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- - Maintenance Units (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=37056)

Maintenance Units

Can anyone point me to any detailed information on RAF Maintenance Units in the Middle East theatre of Ops during World War 2?
My father served in 117, 119 and 357 MU's, and I would like to know more about them. I have checked the web, but apart from Wikipedia listing MUs and location, I have not been able to find out more

Re: Maintenance Units

117 MU

Formed 19.10.41 as (Aircraft Assembly Unit) Middle East Command at Port Sudan. From 19.4.43 in transit to No.21 Personnel Transit Centre, Kasfareet, 8.5.43 to Zuara, 21.7.43 to Sorman. Then 7.10.43 from Middle East AF to NAAF. From 14.11.43 at Bari (Dett at Catania from 11.12.43). Disbanded 10.6.44.

Reformed 8.7.44 (Aircraft Storage) in 218 Group at Elmas. Disbanded 7.11.44

119 MU

Formed 19.10.41 as (Aircraft Assembly Unit) in Middle East Command at Shaibah. 1.10.42 to 218 Group. Disbanded 1.7.45.

357 MU

Formed 3.6.44 as (Aircraft Assembly Unit) in Desert AF at Sinello, 10.1944 to Jesi, 4.1946 to Treviso.

Re: Maintenance Units

There are Operations Record Books (same as an Army war diary) for those units at the National Archives in SW London but in my experience Maintenance Unit ORBs were not that good at recording what they were actually doing other than reports of tons of equipment, number of aircraft, cases of ammunition moved. Getting copies would probably be prohibitively expensive as you will be quoted for a full copy rather than us the time period your father was with that particular unit.

The relevant file references are:
No.117 MU = AIR 29/1046 & AIR 49/302
No.119 MU = AIR 29/1046
No.357 MU = AIR 29/1084

The ORBs are in bound volumes, usually with three or four units in each binding, which explains why No.117 & No.119 MU share a file reference. The second item for No.117 MU are a series of what are described as medical reports. These could just be returns from the Medical Officer about general fitness and well being to more specific records about individuals on the unit.

Re: Maintenance Units

Thanks to both Larry and Alan for the information