James McCarthy RAF 2721 D sqdn WW2 Italy

[Alexj]

Hi
I am now researching the military background of my wife's late father James McCarthy. He served in RAF 2721 D sqdn WW2 in North Africa and Italy. He was injured somewhere near Rome / Naples. After hospital he appeared to be working with the Medical corp probably on light duties.
I have obtained his service records, surprisingly quick only took 6 weeks. it states he was attached to the:
(AIR 29/485) No. 38 Personnel Transit Centre, C.M.F. 1945 - to early 1946

Has anyone any information on this PTC and what does CMF mean ?

Or any pointers for me to further research would be very useful

Many thanks

Regards

John         

[MaxD]

CMF is Central Mediterranean Force - the overall title for the Allied Forces in Italy after the invasion of 1943.

38 PTC was one of about a dozen PTCs in Italy whose role was the holding and processing of reinforcements, training, rest camps, and managing personnel in transit on leave, back to UK, off to other postings and the like.  People usually spent only a short time in a PTC but the units required a staff to run them who would spend longer there.  38 PTC moved a lot, can you give the start/finish dates?

Is the unit you quote 2721 Field Squadron and was he with them throughout apart from the PTC?


MaxD

[MaxD]

Before recommending fuirther research best to know which unit he was with and when although as a starter and assuming the unit was 2721 Field Squadron, this would be of interest:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159229

MaxD

[Alexj]

Many thanks MaxD

Yes definite 2721 Field (D) Sqdn from Aug 1941 according to his file. Shows Kenley from June 1942. He went through North Africa with the unit and the link to the NA was excellent. MY wife says the places names and dates Hussein Day 23 November 1942; moved to Maison Blanche 8 December 1942; moved to Serif 11 January 1943; moved to Cap Serrat 4 February 1943; moved to Setif 5 March 1943  all tie in with a handwritten note my wife's mother completed years ago when her husband was talking about the war.

Service record very vague through 1943 just says M East 2721 Sqdn

He was injured in May 1944 and hospitalised then according to the service record was allocated to the following units :
56 PTC, 3ACCS, 1 Field hygiene section,3 GSTS, 1 RAF BH,38 PTC,HQ239 Wing

Demobbed April 1946

Thanks again

John

[MaxD]

I can't identify 3ACCS:**, 3 GSTS or 1 RAF BH***- others may know?  Worth double checking that you have transcribed what is written on the record?

Personal message sent.

MaxD

**Could this be 37 Casualty Clearing Station which was in Italy?
***Could this be 1 RAF G(for General) Hospital which was also Italy?

[Alexj]

MaxD

Could this be 1 RAF G(for General) Hospital which was also Italy?

I think you are correct had a look at the entry with a magnifying glass i think it is bad handwriting

Many thanks for that

John

[Alexj]

When we received my wife's fathers service records we received 11 sheets of common RAF abbreviations and my wife found GSTS is in there. General Service Training School.

So could that be the 3 GSTS

My wife said after he was injured and recuperating he told her he did work a lot with the medical side and doctors. So the 1 RAF GH , General Hospital does tie in. 

But would they have a General Service Training School in Italy ??

The 3 GSTS entry on his record was before the 1 RAF GH so could he have received some training to work in the Hospital ??

Regards

John

[MaxD]

3 General Service Training School has a ops book:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4100858 - looks like a short lived outfit.  He may have been on the support staff rather than as a student.

I also don't find a 3ACCS anywhere - is the entry definitely as you have transcribed it?  If the entry  comes at the start of the injury/hospitalisation then I would suggest it is one of the CCS's in Italy, I have seen reference to more than one including two Canadian CCS's.

MaxD

[Alexj]

The 3 General Service Training School has a ops book:

What a great find and again ties in well with some information we had from my wife's father.

RAF Instruction Unit: 3 General Service Training School, Gragnano, and 3 Air Observers School, Sulmona; formed December 1944 and moved to Rome October 1945. Being on the support staff does fit in as he was "close" to an Italian girl from Sulmona who he kept in contact with after the war. Sadly they drifted apart but we found lots of photographs and messages she sent him during the latter part of the war and after his return to England. He kept all the photos and messages her name was Marta.
I would post a  photograph of her but not sure if that is allowed.

Many thanks for all your work MaxD it is really appreciated

Regards

John