RCAF R/ or J/ numbers

[Alain57]

Hi ,

Can someone tells me why some RCAF personel has a R/ or a J/ before their personel numbers ?

[Alex Smart]

Hi Alain,

There may be something in the Aces high Books on these numbers.
I'll take a look.

Nothing on the letters , but numbers
Then again this only covers the RAF I think. But regards anything that is connected to Canada I only found-
36000-36299 Direct EnteryCommissions, General Duties Branch, plus ex-NCO pilots and transfers from RCAF and RNZAF 1934-1939.
37000-42999 covers years 1934 -1939.
36201-361200 Boy Cadets (Canadian) June 1918.
654721 - 654999 Czech enlistments in Canada January 1942.

Cannot see anything on the "R" and "J".except that in Chapter 5 several named pilots from the RCAF have serial numbers with a "J"
Barker,Berryman,Browne,Carter,Chown,CotterillCull, Curphey, Etienne,Farquharson,Fox, Francis Garland. These all on page 207.While on page 51 there is Breithaupt that has RCAF No. R123142(NCO) J17271(Officer).He joined 54 OTU from 6(P) AFU as a Sgt on 29th July 1942. Could be that for Aircrew, "J" was for lower ranks and "R" was for Officers?There is also Michael McPharlin who had RCAF No. C 1530 joined RCAF 2nd June 1940 transfered to RAF went to 403 Sqdn rom 71 then returned to 71 and then to USAAF.

Alex

[Amrit1]

J was for Officers
R was for Other Ranks

You'll find that airmen who got promoted from the ranks to officers had two numbers. Makes searching for details of indivduals difficult sometimes.

[Frank Olynyk]

I believe the R refers to Reserves. The number can also be preceeded by a C, which refers to a permanent, regular, commission. Prewar officers seem to mostly be "C"s.

Frank.