Hello, This is my first post and am hoping that members can help me with my search for information on a relative who served in Bomber Command aircrew during WWII. I will try to give you as much information as possible. The surname was Wray, first names being Eric Clifford. He was a Flight Sergeant for most of the war, being a navigator or navigator/radio operator. I believe he flew Welliingtons in the first part of his war career and then transferred to Lancasters, probably for the years 1943-45. I believe he was in a Pathfinder Squadron in 1944-45. I do not know which squadrons for either type of aircraft he was in although I have searched a number of crew databases of squadrons at random without luck. One operation I believe he flew in ocurred on 19 September 1944 when 227 Lancasters and 10 Mosquito aircraft of Nos 1 and 5 Groups attacked targets in the Moenchen Gladbach/Rheydt areas in the Ruhr region. Some definite facts I have about him I was able to glean from the London Gazette for the postwar years 1945-49. They seem to indicate that he transferred from the RAF to the RAFVR. They are as follows: Lon. Gaz. 10 July 1945: states that he applied to for commission as a Pilot Officer on 28 may 1945. Two numbers are given and I wonder if they could be service numbers; ie 1452224 and 198384. Lon. Gaz. 4 January 1946: Refers to date of 28 November 1945 and confirmed rank as Flying Officer. Number again given as 198384 Lon. Gaz. 14 July 1949: Appointed to Training Branch. He died in about 1980, never saying much about his wartime career. It is really his wartime career in ? which Squadrons/ bases I would like to know - I just don't know where to look. Any help from members on this would be much appreciated. Thank you Rattler
Regarding RAF service numbers, when an airman obtained a commision he changed numbers. So the first number (1452224) is his enlisted man's number and the second is his new commisioned number (198384).
Hi Rattler 1) How are you related to this young man? You can obtain his service record but how close a relative depends on how much information you can get. That will tell you which squadrons he was on. 2) Does anyone in the family remember where he was stationed (letters would be of use) as if you can tell where hes stationed someone can do a lookup of squadrons based there. Might be worth trying Flight Global if you havent already done so as they sometimes listed the sqn. It like the London Gazette is a bit of a rigmarole but worth a try... Come back to us and we will see what else we can find for you.
Hello and welcome to the forum, as Dee suggests the best way forward is to apply for the service records which will tell you much of what you want to know. Have a look at the details below. Good luck, Peter. .................. Applications for RAF personnel records from family members and other authorized persons RAF Disclosures Section Room 221b Trenchard Hall RAF Cranwell Sleaford LINCS NG34 8HB 01400 261201 Ext 6711 Ext 8161/8159 (Officers) Ext 8163/8168/8170 (Other ranks) Obtaining service records for those who served in the Royal Air Force during world war 2 is more or less straightforward, but will only divulge service information to the person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain permission from the person about whom they are enquiring or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them. In some cases the PMA make a charge of £30.00 for any information they provide. Except to the person to which it refers, or the widow or widower of that person. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/23223-obtaining-raf-service-records-rules.html
To DaveB, Oggie2620 and Peter Clare Thank you all for this helpful advice. It is much appreciated. Regards Rattler
I know this is like 11 years late but Eric Clifford Wray was my grandad and I too am very curious to know more about him!
Thank you so much. I'm curious as to who it is. I never met him and my dad has passed away so I can't ask any questions about him. Thanks v much
