The S.E.A.A.F bit, is that they were attached to the Australian air Forces? S.E.A.A.F - South East Asia Air Force
MAINTENANCE COMMAND Maintenance Units Technical activities undertaken by Maintenance Command units are effected today in Base Repair Depots (BRDs), Air Defence Ground Environment Systems (ADGES) Maintenance Support Establishment (AMSE) / Regional ADGES Maintenance Establishments (RAMEs) and numerous other smaller units. The present structure of Maintenance Command, however, had its modest beginning in post-independence Kanpur. To support air operations in the Far East during World War II, No. 322 Maintenance Unit was formed in 1940 in the 21 TATA hangars at Chakeri, Kanpur. The functions of the unit included arming of bomber and fighter aircraft like Liberator, Lancaster, Hurricane, Tempest and Dakota. The unit was further expanded to include aircraft storage and servicing activities, while the logistics support and aeroengine storage functions operated at Armapur Estate, 25 km away from Chakeri. In August 1945, after Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces and hostilities came to an end, this No. 322 Maintenance Unit was disbanded and Royal Air Force Station, Kanpur came into formal existence.
Crickey dave!---I'm humbled in the presence of greatness! You've answered a lot of questions that have been puzzling me for years-[Ernie never talked about his war years but did have a taste for curries!]------Many thanks again and i hope Santa is extra generous to you this year. Ps Thanks Sol [sorry for being a bit Gormless]
Hi Sol Just to let you know that after looking up 215 Sqn for someone else on Rootschat I can confirm that 215 Sqn were operating Liberators and Dakotas in India at that point in time. If he was there in 1944 as well 99 Sqn were also operating Libbies in India (and Wellingtons by both Sqns before that!). I can give you a run down of where & when they based in India if required. Dee
Hi Sol Just to let you know that after looking up 215 Sqn for someone else on Rootschat I can confirm that 215 Sqn were operating Liberators and Dakotas in India at that point in time. If he was there in 1944 as well 99 Sqn were also operating Libbies in India (and Wellingtons by both Sqns before that!). I can give you a run down of where & when they based in India if required. Dee Cheers Dee, thanks for that information. I didn't have time to search records for all squadrons then so I posted only those I found in first 100. Thanks again. Enes
I wonder if anyone can help----A relative of mine died recently and all i know about his WW2 service is that he was in the RAF[ground crew] based in India 1941-1945.I've tried looking on th'net but had no joy.Can anyone tell me what squadrons were based in India during this period? Thanks Look up SEAC southeast asia command. ACSEAC.com from UK was a very good site but is down at the moment. various sqdns operated there. RAAF RCAF RAF RNZAF My Dad's was 159 Squadron Canadians flying Liberators mainly operating at RAF Digri.
Hi Ranville.I feel your pain mate.I have been looking on and off for details on India,its a pain in the rear.I was on here last year looking.You don't happen to know where he was based do you?, My grandfather was out there,based in New Delhi,but appeared to travel.I have loads of pics,even some airgraphs,but no bloomin clues to much.I assume he was on ground crew,he always told us he was a driver,Im sure he said he drove Mountbatten,but,the old bugger never wrote on the back of the pics.I would love his service records,but,like everything else these days,ya gotta pay! I found this site with a lot of bases on it, it tells you the squadrons and maintaintance units for each base.A lot of info is on members page,but it's £750 a year.Im thinking of joining,it might help me in my quest. No harm in looking. http://www.rafweb.org/Default.htm Tulip
Just to clarify, Malcolm's RAFWEB site is £7.50 a year, not £750 as shown in previous post. Regards Pete
Hi, I know this is old but i am researching about my dad and was in Lucknow but the link has faded / aged / well it is not working. Can it be re found?
