WOP XS

[JW411]

I am trying to decipher the RAF record of service of the father of a friend who was a wireless operator in WW II and I have come across the term WOP XS.

Sadly, all of my old WOP AG friends have climbed out of their turrets, unplugged their morse keys and gone off to the hangar in the sky.

Can anyone out there tell me what a WOP XS was?

[INT_QRU]

You could try posting in the Military aircrew section, lots of knowledgeable folks over there willing to help

[Lordflasheart]

Hello JW.

It's surprisingly quiet ? I'd have thought you might look down the "spook" route – if not there already. For instance – was he on a known countermeasures squadron of which there were several later on. I suspect there would have been a variety of ad hoc "wireless specialists" with odd designations, doing their own secret thing ( ie language, equipment, operational trials or experiments etc.) that they weren't allowed to tell Mummy (or even the Captain) about. As you have his service record, his squadrons will presumably be shown – are you at liberty to disclose them ? Your wording suggests this was "official" terminology, rather than a logbook entry or family story.

I found these possible pointers -
Is there any difference between a WOP/AG and a WOP/Air? (http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?12038-Is-there-any-difference-between-a-WOP-AG-and-a-WOP-Air)

"After May 1944, when 199 were transferred to Bomber Support and radio countermeasures, 199 Stirlings operated with two Wireless Operators i.e. W.Op/Air and W.Op/Spec. The latter were involved in the operation of radio countermeasures such as Mandrel whereas the former undertook standard Wireless Operator duties."

And this quote - "A book that gives an insight into WOP training is ,'Observers & Navigators & Other non Pilot Aircrew' by G. Jefford. You will find some more details on our web site www.rafyatesbury.webs.com (http://www.rafyatesbury.webs.com/) RAF Yatesbury Association"

There were of course, many Wireless Schools, and you didn't specify what Command was involved.

It's not a far move from W.Op/Spec to W.Op/Xtra Spec :).

Hope this helps. LFH

[teeteringhead]

Might be something on our good friend Heimdall's Spyflight Website. (http://www.spyflight.co.uk/main.htm)

Lots of now unclassified stuff on "sneaky beaky" flying.

[JW411]

LFH (and others):

Thank you for your kind suggestions. I had thoughts along those lines but I seriously doubt that, in this case, we are looking for a "hush-hush" explanation unless the Avro Ansons of No.3 School of General Reconnaisance based in Canada had equipment that I have not heard of.

He is listed as a W.Op XS on enlistment at the end of 1940. A W/Op at the end of 1942, a W/Op "XS" at the end of 1943 and a W.Op at the end of 1944.

His civilian occupation on enlistment is given as Wireless Op. I am beginning to wonder if he was perhaps in the Merchant Marine and that the "XS" might mean something simple like "ex-seaman?"

Anyway, I'll let you know how I get on.