RAF Squadron photo - 1944

[kgaps]

I am doing research on an RAF Squadron photo taken in June 1944.
The photo header details are No 2 Flight "A" Squadron, No 35 R & C Wing - June 1944, location unknown, but the footer lists all the 51 men with their surnames & initials so good progress has already been made on the identity of a couple of the men shown, despite being a beginner with RAF research!

Questions:

Does anyone have any associations/knowledge of that Squadron or could provide additional info as to where they were based please?

What is 'R & C Wing' an abbreviation for please?

thanks in advance for any info/suggestions.

[Flattybasher9]

There's this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._2_Squadron_RAF#Second_World_War

R & C probably, Reconnaissance and Combat.

But I could be wrong.

Malky

[ReadyDale]

There is an old thread of a similar nature which may have some useful info:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=698207.9

It mentions the R of R&C is for Reception.

[Regorian]

Can you post photograph, hopefully with squadron code, 3 letters, 2 are squadron code and 1 aircraft individual letter. Squadron code could be clue.

[MaxD]

No 35 Reception and Classification Wing was an aircrew training unit sub divided administratively into squadrons and flights so you are not looking at an RAF operational squadron or wing.  Location not yet found.

MaxD

[medpat]

Found this info, don't know if it's the same as above. Hope we get a picture to confirm or not.

On the outbreak of World War II, No. 35 Squadron was designated a training unit,. The squadron disbanded after being absorbed into No. 17 OTU along with No. 90 Squadron at RAF Upwood, in April 1940.

The squadron reformed on in November 1940 at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire.  In August 1942 it was one of the five squadrons selected to create the Pathfinder Force. The squadron was based at RAF Graveley. When the Pathfinder Force was enlarged 35 Squadron was a part of the newly designated No. 8 Group. In March 1944 the squadron converted to the Avro Lancaster, which it used till the end of the war.

[MaxD]

The 35 is a coincidence of numbers.  Interesting history but 35 Squadron was an operational squadron and not part of the aircrew reception system which was the very first stage of progression to training as aircrew.

It is likely that (unless there were instructors in the pic) that none of the men have aircrew brevets

MaxD

[kgaps]

Hi all Roots chat respondents

Many thanks to all for your very quick posts and suggestions to my query about the RAF photo from June 1944 - much appreciated!

From the choices so far, would I be correct in picking Reception and Classification as the R & C abbreviation?? -  especially as many of the young men in the photo were cadets therefore in basic training of some sort.

A descendant of one of the men believes there might be a connection with Scarborough in East Yorkshire - RAF crew were certainly stationed at the Grand Hotel (1940 - 44) there as there is a Blue Plaque on the building -  and also perhaps with Brough, near Hull, East Yorkshire where the RAF were also stationed.

The photo in question unfortunately cannot be attached as it far exceeds the 500 KB allowed.

For most of the cadets there are no visible chest Wings brevets on their uniforms but in the front row several of the young men have what look like white RAF wing brevets on their shoulders - does any one have any suggestions as to what they may be please?
One of the individual cadet photos is attached to illustrate.

Many thanks & your help has been much appreciated so far.

kind regards -Keith

[MaxD]

Thanks to friends who have researched aircrew  - No 35 R&C Wing was part of No 6 ACRC (Aircrew Reception Centre) at Scarborough.

In hierarchical terms  35 Wing had a number of lettered squadrons (here it was A Squadron) which were each divided into numbered Flights,(here No 2 Flight).

As I suspected, no brevets because they had only just begun aircrew training.  The shoulder badge is the eagle badge worn by all RAF

MaxD