Seeking info on P/O Roi Leonard Saunders KIA May 22nd 1940

[rafcommands]

Hi Paul,

As I progressed with AFL I wondered about this and considered if it was vestiage of paper transfer using a unissued/free service number.

The possible senario was enlistment into AAF, service as either ground or Sgt Pilot then commission.

The F1180 shows date of wings as April 1937 and The Gazette as Commission to RAFO Dec 1936. This negates the possibility of AAF service as Sgt Pilot and age would make any reasonable service time as OR groundcrew before selection for pilot training an outside possibility.

In addition progress to Commission via AAF structure would have a more likely result in AAF appointment rather than Class A in the RAFO.

I did also consider the senario of pre war service in RAF then re-enlistment into AAF as OR but the AIR 78 card lacks the normal Class F marking. AFL also shows continuous service from 1936 to advent of war and posting to No.57 Sqn from Nov 1938.

All a bit contrived to link the 800420 to 70602 but possible that for admin/attestation he attended the local AAF unit at Hendon for short induction while waiting for Commission appointment and course commencement at FTS. If he undertook any prolonged on unit training it would have steered a career towards AAF.

Edit:
More AFL diving brings up posting as APO 16 Jan 1937 to No.8 FTS under instruction.

Ross