

Only two RAF bases out there with short names that would fit. RAF Peru Pegu in Burma and RAF Agra in India. There are a couple with 5 letters but I don't think they fit the tattoo.

Of course, he may not have had it done out there but here in the UK.

John915

[ScouseBoy]

Good evening,

I see nothing to suggest anti submarine, air sea rescue or maintenance on the tattoo.

The poster asked if there was any RAF related components to the tattoo and not what he may have done in the RAF.

John915

    Surely, one can expect  that the two things are likely  to be linked to each other?