Help with WW2 RAF service record please!

[itsrobert]

Hello,

I have just received my Grandpa's RAF service record. After trying to decipher the jargon using the RAF's helpful terminology guide, I'm still having some difficulty understanding where my Grandpa was posted, his units, movements etc.

Would anyone be willing to take a quick look at the attached photos to help me out please? If you can give me any insight into what it all means, I would be very grateful indeed.

Many thanks!

Rob

[RRTB]

This link may help you with some of the abbreviations and acronyms:
https://ww2memories.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/common-abbreviations-on-ww2-raf-records-o-p/

RRTB

[rafcommands]

He was assigned to the Trade Clerk, General Duties.

This equated to a office secretary position dealing with all run of the mill filing and admin duties excluding codes, cypher and confidential signals.

The first unit, No.76 Wing was responsible for all ground radar stations from Isle of Wight to South Wales. It disbanded in June of 1943 but he was part of the general clearance posting before this happened.

With the set up for move into europe admin for UK radar sites was reduced to a small cadre at No.11 Group covering both ground and air radar assets. So he continued doing the same job at Great Malvern that he had done for No.76 Wing.

Another couple of name changes as re-organistion post D Day and VE Day but still on general admin duties.

Possible follow of Control Commission to Germany as medical recat for Europe but the F543 is not clear if he actually went to Germany or provided Uk admin for units in Germany.

Ross

[itsrobert]

Hi Ross,

Many thanks for your help with this - I am so sorry it has taken me until May to thank you - for some reason I didn't receive an email to alert me to your post so I've only just discovered it this evening.

Your summary of his career is consistent with what my Mum thought - and we're fairly certain he did actually get posted to Germany.

Many thanks again!

Rob

[SeaforthCoombes]

Hi Ross,
 
I hope you dont mind me asking,do you have to have the persons service number to apply ?,my Father was in the RAF but i dont know what his service number was.
     Regards
     Gerome.

[dowdstree]

Hi Gerome,

A warm welcome to rootschat.

You do not need to have your father's service number but there are various criteria which have to be met when applying including a fee of £30.

Search  www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview  and this will explain it all to you. There is also an application form which you can download.

Good luck.

Dorrie

[medpat]

There are references to his fitness he was grade 3 only fit for Western Europe so no hot climates. He went up in rank and A SGT Paid is acting sergeant so he would have the rank and was paid but was not substantive - most would be acting and unpaid - you had the responsibility but not paid for it. 

He was lucky but he could have had the rank taken off him until he was substantive and I assume the money.

Hazard a guess under medical annual filming could be x-rays - did he have chest problems?

Units where he served that's straight forward with Edinburgh, Malvern and West Germany don't know where the squadrons were based though. As he went up in rank his responsibilities would get greater so that maybe why he was posted around. You go where you are needed.

I had 5 postings and 5 detachments (detachments - you are loaned out from your permanent camp for a short period)  in just over 5 years because of job requirements.

Mustering looks like annual assessments he was a very good general clerk that's why he quickly went up in rank.

Hope that helps
 

[rafcommands]

Annual filming was of record for archive purposes - not the person.

Not every RAF bod was posted to a squadron - in this case he was posted to a radar/signals Wing HQ so location of squadrons would not help

Ross