Harvard AJ841

Martin

Might field 8 on that form say Series 3 ?

For an aircraft that went to the M.E. you may find no unit details on the AM.78. The RAFM explain this as follows:

“Aircraft Movement Cards
Air Ministry Form 78 was used to record the allocation of an aircraft to units, and the dates on which damage was sustained and repaired. The surviving cards date from about 1930, and are held by the Ministry of Defence Air Historical Branch, but the RAF Museum holds copies on microfilm.

Whilst most of the cards are quite informative, those for aircraft sent to the Middle and Far East theatres during the Second World War are not: the majority of these simply record the aircraft’s arrival at its destination and make no mention of its subsequent fate. It is thought that similar records were kept by overseas commands, but these appear not to have survived.

The movement cards usually do not include aircraft operated by the Royal Navy.”

Tim

I think someone here has said that SOC dates were somtimes just a bit of admin, and that the aircraft could have been dumped a while before, this might not be the case post-war though – unit F540 might help

Wiki says:

No. 74 Operational Training Unit RAF
No. 74 OTU was formed in October 1941 at RAF Aqir for army co-operation training and to teach tactical reconnaissance skills in the desert, using the Hawker Hurricane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_Operational_Training_Units

Taken from RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912 by Ray Sturtivant, Air Britain.

Also I shall post this but, as with the above, shall assume you’ve already seen it already:

154 Squadron RAF
The squadron reformed in November 1941 at RAF Fowlmere as a fighter squadron equipped with Spitfire IIAs. It was briefly located in the south west of England then based at RAF Hornchurch. In November 1942 it moved to Gibraltar and Algeria to take part in Operation Torch. On 4 June 1943 it arrived in Malta, it then operated from Palestine and Cyprus. From 23 August 1944 it was based at Fréjus, France providing air cover for the forces that moved north to join those that had landed at Normandy. It was disbanded in Naples on 1 November 1944 but reformed on 16 November 1944 at RAF Biggin Hill to escort bombers and flew Mustangs until it was finally disbanded on 31 March 1945.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._154_Squadron_RAF

It also lists that it was Spitfires (IIa, IIb, Va, Vb, Vc, IX, VIII, VII, in that order) until the Mustang IVs came along in Feb 1945. Presumably your Harvard served with them whilst they were in the Middle East.

and here is the record card…..does anyone know what it says or means after the Struck off date? And proof of no mention of the Units Served with. Would there be any information on the back of the card?

Many thanks,

Martin

I have today received the aircraft movements card from the RAF Museum and it states when it was delivered to the Middle East and on which ship, but no mention of the details of the units it served with. What I found before was in the Air Britain Harvard File and their serials publication covering the AJ prefix. Both of these stated 74OTU and 154 Squadron. I presume I have to obtain proof of the units, from another source?

Best wishes,

Martin