Help with information on 362B2 squadron ww2

Hi Bazv,

Thank you so much for your response and the information.  I will look into his record further.

Kind regards,

Jilly

The lower pic probably Skegness but the upper picture possibly somewhere nearer Blackpool just by the photographers name.

Just looking at a list of RAF recruit training centres…

No 11 Recruit Centre

This was formed from  on 10 February 1941 at the Seacroft Hotel, Skegness

 

Hi Jilly

The top photo you posted is almost certainly taken during his training,it is a fairly typical recruit/training type picture.

Not sure about the lower pic.

Have you considered obtaining his service record from MOD ?

Because he died more than 25 years ago you should be able to get his complete service record,help deciphering the service record can be had either on here or if you register with the RAF Commands forum and ask in the ‘General Category’ forum – some very helpful and knowledgeable guys on there.

 http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/

I think you can apply online for his service record at….

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-…

kind regards baz

If mustard or any other chemical warfare agent had been used operationally by either side in WW2 it would have been a very big deal and would be widely known about now.

If any British serviceman was exposed to mustard agent in WW2 it must have been as the result of an accident.

There was some limited testing of mustard in very controlled circumstances on “volunteer” servicemen  in the USA during WW2. Maybe also in the UK?

Hi, I only have what I was told many years ago but remember it was something to do with his lungs/breathing, so am not sure of the actual nature of what caused the damage.  I would be glad to hear any news/details of my late uncle and his service if at all possible.  There may be others in the pictures who are of interest to their families.  

The surnames on the larger photo from rear left to right are: Key and Hawley, next row Drew, Gould, Turp, Barnes, Warner, Berry and front row left to right are: Watts, Spikins, Whitgift, Cpl Whitehead, Flt/Sgt Larbalenstier, Marsant, Thurston (which is actually my maiden family name, Berry married Eunice Thurston so not sure if the Thurston in the photo is actually a relative of mine, and Duncaston. 

The smaller photo rear left to right are: Sharpless, Brennon, Tams, Bradfield, Charrett, next row: Ward, Cure, Taylor, Beavis, Berry, Birkitt, Tucker, Turp, Copeland, Andrews, next row is Terry, Tracey, Ticehurst, Cpl Simpson, Bumstead, Thurston, Dennis and front row; Allen, Southgate, Beaumont, Caldecott, Taylor, Squires, Tilling.

The Allies certainly had stocks of liquid mustard agent. See the tragic Bari incident. The stated policy was that the agent (or any other chemical weapon) would not be used unless the Axis powers used it first. I have never heard of mustard actually being used by either side.

It is of course quite possible that members of the armed forces were exposed to mustard agent accidently.

My father was serving on the destroyer H.M.S. Brecon and they were deployed to Bari the day after the air raid and subsequent explosion of the ship carrying the mustard bombs in order to enforce the marshal law that had been imposed. He said very little about it, but it was obviously terrible. The fact that the ship was carrying mustard was secret and only known to the master and the senior navy officer, both of whom were killed in the explosion. Therefore, the medical staff had no idea of how to treat those who had been exposed to the mustard.

Although I knew stocks of mustard gas were still held in WWII, by both sides I believe but certainly here, I wasn’t aware of it actually being used anywhere.

It’s difficult to argue with somebody who says it actually happened to them, but it’s the first I’ve heard of it.

Hi,

Many thanks for your response.  I have attached two photos.  The top one is the one which has the 362 B2 sign on it.  On the reverse are all the surnames of those in the photo including my great uncle Bertram Clarke Berry.  The bottom photo has on the reverse “13 Squad, 15 Flight Skegness June 19th to Aug 13th 1942 and also includes my great uncle, together with all the surnames on the reverse.  I have many photos from overseas which he brought back with him which may be of interest to someone.  I would be interested in any information about him during the war.  He eventually, according to relatives, passed away around the time I was born in 1963 as a result of the “gassing” he had been subjected to during the War.

Hi Jilly

The reason I asked if it was possible for you to post the photo on here is because the RAF did not have a 362 Sqn.

The placard presumably refers  to a unit or ‘course’ perhaps but it is impossible to guess without seeing the photo which might give some clues as to which service/branch the men belonged to.

rgds baz

Hi Jilly

Is it possible to post a copy of the picture ?

If you are registered with a photo hosting site such as Imgur or Flickr – you can copy paste direct to your posts on here  using the BB Code.