My father sadly now deceased, was an RAF sergeant (ground crew) in 322 Maintenance Unit Cawnpore, I know he at some stage went to Burma as has the Burma star and did say he had been, what would be his involvement there. I am not sure if he went to service planes or to actually fight, I do have his service record which makes no mention of it. I am trying to piece together his war years through his many photographs and contents of his kitbag which we found in the loft of the family home. I would appreciate any help. thank you in advance. Sandra
Hello Sandra, welcome to the forum. As you will see from the criteria for the Burma Star a serviceman did not have to actually serve in Burma to qualify for the medal. Hope this is a help..... Service ashore[SIZE=small][edit][/SIZE] Army and Navy personnel and Air Force ground crew serving ashore qualified through entry into operational service in Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Airborne troops of the Armies who took part in airborne operations in a qualifying area for land operations qualified by entry into operational service. Air crew who flew over the qualifying land and sea areas within the specified dates qualified by an operational sortie, while air crew on transport or ferrying duties qualified by at least three landings in any of the qualifying land areas.[1][2] The medal was also awarded for service during certain specified periods in China, Hong Kong, India, Malaya and Sumatra, all dates inclusive:[15] Bengal and Assam in India from 1 May 1942 to 31 December 1943.[2] Bengal and Assam, east of the Brahmaputra and Dihang Rivers, from 1 January 1941 to 2 September 1945.[2] China from 16 February 1942 to 2 September 1945.[2][15] Hong Kong from 26 December 1941 to 2 September 1945.[2][15] Malaya from 16 February 1942 to 2 September 1945.[2][15] Sumatra from 24 March 1942 to 2 September 1945.[2][15] Service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after 8 December 1941 but prior to the start dates listed above was recognised by the award of the Pacific Star More re qualification here...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Star
Service in 322 MU alone would not result in the award of a Burma Star. If you have his service record it may help to post it on here. That is a typo; 'Bengal and Assam, east of the Brahmaputra and Dihang Rivers, from 1 January 1941 to 2 September 1945' should read '...from 1 January 1944...'
Sandra, what was his name and dates of posting at 322MU? 322 MU was formed officially 21st May 1943 at RAF Station Cawnpore (now Kanpur) . Function of the unit was repair and overhaul of airframe, engines and ancilalry equipment. An ORB exists at NA (693 pages!) but it will be very officer centric and unlikely to mention any NCOs. The sole mention of the airmen and NCOs occur in a couple of booklets/pamphlets the station published that is now preserved in the ORB. if you have a name for your father and dates for posting, you can try your luck looking up the names.. if he had won any sports medals, more likely to find his name inthe ORB.
My adoptive dad. Randall Edward Lowden served in Burma. LAC CAN R187933 from November 5th 1942-February 7 1946. 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal.and Canadian Volunteer Service medal and clasp. For years afterwards he would attend his reunions regardless of where it was held. I had the honour of assisting him when they decided having their reunion in Windsor, Ontario. Dad passed on in 1985. With full honours WPD funeral where he served on police force as a Sgt. Beloved by so many people, we were over whelmed by the out pouring of support. From the moment I was old enough to understand anything about war, service etc. There was no denying that his love and pride for not only his country. But for the men he served with. I was named after one of his war buddies. As was my adoptive brother Mike. It honours me to live with the legacy he left behind. Recently we went to the Essex ceremony where a wall was built with names of all those who served in RAF in this area.
I am looking for some records for my Grandfather who served with the 322MU. He was part of Temporary Project #1 and served in Burma from January 1945 - September 2, 1945. He was not awarded the Burma Star, as the records of his service there cannot be found. His name is Jack Airone and his service number is 1602580. Any help would be much appreciated. He moved to Canada shortly after the war and Burma is one of our main topics of conversation. Does anyone know of anywhere else to look also? Thanks in advance, Daryl
I have just found your website again, thank you for your information which has come in very very useful, I have downloaded my father's service record. I am still trying to work out which unit he was posted to Burma with and where? I see an Orb exists, unfortunately I live in Australia and cannot go to the National Archives but if you do have a copy I would be eternally grateful if you could look up and see if there is any mention of him?? Kind regards, Sandra Hemsworth, Nee Blackburne
Hi - I just found this site as I am trying to research my father's records from SEAAF in India. I think he was stationed in Cawnpore as I recall that name being mention as a child. I will try and find his Service Records online. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi all, Anyone still on this thread? Im hoping someone might be able to help shed some light on what my grandfather was upto during WW2. I have a service number for him but get no results on the mainstream sites. Only other info we have is Base Repair Depot 225/Worly. Now Worly means nothing to us. We know he was overseas from November 1943 - February 1946 in India & we think in Lucknow. His service number was 1011301. He was lucky enough to survive the war, but came back physically & mentally scarred, &, like others he refused to talk about what he had seen & done. Thanks, Mark
Hi, Could it be Base Reception Depot Worli instead? It might be an idea to get a copy of his Service records if you haven’t already done so.
