RAF Repair & Salvage Units 1940

[BrianC]

Hi guys

I have scant knowledge of the above. Any information would be appreciated.

Where were these units based? Particularly regarding Hurricane and Spitfire repairs during the Battle of Britain period.

I assume damaged aircraft were flown to these bases by squadron pilots and returned by non-squadron pilots? Who would these have been? We must be talking about dozens of pilots. Are there any records?

Stay safe, take care
Brian

[RSwank]

This might be a start:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civili...r_Organisation

[bearoutwest]

Brian,
I don't know how much in common the RAF and RAAF organizations had in this aspect, but the RAAF RSU had a base structure, but sent out repair teams to crash sites. The crashed/damaged/force-landed aircraft would then be repaired sufficiently to be safely flown to a repair base for more permanent repairs. If unable to be repaired for flight (or if ground transport was impractical) the aircraft would be stripped of usable parts.


Pilots, usually from a nearby pilot pool unit or Air Depot, would be temporarily attached to the RSU (perhaps on an as required basis). These pilots would be sent out to collect and fly the partially-repaired-for-safe-flight aircraft back to a repair centre.


...geoff

[BrianC]

Thanks, Rolland and Geoff

However, I would hope that there are more detailed records somewhere?

Any ideas?

Stay safe, take care

Brian

[RSwank]

There is an article by Peter Dye starting on page 111 about the CRO here:

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...Journal-51.pdf

Since this seems to be from the RAF museum website, perhaps they would have some further information, in particular, if there are some detailed records somewhere.

This is an article about the fate of a particular Spitfire, Spitfire P7350.

https://www.memorialflightclub.com/b...an-repair-unit

There is the reference in the Wiki article:

Wright, Peter. "From Scraps to Scrap", Aeromilitaria, December 2010

perhaps you can track it down.


A very brief discussion in Parliment here:

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-h...e-organisation

[richdlc]

Andy Saunders from the Aviation Historian did a book about the subject although I believe it was mainly images. You could drop him a line

[Chris Goss]

Andy had quite a bit on the company A V Nicholls & Co which transported crashed aircraft to 49 MU at Faygate I believe

[BrianC]

Thanks, guys

Most useful.

Stay safe
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Spoke to Andy-yes the book was images of crashed aircraft being recovered in the Battle of Britain, not a history of such units. As to records, very hit and miss even if they exist but they will be in the NA