Trying to confirm my father's squadron

[rafcommands]

I'm afraid that you are chasing different men or have a garbled version from family lore.

F/L Pinder was enrolled in the RAF and so would have typically joined in the Uk.

RAF Aircrew candidates were sent over overseas for training and this would have been the case for a Wireless Op/Air Gunner.

Radio Mechanic was a ground trade and so for an RAF enlistment this would have been undertaken in the UK - not overseas.

So either a confusion on trade or wrong man.

The LAC number begining with R is correct for a man enrolled in the RCAF in Canada and would be a more typical rank for a ground trade Radio Mechanic.

It was quite common for RCAF/RAF men to serve in RAF/RCAF units and quite a bit of cross service mixing took place because of trade shortages. It was also common for RCAF/RAF units other than Bomber Command to be co located on aerodromes so headed stationary is not an iron cast guide to unit.

Tell us a bit more about where you believe he enlisted and it may help direct you to where to apply for records eg Canada or UK.

Ross

[StephenCND]

Unfortunately that is all I have, 3 pieces of the puzzle, but all 3 are 100% sure facts.

1 photo of him with his radio mechanics class
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AifC60WL0cSMuByT3AJAVupeI3OF .

1 letter addressed to his future wife, dated 1945 (photo, link previously provided)

and the engraving on a pewter mug , also previously mentioned.

I am told that my father was in the RCAF reserves for a few years after the war. Whether that is the same unit he was in during the war, i do not know.

In any event, I am hoping a service record request to the Canadian government will turn up something.

[rafcommands]

Ahh..

He was RCAF OR rank during the war (R preffix number) then commissioned RCAF post war using the new numbering system (J preffix dropped)

This is an entry from Canada Gazette showing him

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canada-gazette/093/001060-119.01-e.php?image_id_nbr=724820&document_id_nbr=11767&f=p&PHPSESSID=j02ch329j0j5qnl0546jed1c56

Give both numbers on your Canadian enquiry.

Ross

[StephenCND]

Hello Ross,

Thanks for the information. Not sure what I am looking at re. the Canada Gazette .  This is an entry informing that JM Pinder enrolled in the reserves in the 2453 ACW squadron?  So... does that mean during the war he wasn't in that unit? (ie., either 600 Squadron (British)  or the 417th (Canadian) ?  Guess the service records will clear that up.

[rafcommands]

The Canada Gazette entry is the date when he was commissioned as Pilot Officer.

It is under special list so this was not a general duties commission but one where his special skills would be used eg radio equipment - but whether he was posted to the squadron as OR before this date is not shown.

This entry also suggests that his service with ACW squadron was post war.

You can use the Canada Gazette to follow his post war officer promotions from original commission to relinquish/retirement.

Ross

[Treetotal]

This might help:

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/second-world-war/Pages/introduction.aspx

Carol

[StephenCND]

Well they got back to me ... going to have to wait 6 months before they look at my request.  oiy..

[Regorian]

417 Squadron was RCAF, Hurricanes then Spitfires. Squadron code AN.