RAF Service Record Queries

Simon, according to the book “RAF flying training and support units”, 3109 (Polish) SE was reformed 1.8.43 at Northolt to service 316Sq Spitfires; 21.9.43 took over 302 Sq Spitfires there; disbanded 4.10.43.

This book is really useful when it comes to deciphering unit abbreviations and locations, it is by Ray Sturtivant and published by Air Britain.

Very odd! I do have a copy of this book, and under the entry for ‘Servicing Echelons’ on page 271 it states ‘No attempt has been made to document their bases and histories in this volume’. My edition was printed in 1997, so is there an updated version?

Simon

Thanks John

http://www.raf.mod.uk/links/contacts.cfm

RAF Cranwell now hold the records.

Hi John

Thanks for the update: “RAF Innsworth is now defunct” – so does anyone know where we can research these documents for our RAF/RFC relatives now?

I am in the process of doing similar research into my Grandfather and Great Grandfathers RAF and RFC history too. Is RAF Innsworth still the body to contact or have they now moved? Does any one know how long one could expect a reply? Is it weeks or months, for example?

RAF Innsworth is now defunct

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/content/articles/2008/01/23/raf_innsworth_history_feature.shtml

I am in the process of doing similar research into my Grandfather and Great Grandfathers RAF and RFC history too. Is RAF Innsworth still the body to contact or have they now moved? Does any one know how long one could expect a reply? Is it weeks or months, for example?

Simon, according to the book “RAF flying training and support units”, 3109 (Polish) SE was reformed 1.8.43 at Northolt to service 316Sq Spitfires; 21.9.43 took over 302 Sq Spitfires there; disbanded 4.10.43.

This book is really useful when it comes to deciphering unit abbreviations and locations, it is by Ray Sturtivant and published by Air Britain.

Photo

Hi again VoyTech

As promised, here’s the photo of Stefan Kozub, taken I think late in the war or just after it.

[ATTACH]161450[/ATTACH]

It would be fantastic if you could find any other shots that include him in your photos of 316 and 302 Squadron.

Simon

Thanks once again VoyTech!

Was he Stefan Kozub service no. 781995, born 10.5.1918, or Stefan Kozub service no. 705083, born 1.3.1920?
I have copies of some photos depicting erks working on Nos. 316 and 302 Sqns Spitfires, so a portrait photo might help identify him in those.

Initially the SE’s were numbered in a sequence of their own. Then they were linked with particular squadrons, so yes, No. 6302 was attached to No. 302 Sqn.

Thanks for the latest reply VoyTech. He was Service No. 781995, and I’ll see if I can get the photo from my sister in law and send it to you. It would be great if he was in any of your photos!

I’d also be interested to find out which Squadron 3109 SE was attached to, if that’s possible.

Thanks again

Simon

His name was Stefan Kozub, and unfortunately I don’t have a photo of him to hand, but my sister-in-law has a shot of him in his RAF uniform.

Was he Stefan Kozub service no. 781995, born 10.5.1918, or Stefan Kozub service no. 705083, born 1.3.1920?
I have copies of some photos depicting erks working on Nos. 316 and 302 Sqns Spitfires, so a portrait photo might help identify him in those.

Do the SE numbers relate to particular Squadrons – for example does 6302 relate to 302 Squadron? And what was 3109 SE attached to?

Initially the SE’s were numbered in a sequence of their own. Then they were linked with particular squadrons, so yes, No. 6302 was attached to No. 302 Sqn.

Thanks very much should prove useful in decoding the gov speek!
Neil

My grandfather was an ERK in the RAF as well, but was shipped off to the Royal Navy thru the war. He did time in Iraq before the war as well. I’ve been trying to decode his service history but I’ve been having trouble with all the abriviations. Does anyone know of a site that would enable me to decode these? Thanks.
Neil Medcalf

Hi Neil

I found this site useful:

http://www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/acronyms%20A.htm

Hope it is of some help.

Simon

My grandfather was an ERK as well- shipped off the Royal Navy thru the war. Did time in Iraq before the war as well. I’ve been trying to decode his service history but I’ve been having trouble with all the abriviations. Does anyone know of a site that would enable me to decode these? Thanks.
Neil Medcalf

Neil

This is part of my service record if you are looking to decode the numbers on the right column I doubt whether you will get very far, I know people who worked in Records Office at Innsworth who cannot decipher their own!

abr help

My grandfather was an ERK in the RAF as well, but was shipped off to the Royal Navy thru the war. He did time in Iraq before the war as well. I’ve been trying to decode his service history but I’ve been having trouble with all the abriviations. Does anyone know of a site that would enable me to decode these? Thanks.
Neil Medcalf

abr help

My grandfather was an ERK as well- shipped off the Royal Navy thru the war. Did time in Iraq before the war as well. I’ve been trying to decode his service history but I’ve been having trouble with all the abriviations. Does anyone know of a site that would enable me to decode these? Thanks.
Neil Medcalf

Thank you

VoyTech

Thank you so much for the clarification on the abbreviations. His name was Stefan Kozub, and unfortunately I don’t have a photo of him to hand, but my sister-in-law has a shot of him in his RAF uniform. He died a few years back, and I never really got the chance to talk to him, as he’d retired to Spain by the time I met my wife.

His records show he was with 316 Sqn from April 1941 to September 1943 (another Polish outfit, like 302), with spells away on assignment, presumably for training purposes. For example he was at Automotive Products for a week in February 1943. Another assignment was with 1489 (Target Towing) flight at Matlask in early 1943. He then went to 3109 SE, then 131 AFHQ, 6302 SE and 6316 SE. After the war ended he went to 5 RU at Moreton-in-Marsh until leaving the RAF in December 1948.

Couple more questions. Do the SE numbers relate to particular Squadrons – for example does 6302 relate to 302 Squadron? And what was 3109 SE attached to?

Thanks again for your help, it’s very much appreciated!

Simon

SE stands for Servicing Echelon (the ground crew of a squadron once they split under 2nd TAF organisation scheme in lat 1943)
AFHQ is Airfield Headquarters, the term applied to what is generally known as wings between 1943 and early 1944

It looks like he was a ground crew on Spitfires of No. 302 Sqn in No. 131 Wing. Very interesting! Everyone knows aces, and pilots in general, but ground crews are usually labelled ‘unknown’ in photos. Would you care to post a WW2 photo of your father-in-law and reveal his name?