Author Topic: Mystery RAF officer  (Read 2902 times)

Online philipsearching

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Mystery RAF officer
« on: Sunday 18 March 18 17:48 GMT (UK) »
The attached photo turned up in a relative's trunk and we have no idea who this man is.

I think the stripes on his sleeve show that his rank was Group Captain.
The medal ribbons (I may be wrong!) seem to be:
1) Either the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Air Force Cross
2) British War Medal (1914-18)
3) Victory Medal (1914-19)
4) George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
5) ? ? ? ? - oak leaf indicates Mentioned In Despatches

Can anyone identify the medal ribbon on the right?
I am a little worried that the uniform is too pale to be RAF blue - should I be concerned?

Many thanks
Philip.
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Offline John915

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 18 March 18 18:21 GMT (UK) »
Good evening,

The first ribbon is post 1919, 1918 to 1919 had horizontal stripes. So possibly the Air Force Cross as that was for acts of valour, devotion to duty etc. not in the face of the enemy. For example, it was awarded to some officers who took part in the nuclear test programme and also to test pilots.

Couldn't find the final ribbon so need to search further afield.

John915
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Offline JJen

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 18 March 18 18:22 GMT (UK) »
Hi Philip,

The photograph is of an RAF Officer (Group Captain), His uniform could be No. 6 Khaki Dress (stone colour) which is used in hot climates.

JJ

Offline Flattybasher9

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 18 March 18 18:25 GMT (UK) »
He looks like a young Sir Hugh Dowding, or Sir Cyril Newall or Sir Arthur Harris. It's all very confusing.

Malky


Offline JJen

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 18 March 18 19:41 GMT (UK) »
Wonder if this could be the unidentified medal? -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croix_de_guerre_(Belgium)

Perhaps the oak leaf is actually a palm.

JJ

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 18 March 18 20:09 GMT (UK) »
Wonder if this could be the unidentified medal? -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croix_de_guerre_(Belgium)

Perhaps the oak leaf is actually a palm.

JJ

Is JJen short for Genius? - that is a brilliant spot!  I had looked at British and French medals but forgot about Belgium.

So, assuming there are no hidden surprises, this is a man who was on active service in WW1 after 1915, who was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre (WW1) and some time after 1919 was awarded the AFC (or possibly, but unlikely, the DFC).  He was serving in 1935 (as he received the Jubilee medal) and at some time in or after 1935 he was a Group Captain in the RAF.  The uniform colour suggests he was serving in a hot climate (possibly India, Egypt, the Meditteranean or the Middle East)

Huge thanks to JJen and John915 for all the help.

I wonder how many RAF Group Captains there were in the late 1930s.  Any ideas where I could find out?

Philip
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Offline GrahamSimons

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 18 March 18 23:19 GMT (UK) »

I wonder how many RAF Group Captains there were in the late 1930s.  Any ideas where I could find out?

Philip

The RAF List was published annually (or quarterly, I can't remember) and can be found on the shelves of the National Archives or the Society of Genealogists, and probably in some major libraries.

London Gazette might be a source because Gp Capt X would have needed permission to wear the Belgian decoration, and that would have been gazetted.

Both searches a bit needle-in-a-haystack, but....
Simons Barrett Jaffray Waugh Langdale Heugh Meade Garnsey Evans Vazie Mountcure Glascodine Parish Peard Smart Dobbie Sinclair....
in Stirlingshire, Roxburghshire; Bucks; Devon; Somerset; Northumberland; Carmarthenshire; Glamorgan

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 18 March 18 23:30 GMT (UK) »
The RAF List was published annually (or quarterly, I can't remember) and can be found on the shelves of the National Archives or the Society of Genealogists, and probably in some major libraries.

London Gazette might be a source because Gp Capt X would have needed permission to wear the Belgian decoration, and that would have been gazetted.

Both searches a bit needle-in-a-haystack, but....

Many thanks for the lead.

I found some RAF lists from 1938 online , but without knowing a surname it means wading through several hundred pages to find Group Captains with the AFC (or DFC) and see if a name rings a bell.  (I think maybe I'll be a coward and pass the details on to my cousin!  Wot, me, lazy?)

Philip
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Offline John915

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Re: Mystery RAF officer
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 18 March 18 23:40 GMT (UK) »
Good evening,

He does look a little like Dowding but the moustache is not full enough. Sir Hugh's medal cluster doesn't include any bravery medals, DFC or AFC, or a Croix de Guerre. He had the 3 WW1 trio plus KG V jubilee, KG VI coronation and QE 2 coronation medals plus one foriegn medal, possibly Iraqi from WW2.

John915
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