Hope someone on here can help with this ……………………….
I have found pictures and medals from my Gran’s Brother who served in the RAF service No 346439 enlistment around 1921/1922 who has now died several years ago. i have tried getting his service record but have had no luck so far….. the only information i have been able to gain with some help is ” Roughly number 346439 is a third of the way through the block so you can assume enlistment around 1921/1922.
He rose through the ranks to become the most senior non commissioned rank of Warrant Officer.
Some might say he initially was a “doer” then became the one who said “do not do” to sitting at a desk barking the orders at those who say “do not do”. Only the station commander could tell him what to do, others only suggest if they knew what was good for themselves.
In 1942 something happened where he was recommended for a commission. I would suggest that it was not his choice as he had more responsibility and better living/pay conditions as a Warrant Officer than as a relatively junior Commissioned Officer.
I suspect it was to do with establishment on the units were he was serving.
As a commissioned officer his movements and speciality is easier to trace. Six times a year an official list called the Air Force List was published which listed all officers and the branch in which they were serving.
Looking at the March 1943 list he appears in the Admin and Special Duties Branch which usually means non flying/recalled retired/administration eg accountants/stores officers/support staff.
However he is entered in a sub branch category of Special Duties (Photography).
Only two pages are used to list all the Officers in the entire RAF in this sub branch serving as of March 1943.
The most senior is a Squadron Leader. As to Flying Officers one has a seniority of Nov 1940, two with 1941 seniority and twenty eight of 1942 seniority. He is the only Flying Officer in this group with Dec 1942 seniority.
So this fits with a previous service history of photographic experience.
As to what he was doing Photographic Interpretation/I.C. Photographic Equipment Section or analysing bombing photos for bomber command units you will need to get this from his RAF service record.
This is available for a small fee from the RAF at Cranwell.
Given the length of service it should be interesting reading.
No good looking at Forces War Records they do not have the info on any WW2 RAF service record despite the impression given.
Using the Online London Gazette
Retirement.
Flying Officer H. A. ANDREWS (50486) retaining
the rank of Flight Lieutenant. 26th Nov. .1945.
So he remained officially at Flying Officer but was recognised as a Flight Lieutenant in terms of pay and authority for the actual duties he was carrying out.
After VJ day his service was no longer required and he was allowed to retire from his War Emergency Commission. “
some of the pictures and memorabilia so far … there is a box of RAF nurse and Hospital pictures which i can post but all the attached have come from the same box the last image is the first of these and appears to show Princess/Queen Elizabeth date and year unknown. Thanks for looking
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225346[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225348[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225347[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225349[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225350[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225351[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225352[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225353[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225354[/ATTACH]
By: Warbux43 - 21st March 2014 at 15:34
I’ve had only a short history dealing with matters WW1. Are you sure that there are no more markings on the rim of those WW1 medals. My take on 1 and 2 would be 87036 Pte D OAKMAN (private) MIDDLESEX REGIMENT.
Maybe one of the forum members can direct you to the Archives and get hold of a copy of his Medal Index Card (MIC).
Hope that helps a little.
Mike
By: Amarok - 28th February 2014 at 13:26
My first thought was Halton which may fit with the source of some of the parts.
yes it does look like Halton Airfield, the Hangars match
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225914[/ATTACH]
(C) Halton Aero Club
By: Amarok - 28th February 2014 at 13:24
My first thought was Halton which may fit with the source of some of the parts.
yes it does look like Halton Airfield, the Hangars match
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225914[/ATTACH]
photo copy Halton Aero club
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th February 2014 at 13:08
In typing the entry out in full, I hope that a name or location may fall into place as other career details become clearer. Are the hangars behind the photo Hendon or Abingdon, or indeed elsewhere – a question I cannot answer.
My first thought was Halton which may fit with the source of some of the parts.
By: alohha1234 - 28th February 2014 at 12:32
I have managed to decipher the worn engraving on the medal edges which is
1 87036 P te D OAKMAN MIDD XR
2 87036 P te D OAKMAN MIDD XR
3 216102.3 A.M. S.E GILKS RAF
if anyone can help identify these people from WW1 please
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225913[/ATTACH]
By: viscount - 11th February 2014 at 20:42
The monoplane G-AAJK is the Clark Cheetah Biplane – OK, that must rank as the oddest statement I’ve ever made on this forum! I’ll explain by copying out the entry for G-AAJK in Air Britain’s ‘the British Civil Aircraft Registers G-AAAA to G-AAZZ, published early ’70s? Peter Moss.
Built as a bi-plane using main components from a DH.53 and the struts and lower mainplane from the Halton Mayfly G-EBOO.
Registered 21.6.29 to F/O John Clark. First C of A issued on 17.9.29.
After Clarke’s death on 11.10.29 the Cheetah passed through several hands:
Lord Malcolm Douglas Hamilton from 3.30
A.C.Thomas and partners and partners of No.600 Squadron at Hendon from 9.30 who modified it to a high-wing monoplane.
Withdrawn when it’s C of A expired on 3.7.34.
It was last owned by Richard A. Hopkinson at R.A.F. Abingdon from 12.5.36.
Sold as scrap in 1937 and the registration marks cancelled in 6.37.
The remains of the Cheetah were rescued from a scrap yard near Watford and used to help construction of the Martin Monoplane G-AEYY.
In typing the entry out in full, I hope that a name or location may fall into place as other career details become clearer. Are the hangars behind the photo Hendon or Abingdon, or indeed elsewhere – a question I cannot answer.
By: alohha1234 - 11th February 2014 at 16:18
These last images are from the same box and seem to suggest he was in service beyond 1945/6 ?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]225359[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225360[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]225361[/ATTACH]
By: adrian_gray - 11th February 2014 at 16:15
I believe – can you tell this isn’t my area? – that the oak leaf signifies an MID, so that would fit.
As for the WW1 medals – possibly, though I don’t know whether women who served would get the BWM/VM. I’ll pas comment once I’ve seen it if you don’t mind!
Adrian
By: alohha1234 - 11th February 2014 at 16:04
Hi Adrian thanks for that the coloured photo is him and has an inscription to his wife date wedding anniversary 1944 I know by this time he was serving in Whitehall alongside Churchill something to do with reconnaissance photography He has an Oak leaf on one medal ribbon all i can say is that dads sister knew he was mentioned in dispatches There is ingraving around the medals once i have written it down i can post some more they could possibly be his parents ??
Thanks Chris
By: adrian_gray - 11th February 2014 at 15:44
The medals are the British war Medal and Victory Medal from WW1 (and don’t lose the ribbons – the modern replacement for the watered silk Victory Medal one is horrid!), and they should have the recipients name and (if he was in the ranks) number engraved around the rim. I assume you have two people’s there. Unless they are someone else’s, that suggests enlistment was rather earlier. I believe a few conflicts, such as White Russia and Waziristan, entitled one to the BWM after 1918, but I wouldn’t want to be quoted on that!
For the ranks, Medal Issue Cards (MICs) survive which would dates of entry into theatre. I have to say that I don’t know what the situation would be if he joined as an officer. I have to say that if the hand-coloured photo is accurate then they don’t look like his – that doesn’t look like WW1 medal ribbons on his uniform.
I think that’s the limit of the help I can offer – good luck with the rest!
Adrian
By: TwinOtter23 - 11th February 2014 at 15:38
Have you made contact with the 31 Squadron Association?
They are fairly active and have a good archive themselves!
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February 11, 2014 at 3:33 pm