Help please identifying photo details
 

I originally posted this pic in Jet Blast, but people here might be more able to help.

This is a pic of my late father (second row, behind the Admiral) in a group photo with his boss, the Rear Admiral in the front row. Somebody here might be able to assist with identifying some details. I suspect that this photograph was taken during my father's time at HMS Daedalus (1943-45), since he appears to be wearing a Paymaster Lieutenant's stripes - I believe he was only promoted Lieutenant Commander when in HMS Condor (1945-47)

There are several Pussers among the photograph, and I can see at least four officers (including the Captain to the right of the Admiral) wearing pilot's brevets. Most appear to be regular officers, although I can see one RNVR Sub Lieutenant in the back row.

Can anyone identify the Admiral himself (I believe he, like my father, was a glider pilot, but neither were brevetted aircrew) and where and when the photograph might have been taken?

http://www.mykonosphotographs.com/te...up-s.jpg?w=400

Have you tried asking the following association?

Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association, FAAOA

Once you get a few names have a look at :
World War II unit histories & officers

Thanks for those, Tubby. I've emailed the RNA - hadn't thought of the FAAOA.

Where Abouts
 

Am fairly certain that this building is not at HMS Daedalus. I also do not remember any building at HMS Condor like this. It actually looks like the red sandstone building style used around Glasgow and the surrounding areas.

Are you able to make out the writing on the front door to the building?

Hval

(edited to ask a question)

There's no writing. It looks like either a series of flags or coats of arms.

Like you, I'm sure it wasn't taken at either Daedalus or Condor. My suspicion is that it was taken "away" somewhere - on a course, maybe, or something similar. The building is obviously stone - can't tell the colour, of course, so it could be sandstone or granite. I suspect it's not anywhere near the coast (although I may be wrong) because of the ivy, which hates salt in the air.

The admiral will either be Admiral (Air) between 1943-45 or Rear Admiral (Reserve Aircraft) 1945-47, but I can't find out the holders of those posts between those dates.

How familiar are people with other shore bases? Dartmouth? Somewhere in Pompey? Could it be any of those?

If it helps, I've put a larger version here.

Can't help with the question I'm afraid but the 2 guys holding hands (behind the dog) look a bit suss.

Definitely not Dartmouth. Not Pompey either.

Could be near the west coast of Scotland. Ivy grows well. The patterning on the ashlar masonry at the bay window would tend to suggest sandstone. As would what appear to be horizontal striations in the masonry.

Hval

Cant help with the question, but zooming in the young Lady on the left must have been the hottest thing in the Ward Room! Quite a brunette version of Susan George!!!

a classic foot in mouth moment would be if that turned out to be Cap'n Stables mum:E

Wish i had gone to specsavers!

This list might help with the Admiral if it's FAA: Fleet Air Arm Service Records: Flag Officer Index

Southwick House, HMS Dryad ?

Beat me to it Pugwash, I used to live not far from HMS Dryad and visited it a few times to see the huge map on the wall that Churchill used to plan D Day, (Along with a few other!;)). Dryad was a stately country house in Hampshire. There was another big house just off the main road between Wickham and Fareham that the RN used, in about 1957 it was a headquarters for victualing.

Certainly not HMS Dryad/Southwick Park:

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/upload/img_400/house.jpg

and I don't think it's HMS Mercury/Leydene, either, which is red-brick:

http://www.mccrow.org.uk/England/Eas...deneStill1.jpg

Could the sign above the door read "A. Bloggs is licensed to sell intoxicating liquor of all descriptions on or off the premises."

End of course knees-up?

So it was a pub? ;)

Is it confirmed as Dryad? Does anyone know the name of the house? I'll spend a little time with Google Earth/Streetview... Darn it - just seen aa's post.

The Admiral appears to have been Rear Admiral (Sir) Cloudesley Robinson (K)CB, but I can't find any photographs of him to confirm.

The other possibility is Seafield Park, which in the 60s-80s was the home of FAA survival training, survival equipment training and not far from Daedalus:

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...afieldpark.jpg

Could well be Seafield Park. Went through there in 1982 - Wessex on the grass out front for casualty recovery training?

I don't know who the Admiral is, but the 2/O WRNS sat down on the left looks like David Walliams!

No lookers in the picture - is that a clue?