In May 2022, we received copies of Joe’s War Service Record from RAF Cranwell. 2 A3 colour photocopies of Form 543A complete with 12 pages of common abbreviations! This the story of what I managed to decipher.
In September 1939, Joe had served his apprenticeship with the C.W.S. and was working as a Butcher’s Manager. He was living at home at 25 Park View, Padiham. I don’t think his was a Reserve Occupation so I’m not entirely clear what happened between then and September 1941, when he enlisted with the RAF.
The fact that pre-war, his younger brother Tom, spent three years in Egypt with the RAF probably influenced his choice of Service. Joe’s service record shows that he originally applied to the Aviation Candidates Selection Board to be considered as Air Crew but was recommended for training as Aircrafthand/Flight Mechanic Airframes or Engines with a rank of AC1
His initial postings until December 1941 were to various Recruit Centres for inoculations and basic training. 3RC was RAF Padgate, Warrington and 2RC, RAF Cardington, near Bedford.
In March 1942, he was sent to No 2 School of Technical Training at RAF Cosford, Albrighton near Wolverhampton. 2 S of TT had opened in 1938 to train airmen in servicing aircraft. Over 70,000 engine and airframe mechanics, fitters and armourers were trained there during the war. In July 1942, he was transferred to RAF Wig Bay near Stranraer and served here as part of 57 Maintenance Unit until May 1945 with short trips away in November 1943 to 3 S of TT at RAF Weeton near Blackpool for further training and in July 1944 to Windermere where Shorts had a temporary plant making Sunderland MKIII flying boats.
From 1 to 28 June 1945, he attended a Royal Navy course at RAF Locking (No 5 S of TT) near Weston- super – Mare via RNB Lee -on- Solent for 1 day, presumably so that he could for some unknown reason, be transferred to the Royal Navy, who paid his release benefits. He was discharged on 4 July 1945 under Para 652 Cl22 of King’s Regulations – “services no longer required”. Total service was 3 years 297 days.
Joe spent nearly 3 years at RAF Wig Bay on Loch Ryan near Stranraer. The Loch was an almost a perfect location for patrolling the North Atlantic and for training personnel and servicing the seaplanes needed to do this. There was plenty of space for mooring planes and later for their storage, prior to disposal. Facilities in the camp seemed to be limited and locals have recorded how service personnel were often forced to occupy condemned buildings in the local area. I vaguely recall visiting the area with Joe many years ago and him telling a story about how he had to walk for many miles in order to get back to the base presumably after he married Mum in April 1944. Little of the former base which closed in 1957 is now left but efforts are being made to record what remains and to capture local memories.
At first, it looks as though Joe was trained as a Flight Mechanic (Engines) FME and as such he may have had to fly in the planes he was servicing to ensure that they were performing optimally in flight. Later, he became an Engine Fitter IIE which I think was a more specialised, land based trade, fitting and repairing aero engines. Throughout his time served his character was always assessed as “VG”and his proficiency as “A Sat or U/T “when under training. He also rose in rank to AC2, and then Leading Aircraftman, confirming his sister Agnes’ view that he was a hard working, conscientious individual.
A number of operational squadrons headed by No 240 Squadron arrived and left RAF Wig Bay over the war years with aircraft types such as Consolidated PBY Catalinas, Saunders-Roe Lerwicks and Short Sunderlands all being present. As a serving member of 57 Maintenance Unit, I assume these were the types of seaplanes he was helping to keep flying.