Hello Please can anyone help? I have just received my late Uncle's service records ( J.C. James) and they clearly indicate he was part of 186 squadron ( based at Stradishall), he was a navigator and the flight crash landed , sadly killing all on board at base after a night raid over the Kiel canal ( 14/4/45). I am trying to trace what missions his squadron and particulalry he may have been involved in from 17/2/45 up until his death on 14/4/45. I would also like to try and find details of his flying log book I have the following info and if anyone could shed any light , which makes no sense to me! I would be very grateful for any clarification or further information - Unit to date of Movement 2(O)AFU 13/6/44 84 OTU 11/7/44 31 base 4/11/44 3 ACS 73 base 1/12/44 186 squadron 17/2/45
I have also found a very clear formal ( passing out?) photograph with the names of all those with him titled ITW No 7 (think it is in Newquay) I am happy to copy and share if it will help anyone else. Your hopefully Kate
Hi Kate, 2(O)AFU.....Observer Advanced Flying Unit 84 OTU.....Operational Training Unit 31 Base.....not sure where this was. 3 ACS 73 Base.... not sure of location. 7 ITW was at Newquay. Are you aware that your uncles aircraft was in a mid-air collision with another 186sqdn aircraft on return to Stradishall
-- Edited by AW on Monday 12th of July 2010 04:42:33 AM
It appears your Uncle attended No. 2 Advanced Flying Unit (Observers) based at Millom in Cumbria (likely on Ansons) then was crewed up at No. 84 Operational Training Unit (Wellingtons, I believe) of 92 Group based at Desborough or Harrington, Northhamptonshire then converted onto four-engined bombers (Lancasters) at 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit of No. 73 Base which was comprised of RAF North Luffenham and the satellite airfield at RAF Woolfox Lodge.
I'll see if I can dredge up anymore particulars that will hopefully be relatively accurate when I get the chance to reference a few texts.
Hope you are enjoying your search and find the info an interesting pursuit.
No. 31 Base was,I believe, comprised of the main base at RAF Stradishall with satellites at Chedburgh, Wratting Common, Tempsford & Feltwell at various times. It was part of No. 3 Group. I'm not entirely certain if this was part of your Uncle's crew's conversion and training up process onto four-engined bombers but believe these operated the Short Stirling primarily. I think Tempsford was ultimately used primarily as a SOE Airfield with a variety of aircraft for Special Duties.
The only Abbreviation I'm uncertain of is ACS which I think may have been Air Crew School. If so and I'm correct these were RAF operated schools which likely taught tactics, escape and evasion, commando type survival training and a host of other airmanship type skills. Often this type of school was employed as a sort of holding unit between courses or as part of refresher type training course in what today might be called a continual education programme. However, that's assuming I'm correct on the ACS abbreviation in the first place.
Hope others can provide more elucidation for you, too.
Just a quick follow-up re the abbreviation A.C.S. In checking this out I found that this abreviation stands for Airman's Command School. What exactly was taught there I really haven't been able to find out as yet, perhaps one of our forum members can shed some further light on it. With regard to the log-book you mention, generally speaking it would have been amongst his personal belongings, perhaps even on board the aircraft with him when it went down, as far as I know there were no copies. Sorry I can't help further.
Bill Heron
-- Edited by William Heron on Sunday 18th of July 2010 07:59:45 PM
Hi Again Kate, I made another enquiry regarding the log book in question on an ex-431 Squadron Flt. Eng. and he tells me that the log book never accompanied the airman on Op's it would have been left in a slot in the Navigator's room or Air Gunner"s room depending on the trade of the airman. My contact goes on to say that there is a possibility that the log book could have been burned/destroyed intentionally by R.A.F. personnel since the airman in question F.T.R. as they would not have wanted it to fall into the wrong hands since there would have been classified information in it at that time. Just something to consider. Bill
I am also researching my late uncle and father's service history. My uncle was a Halifax rear gunner with bomber command squadron 51 and FTR on the 3/4 Dec 1943 Leipzig raid - entire crew lost without trace. My father was a pilot (torpedo version of Hampden) with coastal command and after his tour ended returned home to serve as a staff pilot at B&G school in Dafoe, Sask. Our family has both of their original logbooks. In the case of my father I believe he just kept his logbook after leaving the RCAF in January '45 (Dafoe like most of the BCATP schools were shutting down at that time). In the case of my Uncle his personal effects (without logbook) were returned to my grandparents sometime in '44 after his status was officially changed from MIA to MIA/presumed killed. It was not until '48 that his logbook was returned delay likely due to security. I only know this because his service history obtained from the canadian library/archives is almost 200 pages with many letters of correspondence right up until 1952. List of items returned was incredibly detailed for example 1-toothbrush, 7 pairs socks, letters, photo album amongst the many merger items. Also two diaries were returned which must have been lost over time as my grandparents moved several times over the years so not "old attic" of relics to discover any long lost gems.By the way sometime there is one or more photos in the service history file but you need to expressly request them (seems requesting entire file does not include photos).
I wonder if you have any other information about the 2 planes colliding. I am currently trying to find further information for my father-in-law about his cousin, Robert C Russell. Apparently he died in similar circumstances on 14 April 1945 and wondered if this was the same incident. Many thanks for your help.
There was a Sgt R. C. Russell on Lancaster PB483 of 186 squadron which collided with your uncles Lancaster PB488, so you are right, it is the same incident.
Hi Wayne Sorry to confuse things, I'd put a question on this thread as it was connected but I'm not Kate. Thank you for the info re the collision. Do you have any other information about it by any chance? Carol
