7005 SE and 7132 SE

[jimstallard]

Hello.
I've only just found out that the HDYTYA forums have shut down, but nice to see they have been emulated here, if a little sparse on members as yet.
I'm attaching my Dad's WW2 RAF service record, with annotations of what I have been able to find out.
I wish there were specific histories of SEs 7005 and 7132, or personal recollections, diaries etc, anything really that would detail their movements.
My father passed away in 2007 and unfortunately he was generally unwilling to talk about his experiences with me aside from some funny stories and observations he had about being away from home. He was in Hiroshima just months after the bomb, helping organize water, food and medical supplies. He spent months up in the mountains in freezing cold conditions, really fending for themselves without any support, building pipelines - of course none of this is in his 543.
My father was very resentful that he and his service buddies were not shipped home at the end of the war, and by the time he got back most of Britain was sick of hearing about it and he ended up bottling up all that anger. He was a loving father and I idolized him, but he wasn't a happy man, although he was overjoyed when I gave him a grandson.
I was fortunate to make contact with an old RAF buddy after finding his address in my Dads mementos, and a few times we swapped stories and photos, but after a few emails and letters went un-answered, I assumed he had passed on too. My Dad spoke at length with my Uncle about the war and it wasn't good. Even though SE is general considered to be in a support role, they were actually involved in a lot of fighting as they had to go in, in advance of the spitfires and pilots, to set up airstrips and facilities. He got shot, and was blown up twice (again not detailed in his 543) - he suffered his whole life with a bad back and leg, had several operations and I remember visiting him many times in hospital, the last time they decided to fuse some vertebrae, he lost several inches and came out permanently stooped over.
Prior to his South East Asia tour, my Dad worked at Supermarine in Woolston.
Anyway, sorry to ramble on. If anyone has any histories of SE 7005 and/or 7132 or can decipher any of my Dad's 543 form, or expand on those I've started on, I would be very grateful to hear from you.
All the best,
Jim Stallard, son of LAC William Henry Stallard, 1728997.
(Seems I can't upload a pdf or a hi-rez jpg, so I hope this version of the 543 is readable!)
jimstallard.tumblr.com

[VALLMO9]

The servicing echelons were set up to support the squadrons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force for their role after D-Day. Initially they were set up to be available to be attached to any squadron, but generally they supported their own particular squadron, which was included in their name, i.e. 6041 SE supported 41 Squadron.

Have you tried seeking out published histories for the corresponding squadrons he would've been attached to?

Also, have you read this book "A History of the RAF Servicing Commandos" by JP Kellett & J Davies, published by Airlife in 1989? It's no longer in print, but there are used copies for sale on Amazon UK. Although I gather servicing commandos were a bit different to servicing echelons.

[AdrianBruce]

Thank you Jim for that glimpse.

I suspect that you're way ahead of most of us with your understanding of that form - whether a specialist WW2 / RAF forum would help with more details, I have no idea, but it might be worth a go - you might have tried already of course!

[Jethro Tull]

Hi Jim,

I have a copy of "RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912" by C.G, Jefford which detail all of the squadrons, their locations and aircraft from their creation.

It does not list any SE's or Maintenance Units etc., however based on the numbers given and assuming that these are correct to the squadron they were attached to I can offer the following which may be of use;

No. 5 Squadron, (Thunderbolt II)

14.12.44 to Nazir detachements to Cox' Bazaar, Sadaung, Sinthe
19.04.45 to Cox's Bazaar
28.04.45 to Kyaukpyu
06.06.45 to Cox's Bazaar
10.06.45 to Vizagapatam
24.06.45 to Bobbili
30.08.45 to Vizagapatam
12.09.45 to Zayatkwin
25.09.45 to Baigachi
02.10.45 to Bobbili

No. 132 Squdaron, (Spitfire XIV)

15.09.45 to Kai Tak
15.04.46 Disbanded.

No. 17 Squadron, (Spitfire XIVE)

25.09.45 to Seletar
08.01.46 to Kuala Lumpur
12.04.46 to Seletar
23.04.46 to Iwakuni via HMS Vengeance
06.05.46 to Miho
23.02.48 Disbanded (date retrospectively amended to 31.03.48

I also wonder if line 18 could be a reference to the medal rolls? Perhaps.

Well, I hope there is something there of use for you.

Cheers

Dan

[AdrianBruce]

Dan's post told me something that I didn't know - or had forgotten - which was that the RAF operated the P47 Thunderbolt (an American aircraft). I looked up 5 Squadron in Wikipedia (if you're not interested in aircraft - don't bother reading further!) and at the outbreak of WW2, 5 were in India equippred with Westland Wapiti biplanes. They converted in June 1940 to - the Hawker Hart biplane! And in Feb 1941 they converted to yet another biplane - the Hawker Audax. It wasn't until December 1941 that they got their first monoplanes - (American) Curtiss Mohawks.

So far as I can see, they were in India all this time - anyone imagining that the RAF was full of Spitfires and Hurricanes at this time is quite wrong. The monoplanes were - naturally - in the UK. Elsewhere was a different story.

[jimstallard]

Very many thanks to all, some great things to get my teeth into, much appreciated!
All the best and stay safe out there.

[phsvm]

Hello.
I've only just found out that the HDYTYA forums have shut down, but nice to see they have been emulated here, if a little sparse on members as yet.

Glad you've found us Jim and welcome.

In fact although WDYTYA had considerably more 'members' than we currently have, in reality there were only about 100-150 active regular users. I know as I checked hundreds of members activity records before taking the plunge and, with the help of Guy, Paul and Sally, launching this forum! Some of the members hadn't logged in for 10 years or so, others had registered, posted once (to ask a question) and then never visited the site again!

Having been up and running for less than 3 weeks, the admin team are delighted that so many former WDYDYA members have joined us and we already have over 100 members. Quality is often better than quantity