ID of FAA NCO pilots

[Tom Semenza]

I am hoping that someone can provide the given names and service numbers of the following FAA NCO pilots who made claims in the early years of the war. All held the rating of Petty Officer (A).

Burston, L. E. (800 Sqn.-Aug./Nov. 1940)
Gardner, J. A. (803 Sqn.-July 1940)
Heard, William J. (800 Sqn.-June 1940)
Jopling, A. (800 Sqn.-Feb. 1941)
Peacock, Geoffrey W. (804 Sqn.-April 1940)
Stockwell, W. E. J. (804 Sqn.-April 1940)

Thanks,
Tom

[Brian]

Hi Tom

I'm sure that I can help with some if not all, but please give me a few days!

Cheers
Brian

[Tom Semenza]

Thanks, Brian. Looking forward to your input.

Cheers,
Tom

[Brian]

Hi Tom

Here we go:

James Alexander GARDNER Fx.76489
Leslie Edward BURSTON Jx.87569
William John HEARD Ply.x.1047
William Eric John STOCKWELL Jx.136602
Geoffrey William PEACOCK Po.x.1051
Arthur JOPLING Jx.135989

I'm not sure how the FAA Service Number system works!

Cheers
Brian

[Martin Gleeson]

I have been looking at this thread with interest and share Brian's puzzlement concerning the FAA Service Number system !

Burston on the CWGC website is listed with 'FX.81310'.

Heard has a detailed biography on the 'Flying Marines' website. Pre-war his Royal Marine number was 'Portsmouth/X.1047', but after pilot training he was transferred to the Royal Navy and received the new number of 'FX.97172'.
To confuse matters further Heard is on a nominal roll of 804 Squadron for early 1940 (in ADM 207/8 at Kew) where his number is given as 'PLX.1047' but his rank as Petty Officer. So RM number with RN rank at this time.

Peacock was another former Royal Marine, and also has an entry on the 'Flying Marines' website but no service numbers are given for him. He too appears on that 804 Squadron nominal roll as 'POX.1051' (sic) and with Petty Officer rank. Again this looks like his former Royal Marine number.
Does anyone have his RN/FAA service number ?

Stockwell's s/n in the 804 Squadron nominal roll - again - is listed as 'D/JX.136302'. Either this or Brian's source has a typo in one digit.
It gets worse ! Stockwell became a POW of the Italians in November 1940. His name appears on a list of RN POWs held by them in WO 392/8 at Kew. In this his service number is recorded as 'FAA/FX.79972'.

Can anyone please clarify these issues ?

Regards,

Martin.

[udf_00]

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/NavalNumbers.html

If I understand correctly, FAA ratings must got a "F" in the prefix of their service number.
FAA/FX nnnnn
The others service numbers were issued on enlistment in the RN (JX) or RM (PO, PLY). FX s.n. were issued when transferred to the FAA.

Petty Officer Airman Arthur Jopling, FX 79821. DSM London Gazette 11 JUN 1942

http://www.godfreydykes.info/ROYAL%2...RATINGS%5D.htm

The X in the prefix for those joining on or after 25 OCT 1925.

[Brian]

Hi guys

Fascinating!

Just to add to the confusion, I believe Geoff Peacock transferred to the RAF!

Cheers
Brian

[Tom Semenza]

Brian, thanks so much for the names and numbers. Thank you as well, Martin, for your additional input, and 'udf-00' for the links explaining the RN numbering system.

Cheers,
Tom