RAF Servicing Commandos

davel · 20-08-2007, 04:33 PM

I am trying to research the RAF Servicing Commandos as part of a project at work and then later in the year travel out to France to visit some of the places found during our research.
The problem I am having is that there seems very little information on the internet and at my local library about the Servicing Commandos. I have found little bits, like what the size of a unit, roughly where they were during the war.
I would like to find some information on what they did for training, techinical and soldering. The particlar area of interest is of the Servicing Commandos activities around the B2 and B3 airfields near Bazenville in France.
If anyone can point me in the right direction for any information, I would be very grateful.
Cheers
Dave

mahross · 20-08-2007, 04:42 PM

Dave

There is a useful article in the most recent issue of the Journal of the RAF Historical Society and deals witht the operations.

Ross

Kyt · 20-08-2007, 05:49 PM

Have you read this:

Amazon.co.uk: Spectacles, Testicles, Fags and Matches: The Untold Story of RAF Servicing Commandos in World War Two: Books: Tom Atkinson

Cheaper copies can be found on the net. There's another book on it's history, but I can remember it at the moment.

and had a look at this site?

http://www.combinedops.com/ROYAL_AIR...G_COMMANDO.htm

davel · 23-08-2007, 03:19 PM

Cheers fellas, for pointing me in a better direction!!!
Many thanks

ecsteve09 · 23-09-2007, 03:17 PM

How are you getting on withthe research? I could probably help. Was a member of 3209 on B2 June /July 1944.
Am new to this web site

Ed

davel · 27-09-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecsteve09

How are you getting on withthe research? I could probably help. Was a member of 3209 on B2 June /July 1944.
Am new to this web site

Ed

Research is going well, I have a couple of books - History of the RAF Servicing Commandos and Spectacles, Testicles, fags and matches, which have been a great help.
I am trying to collate some stories to give my research a more personal touch rather than all facts and figures.
If you have any stories about living and working conditions and any humourous stories about your time at the B2, I would be most grateful.
Cheers
Dave

ecsteve09 · 07-10-2007, 11:15 AM

Unit was on B2 camping near Villiers le Sec. B2 would have been first operational strip but Liberator crash landed early on wrecking most of the tracking which had to be relayed.
3209 went over to Normandy in two landing craft . Most personnel were on American LST whereas the Corporal cook and his equipment were on a smaller LCT which was sunk. 09 men had to feed themselves until into July using ten man compo ration packs heating food with earth filled cans more or less individually.
Slit trenches were dug intially but after a month or so tents arrived which were usually pitched over the top of extended trenches.
We were showered with butterfly bombs on one occasion and I swear that one German Squadron leader had a sense of humour when a flight of aircraft dropped its load on top of us. They turned out to be jetison fuel tanks which hit the ground all round us.
As an armourer most of my time was spent in loading rockets on Typhoon.
In the early days they took off headed out towards the sea to gain height. We would see them turn back and dive to fire at the targets in land.
Unit was withdrawn at beginning of August .
We sailed for Far East in December 44 but that is another story.

20-08-2007, 04:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
davel Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 9	RAF Servicing Commandos I am trying to research the RAF Servicing Commandos as part of a project at work and then later in the year travel out to France to visit some of the places found during our research. The problem I am having is that there seems very little information on the internet and at my local library about the Servicing Commandos. I have found little bits, like what the size of a unit, roughly where they were during the war. I would like to find some information on what they did for training, techinical and soldering. The particlar area of interest is of the Servicing Commandos activities around the B2 and B3 airfields near Bazenville in France. If anyone can point me in the right direction for any information, I would be very grateful. Cheers Dave

20-08-2007, 04:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
mahross Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Penzance, Cornwall, UK Posts: 263	Dave There is a useful article in the most recent issue of the Journal of the RAF Historical Society and deals witht the operations. Ross __________________ Thoughts on Military History

20-08-2007, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	Have you read this: Amazon.co.uk: Spectacles, Testicles, Fags and Matches: The Untold Story of RAF Servicing Commandos in World War Two: Books: Tom Atkinson Cheaper copies can be found on the net. There's another book on it's history, but I can remember it at the moment. and had a look at this site? http://www.combinedops.com/ROYAL_AIR...G_COMMANDO.htm __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page) Last edited by Kyt; 20-08-2007 at 06:06 PM.

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23-08-2007, 03:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
davel Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 9	Cheers fellas, for pointing me in a better direction!!! Many thanks

23-09-2007, 03:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
ecsteve09 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2	How are you getting on withthe research? I could probably help. Was a member of 3209 on B2 June /July 1944. Am new to this web site Ed

07-10-2007, 11:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
ecsteve09 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2	Unit was on B2 camping near Villiers le Sec. B2 would have been first operational strip but Liberator crash landed early on wrecking most of the tracking which had to be relayed. 3209 went over to Normandy in two landing craft . Most personnel were on American LST whereas the Corporal cook and his equipment were on a smaller LCT which was sunk. 09 men had to feed themselves until into July using ten man compo ration packs heating food with earth filled cans more or less individually. Slit trenches were dug intially but after a month or so tents arrived which were usually pitched over the top of extended trenches. We were showered with butterfly bombs on one occasion and I swear that one German Squadron leader had a sense of humour when a flight of aircraft dropped its load on top of us. They turned out to be jetison fuel tanks which hit the ground all round us. As an armourer most of my time was spent in loading rockets on Typhoon. In the early days they took off headed out towards the sea to gain height. We would see them turn back and dive to fire at the targets in land. Unit was withdrawn at beginning of August . We sailed for Far East in December 44 but that is another story.

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