Ground based RAF Radio Operators - Western Desert

I'm trying to find out how I can find out more information on the role of Ground based RAF operators attached to 258 Fighter Wing in the Western Desert 1940 to 1941. My late father was a LAC in the RAF attached to this wing and was injured and taken to Cairo for treatment. Any help in pointing me in the right direction to find out more detail would be helpful. I have his RAF Service Record, but if anyone else has a copy of a service record you will know it is very difficult to read and understand. thanks

 

Do you have more precise dates?

The RAF started with a relatively sophisticated ground setup in 1941:

Close Air Support for 8 Army in CRUSADER

Later in the war (Alamein 1942) you can see the comms chain reflected in the radio logs:

Target identified by Battalion passed to -> Brigade -> RAF Tentacle -> Strike wing / target accepted and strike allocated or not accepted Strike Wing -> RAF Tentacle -> Brigade -> Battalion

All of this required signallers.

All the best

Andreas

 

Hi Andreas
Looking at his RAF record (which is difficult to read) he was assigned to the 258 fighter wing western desert in August 1941 then was a casualty in early 1942 and returned home to the uk later in 1942. I did wonder about operation crusader. Do you think there is anywhere I can find more information on the units attached specifically attached to the 258 fighter wing? Thanks again for your help

 

Probably only in the unit war diaries, so if you know which units he was with that would help.

258 Wing set up a fighter operations room in May 1941, and this would no doubt have necessitated a good radio network.



All the best

Andreas

 

As he was wounded in January 1942, this seems like when and where it might have happened.

https://web.archive.org/web/2022070...news/raf-regiment-80th-anniversary-episode-2/

All the best

Andreas

 

Hi Andreas

Many thanks that’s helpful. I will try and find out what unit my father was in. Will also arrange to get more information on operational Crusader.

thanks again
Scott

 

His service record gives the unit he was posted to.

If he was posted to a sub unit the record would list it and the date of posting.

All formations had a requirement for establishment staff for their own needs.

Free download RAFAHB Air Support briefly mentions role and place in structure of No.258 Wing signals during Crusader.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/what-we-do/o...-studies/air-support-in-the-second-world-war/

Ross

 

Hi Ross

That’s helpful. Unfortunately his RAF service record is extremely difficult to read, with poor writing and it also being a photocopy. However will keep trying to establish the unit he was in.
Thanks again for your response.
Regards
Scott

 

If you are having difficulty why not post the posting section here and ask for assistance from the forum membership.

Redact sections if you wish but posting will probably move your research and understanding on quite a bit.

Ross

 

That’s a good idea, will post a copy of the record and see if anyone can make sense of elements of it which I’m unable to read.
Thanks
Scott

 

Looking for help from the forum is possible to make sense of my late father's RAF service record.
Has anyone come across these acronyms before? I’m trying to find what unit he was in when he was posted to the western desert in 1941. This will allow me hopefully to find more information on the operations he was involved in. He trained as a ground radio (wireless operator) in Blackpool in 1940 then shipped to Libya in 1941 attached to 258 fighter wing in 8/41. He was injured later that year and transferred to Cairo for treatment then shipped home to the UK. I’m trying to understand the codes just after training and during Libya and ultimately all the codes after being discharged from Halton Hospital in 9/42. If anyone can help that would be great. I have uploaded a copy of his RAF service record.

 

Hi Scott,

The record shows the sequence

Pass out of No.3 Signals School as trade trained W/T Operator
Operational Training Unit: 3 Radio School, formerly 3 Electrical and Wireless School,... | The National Archives
Posted to RAF Station Invergordon HH (ie Headquarters Holding - not to fill an establishment position but as part of manpower reserve - unit gives messing, pay and ongoing training - used as trade ground based W/T operator eg morse)
Middle East - date of paper transfer from Home Echelon to Middle East Command - he would be trooped after kitting embarkation leave etc.
Posted - note not attached - 258 Wing again used as trade ground based W/T operator by Wing Headquarters.
Operations record book | The National Archives
Appendices | The National Archives
Admitted 22 Medical Receiving Station
May have been returned to 258 Wing or remained at 22 MRS but move not noted.
Home Echelon UK again paper transfer with return to uk trooping move.

Ross

 

Discharge Halton
No.9 Initial Training Wing - again all postings to unit establishment as trade.
Appendices | The National Archives
No.2 Observer Advanced Flying Unit
7 Armament Training Station, Acklington, later became 2 Air Observer School; followed by... | The National Archives
Cannot read the next but suspect just one of the unit name changes for 2(O)AFU as he is posted back on name change again.
Station Headquarters RAF Station Castle Bromwich
Castle Bromwich. | The National Archives
Next is his only attachment on this record
RAF Station Northolt - normally attachments used for short visits and training courses
Northolt. With appendices. | The National Archives
Back to Castle Bromwich

Ross

 

Hi Ross

That’s really helpful, I will investigate further.
Thanks again for your help
Scott

 

What's the date of his admission to 22 MRS?

All the best

Andreas

 

Unfortunately the ORB ends in August 41 for the year, and the Appendices seem to end in June.

All the best

Andreas

 

Hi Andreas

Discovery says Jan41 to June45 for ORB is this a catalogue error?

Watch out for the South African Air Force use of No.258 Wing rather than the RAF one.
Search results: "258 wing" | The National Archives

Ross

 

Unable to make out the date he was admitted unfortunately

 

Note that my Father was admitted to 22 Medical Receiving Station. Assume this was due to injuries sustained in Libya. How do we find out causation of injuries and his initial treatment in Heliopolis and subsequent care in the UK?

He did have a painful memory of being flown across desert to Cairo - do you know dates?

 

You don't.

Like your medical records today - if they survived they are not open to third party non specialist inspection.

Ross