RAF service history

I believe the records are dealt with at Cranwell now.

Roger Smith.

What records do Cranwell hold?

Just wondering, but does’nt RAF Innsworth hold any information – or has it closed now?

I believe the records are dealt with at Cranwell now.

Roger Smith.

Further research suggests that Geoffrey Marler may have originated from New Zealand. Thus, possibly, he may have served in the RNZAF prior to the RAF service that Ross traced and posted. So can anyone tell me how I might go about finding out whether this could be the case?

Just wondering, but does’nt RAF Innsworth hold any information – or has it closed now?

Cheers AA and Ross..I thought it unlikely…but you never know!!
At least one report of the crash says he hit the tree whilst looping the falcon !! I have watched an a/c looping into the ground..not nice!!

The tree in question was in his garden. It was a very sad story.

With very few exceptions the Gazette list all DFC award pre/wartime/post war.

It mirrors lists given in AIR documents at Kew.

I use the Gazette to check the details given in Carter and so far in umpteen years of research have yet to find an award not gazetted. The most common error between the sources is spelling of forenames.

Ross

Thanks Ross,

I don’t suppose there’s any formal record of awards of DFCs other than the London Gazette is there?

Tom

Cheers AA and Ross..I thought it unlikely…but you never know!!
At least one report of the crash says he hit the tree whilst looping the falcon !! I have watched an a/c looping into the ground..not nice!!

Hi All,
“Flight” archives quotes a G C Marler as being killed in a crash at Angmering in Sep 62 whilst flying his Miles Falcon in practice for the Shoreham Air Display/Race.
HTH
Resmoroh

Yes, that’s the Geoffer Marler to whom I am referring. However for present purposes it’s his service history in which I am interested.

Bazv, I regret that I don’t have a reliable date of birth for Geoffrey Marler. The press reports put him as being 55 when he was killed. If they are correct, that would put his birth year at 1907. Clearly that would make him too young for WW1 service.

Web searches reveal nothing of value concerning Geoffrey Marler. The same apples in relation to his widow and children. Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Hi All,
“Flight” archives quotes a G C Marler as being killed in a crash at Angmering in Sep 62 whilst flying his Miles Falcon in practice for the Shoreham Air Display/Race.
HTH
Resmoroh

Hi Baz,

I checked the April 1918 list and he did not appear here so not a transfer from RFC or RNAS to the RAF.

The first Marler to appear is Eric Marler as a Pilot Officer commissioned 29 Dec 1921 (under instruction at No.5 FTS, Shotwick, Chester posted in 29 Dec 1921).

Regards
Ross

just a distant possibility,but when was G C Marler born?was he old enough for WW1 service??Could the w/cdr rank be from WW1 service?
I know Ross said no previous service recorded but could that depend on which service one was in?
W/cdr ‘Pop’ Wheeler had WW1 decorations from his army service.
I know it is unlikely but just curious.

cheers baz

Hi AA & Tom,

AA,
Glad to help. Prewar is the easiest as the lists contain most of the service information on an officer. The Times Online Archive also contain quite a bit on social events and accidents (fatal and non-fatal)

Wartime the Lists and Confidential List are a bit brief but squadron ORBs fill the gaps.

Post war is a different story with only the Lists giving sketchy information.

Tom,
I remember looking at this at the time. I could not find anything on a George Hathaway DFC and this seems to be confirmed by the other sources you have tried.

The closest Hathaway I could find was:

143605 Benjamin George Hathaway commissioned as 177166 P/O on 12/05/44.
He was promoted to F/O 12 Nov 1944 and to F/L on 12 May 1946.

After that the trail goes cold. He is not in the 1949 List so he has left the RAF by then.

No trace of wartime issue for this man of either a DFC or DFM.

Regards
Ross

Ross,

Could I ask if you have anything on a Flt Lt George Hathaway DFC who was a bomb aimer on Lancs towards the end of the war?

I’ve tried to track him down via RAF Commands (I think you’re the leading light there?) and here previously and have contacted the RAF records section but have drawn a blank (I was unable to find him for sure in the London Gazette either).

Ta…

Tom

What a service! I’m impressed and grateful.

The fact that G.C.Marler does not appear in the 1975 retired list would be in consequence of the fact that he was killed in 1962.

Assuming that the G.C.Marler, whose information you have obtained, is the same as the Geoffrey Cecil Marler in whom I am interested justifies my comments about the accuracy of press reporting. But then, maybe reporting that he was a P/O in the ATC or the CCF would not have made good copy!

Ok,

The Jan 1949 Air Force List gives

122177 Marler, G.C. as Pilot Officer 9 Jan 1943 in the RAFVR(Training Branch)

The was usually the branch where officers for the ATC or CCF were commissioned and this would hold true for him to still be a P/O in the List six years later.

No service listed as a commissioned or warrant officer prior to Oct 1940 but two other Marler D J (Engineering Branch) and Marler E (Ad) do have pre war service. They may have been relatives.

G C Marler does not feature in the 1975 Retired List.

So I think you are looking at a VR(T) officer on squadron/wing/group strength ATC or CCF.

Now we have his service number the search of the Gazette becomes much easier.

http://www.gazettes.co.uk/home.aspx?geotype=London

Using 122177 as the initial search term calls up his resignation from the VR(T) branch as a Pilot Officer wef 24 Oct 1951.

http://www.gazettes.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=39493&geotype=London&gpn=1541&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=122177&exact=&atleast=&similar=

Regards
Ross

Best offline source are the Air Force List and Confidential Air Force List.

These were periodically published “By Authority” and in the case of the Air Force List give the gradation (promotion) dates for each commissioned and warrant officer.

The Confidential List gives where serving and dates of posting in.

A near complete collection of Air Force List is open to public inspection in the Microfilm Reading Room at The National Records Office,Kew.

Most of this information is also available online at the Online London Gazette archive section but I find this most difficult to use.

A number of copies of the Confidential list survive at Kew but these are only available through the document reading room.

I’ll look up my war/post war files tomorrow and see what I have on your man.

Regards
Ross

PM sent.

Best offline source are the Air Force List and Confidential Air Force List.

These were periodically published “By Authority” and in the case of the Air Force List give the gradation (promotion) dates for each commissioned and warrant officer.

The Confidential List gives where serving and dates of posting in.

A near complete collection of Air Force List is open to public inspection in the Microfilm Reading Room at The National Records Office,Kew.

Most of this information is also available online at the Online London Gazette archive section but I find this most difficult to use.

A number of copies of the Confidential list survive at Kew but these are only available through the document reading room.

I’ll look up my war/post war files tomorrow and see what I have on your man.

Regards
Ross

Hi,

Depends on date of service.

Who were you looking for details on and approx date.

Regards
Ross

Wing Commander Geoffrey Cecil Marler
Believed WW2 service

I know no more.

Hi,

Depends on date of service.

Who were you looking for details on and approx date.

Regards
Ross