83 Group Support Unit – location of photo – Redhill

Hi Cranswick

Thanks for checking the IWM photo archive, I hadn’t got round to that, and now I don’t need to!

IIRC a lot of Form 78’s were updated with a common date of 15 June 1944, or similar, as Squadrons were topped up before D-Day operations, and the clerks caught up a few weeks later.

But at least we are all – so far – agreed on Redhill, and I don’t suppose we will ever firm up on the date 100%, but 27 May is good enough!!

IWM CH 13319 was probably taken on the same, sunny, day.

Fortunately, for me, on the Australian War Memorial website I found a photo of my father, and colleagues, lining up for an injection “to fight germs as well as Germans” at Ford shortly before D-Day. This was because an Australian photographer was visiting 125 Wing and the injections were being given by an Australian doctor, part of 453 Squadron RAAF.

cheers

Allan

83 Group Support Unit – location of photo

If NH265 was issued to 403 Squadron on 12 May 1944, as per:

NH265 LFIX CBAF M66 39MU 12-5-44 403S Combat with Bf109s 8m N of Flers 16-7-44 F/O M B O’Kelly killed (from http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p078.htm)

That would appear to confirm a) this is Redhill, and also this would apply to MK574 in the same picture and b) the date on the photo of 7 June 1944 is incorrect, and that the photo was taken shortly before 12 May 1944.

Allan

83 Group Support Unit – location of photo

Hi Andy

Thanks for that – but the background does not match up closely to the photo of the airfield location in “It Started with a map… The Story of Bognor ALG 1943 – 1944”, which I assisted the author (Sylvia Endacott) with information about some of 125 Airfield’s Squadrons, way back in 2005.

Also, if the 7 June date is correct, they were still at Redhill, where they had been since formation on 1 March 1944. They moved to Bognor on 25 June 1944 to escape the V1 threat – they also look like they were enjoying better weather on 7 June than was encountered 24 hours earlier on D-Day!!

83 G.S.U. ORB at Redhill

21 June – Definite news of impending move of G.S.U. We are going to Bognor A.L.G.

23 June – All flying stopped by Sector Controller because of ‘Diver’ warnings.

24 June – Advance Party from 83 G.S.U. sent to Bognor……83 G.S.U. closed down at Bognor.

25 June – Very fine day. “B” Convoy left Redhill. Flying Control takes over at Bognor.

26 June – Raining all day. U/S for flying. Wet start for “C” convoy from Redhill to Bognor. Tents had to be pitched in the rain.

The movement of all aircraft from Redhill to Bognor was by the A.T.A., which is not mentioned in the ORB, from No. 9 Ferry Pilots Pool, Aston Down and No. 1 F.P.P., White Waltham.

Will have to investigate this one further!!

Allan

Hi Andy

I have always thought that this picture showed that they were being prepared at 83 or 84 Group Support Unit, or similar, 83 GSU Redhill, 84 GSU Aston Down on 7 June 1944.

Perhaps the destination of one in the background partially showing the serial can be made out by somebody, I have tried to enlarge it without success – does the back of the print give any other clues than the date?

cheers

Allan

Birmingham or Burma

Birmingham or Burma its crate expectations anyway 🙂

Sorry, I used up both of my coats in earlier postings 🙂

Allan

Spitfires in Burma – or Brum – could be the same place

Maybe someone was just dyslexic – converted Burma into A Brum perhaps 🙂

I’ll get my coat!!

Allan

Surely with a Bomb Sight you need to look down 🙂