Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Hiya, can anyone help with the full names of these pilots and one aircrew, all were pilots from 13 Squadron 1940.

LAC -- Gnapp
Flight Lieutenant G.F Watson-Smyth
Flying Officer J.R Davenport
Pilot Officer B.S Jones

Thanks everyone!

Danny

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Danny: You really need to search The Gazette as you can find much of what you ask there quite easily. For example 25069 George Francis Watson-Smyth and 25099 John Roderick Davenport. Possibly 40834 Basil Silva Jones? First 2 took 5 mins to find in The Gazette, last one a bit longer

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

GNAPP,
Could be -
E, Gnapp, 117795.
Eric Gnapp, 217148.
D G, G'Napp, 751043
At first search in the NA file it looked like a "1" but on second look following Paul's post below I see a definite difference between the 7 and the 1 of G'Napp's service number.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C15624135

Page 308

All must have survived WW2 as only one is listed in CWGC, and that was a WW1 man from Bedford.

G'Napp, recorded in the ORB as a Sgt in October 1940

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Danny,

For officer's names - especially where you have the initials and ranks - using the Air Force Lists would be of huge value to you. They are online free at the following website;

https://digital.nls.uk/british-milit...chive/97343434

You can download them too. For May 1940 names I would use the June 1940 list as the names are up to date to about mid-May. Even more useful when used in conjunction with the CWGC and London Gazette websites as Chris suggests.

For enlisted men, not so easy. The best source are the AIR 78 enlisted personnel name cards, free to download or view at TNA website. If you have a service number you can generally find the full name, but for one reason or another I would guess about 30% of the cards are unusable (initials only) or unreadable (blurred, too faint).

Squadron Appendices can be a huge source for names (initials and service numbers) if lucky. As I mentioned before 13 Squadron have as many as 5 Appendices for the 1939-1940 period.

regards,

Martin.

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

I suspect

E, Gnapp, 117795.
Eric Gnapp, 217148.

Are the same man (11795 is also Eric) with same birth year 1898 I suspect only WW1 service and so can be eliminated I think maybe for some reason he enlisred in 1916 discharged and enlisted again 1918 - the other G’napp Better chance

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

D G G’napp is almost certainly


Donald George G'napp
Birth
4 Mar 1911
Death
Apr 1996
Chichester, West Sussex, England

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Btw correct service number is

D G G'Napp
751043 enlisted circa 1937

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Thanks Paul, I see now that it is a "7".
What is the significance of the "F" stamp on some of the papers ?
Alex

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

I think F is something to do with his Reserve Class if he left service

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Yep

http://www.rafcommands.com/reference...ervice-number/

“In addition prewar cards are stamped F in a circle denoting Class F reserve.”

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

Thank you Paul, I have puzzled over that for some time.
Should have looked deeper on the forum that has the link you gave

Re: 13 squadron pilots and aircrew names needed 1940
 

All,

Thank you for everything and sending me to the right areas of research. It is a pain to locate LAC and other details, very grateful for everyone's help.

Cheers

Danny