Form 543 - No. 2 R.C. Cardington

[SpikeCov]

Hi Larry

It must have been tough in the Burmese jungle with the humidity and being miles away from civilisation. I suppose with radar in its infancy and probably a logistic nightmare getting the equipment to the far east, that men like your late father in law were the eyes and ears transmitting reports and sightings to headquarters.

I found a form Pro Forma 181 amongst papers my grandad had and its typed as follows and repeated three times on one sheet of paper:

Date 4th February 1944
This is to certify that No......... Rank ......Name...........
Trade ...Gunner... has been tested and found educationally suitable for remustering as ...Air Gunner...
........................
Education Officer
R.A.F. Station, Manston. Kent

So my grandad did do air gunner training and I am not sure why he did not carry on in this role. Do you know if the RAF still used the Fairey Swordfish as late as February 1944?

I also think he was in 701 Defence Squadron on 16/08/1941 and the service records clerk added the 2 when the RAF regiment was formed in February 1942 or shortly afterwards.

Spike