Researching my father's RAF war service.

[Kieron Kirk]

652100 Sgt. Kirk. L.

My father's RAF service includes several units about which I can find no information as to location. Any help would be most welcome.

973 Sqdn. ME. 17th February 1941-12th January 1943.
241 Wing 12th January 1943-2nd March 1943.
120MU 2nd March 1943-4th May 1943.
RAHQ(renamed RHQ DAF) 4th May 1943-10th March 1944.
HQ 253 Wing 25th September 1944-15th February 1945.
56PTC 15th February 1945-1st March 1945.
20(P)AFU 12th March 1945-11th May 1945.
Finally 101PDC(Personnel Dispersal Centre?) Warton, Lancs?

Ciarain.

[lauriebe]

Keiron, hope this helps:

No. 973 (Balloon) Sqn: Formed early 41 at Cardington for Crete; by 3/41, due Suda Bay; 9/5/41 Canal Zone; by 1/7/41Port Said in 260 Wing; 16/11/41 Kasfareet; 17/12/41 El Kantara; 6/2/42 left for Crete; 2/42 Suda Bay; 20/3/42 Tripoli; 4/42 Beirut (det at Triploi 27/7/42).

No. 241 Wg: 12/11/42 reformed Beirut to administer all units in Syria; 1/12/42 at Aleppo.

No.120 MU: 15/7/42 reformed as equipment holding depot at Beit Oved, Palestine with detachments at Rehovoth & Jaffa (9/42).

RHQ DAF: Possibly Rear HQ, Desert Air Force. By 17/7/43 16k W of Triploi, 11/8/43 Lentini area, 6/10/43 Vasto, 10/12/43 3m SE of San Severo on Foggia Rd.

No. 253 Wg: 29/7/44 reformed as Light Bomber Wing at Falconara, 8/12/44 Cesenatico.

No. 56 PTC (Personnel Transit Centre): formed 16/11/44 at Portici, Naples.

No.20 (P) AFU: formed 23/3/43 at Kidlington, disbanded 21/6/45.

No. 101 PDC (Personnel Dispersal Centre): formed 15/5/45 at Kirkham, 1/6/46 Warton.

Laurie.

[Atcham Tower]

(P) AFU is (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, ie conversion onto twin-engined aircraft.

[Kieron Kirk]

Laurie,
What can I say?
Thank you seems hardly sufficient.
The depth of knowledge and experience seen on this forum every day is quite astonishing.

Ciarain.

[lauriebe]

Ciarain,

The info came from a good reference source, the late Ray Sturtivant's book 'RAF Flying Training and Support Units Since 1912'. Glad to help.

[Kieron Kirk]

Laurie,
I am aware of that book, might consider purchasing a copy.
Think there is a revised edition now available.
Ray Sturtivant's death is a great loss to aviation publishing.

Ciarain.

[lauriebe]

Ciarain,

If you go to the Air-Britain website you will find the book there. It has been fully updated and was published in its new form last year. It is a book well worth having on the shelf.

I agree with your sentiments re Ray's passing.

Laurie.