Hi all, I’m wondering if anyone could tell me what the best way of finding out about my Grandfathers career in WWII.
I know that he was rear gunner on Wellingtons, Short Sterlings and Lancasters in 115ko Squadron, based I believe mainly at Witchford, but trained at Inverness.
He stayed on for 2 years after the war at Marham as a technician (after being part of the repatriation crews for Italy and then the Berlin airlifts).
I gathered that the records were kept at Innsworth, but have been moved.
Would appreciate any help I could get.
Thanks.
By: REIDYGIANT - 1st November 2009 at 14:59
Hi guys, The person that Resmoroh found unfortunately wasn’t my Grandad. Thanks for trying though.
It was in fact, what is now Inverness Airport where he was doing his training.
I’ll do some more digging on the Polish air incident.
By: Alan Clark - 28th October 2009 at 15:30
The OTUs in the Inverness area as Kev has said were No.19 & No.20, No.19 were equipped with Whitleys and No.20 with Wellingtons.
There were also other units in the area, such as No.2 Air Gunners School at Dalcross (now Inverness airport) and No.14 Flying Training School (until 1942).
An accident involving an aircraft striking a drogue would be more the type of accident I would expect from an AGS.
By: kev35 - 28th October 2009 at 10:28
A little bit about 115 Squadron and Witchford.
The Squadron was at Witchford from the 26th Nov 1943 until the 28th September 1945. For this entire period the Squadron was equipped with Lancasters. This means that unless your man had done a previous tour on either Wellingtons or Stirlings, I suspect that the Wellington part of his career was OTU and perhaps Stirlings was HCU?
The following HCU’s operated Stirlings.
1651 HCU, Waterbeach.
1653 HCU, Polebrook and Chedburgh.
1654 HCU, Swinderby.
1657 HCU, Stradishall.
1660 HCU, Swinderby.
1661 HCU, Skellingthorpe.
1663 HCU, Rufforth.
1665 HCU, Mepal.
Hope this helps you narrow things down.
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 27th October 2009 at 23:04
I think the mention of training at Inverness would point to 19 OTU at Forres and Kinloss, who were, I believe, equipped with Whitleys and Wellingtons (amongst others), or 20 OTU with Wellingtons at Lossiemouth.
Perhaps someone with knowledge of OTU losses may be able to pinpoint the Polish crew thereby giving a clue as to when your man was stationed there.
Regards,
kev35
By: REIDYGIANT - 27th October 2009 at 22:41
Reidygiant,
I have found a Ronald Alfred Webb. He may be (or not!) your man.
Enlisted in RAFVR (non-Officer number 653984) from civilian life in Mar 1938. Slight problem with his quoted birth date!! If true then he would only have been shaving twice a week!! He would have had to lie to the Recruiting Officer like the clock on a cheap Far Eastern microwave oven to be let in!!!
On 8 Feb 45 he was Commissioned (from Warrant Officer) as a Fg Off in the Admin & Spec Duties Branch.
On 16 Oct 47 he is granted a Commission as a Fg Off in the RAFVR(T).
You can follow his career in the London Gazette by searching for 56515.
HTH
Resmoroh
I’ll give it a go and let you know.
Many thanks for that! 🙂
By: Resmoroh - 26th October 2009 at 12:11
Reidygiant,
I have found a Ronald Alfred Webb. He may be (or not!) your man.
Enlisted in RAFVR (non-Officer number 653984) from civilian life in Mar 1938. Slight problem with his quoted birth date!! If true then he would only have been shaving twice a week!! He would have had to lie to the Recruiting Officer like the clock on a cheap Far Eastern microwave oven to be let in!!!
On 8 Feb 45 he was Commissioned (from Warrant Officer) as a Fg Off in the Admin & Spec Duties Branch.
On 16 Oct 47 he is granted a Commission as a Fg Off in the RAFVR(T).
You can follow his career in the London Gazette by searching for 56515.
HTH
Resmoroh
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October 25, 2009 at 1:54 pm