Jewish pilots and aircrews in the battle of britain. Over the years, the structure and role of wings has changed to meet the demands placed on the raf. I have his certificate and have been trying to find what he did to receive this honour. Aircrew brevets or wings are to this day awarded by the raf after completion of a significant stage of flying training, and are worn on the left breast. Romualdas marcinkus 22 july 1907 29 march 1944 was a lithuanian pilot. I am converting the despatches for other theatres of war into the new site format. When the royal air force raf was formed in 1918 the design was changed slightly. In the british armed forces, the despatch is published in the london gazette. If your name appeared in these lists you were said to have been mentioned in despatches. A member of the armed forces mentioned in dispatches or despatches, mid is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described. Please see our other items for more original ww1, ww2.
Research army records, military service, war records. A great uncle of mine yeoman of signals frederick horace thorpe was on hms cleopatra during wwii and killed in action against the italians. Is there any way i can find more about these despatches, and more importantly, would i be eligible to get copies. She has the letters which accompanied the oak leaves, but i cant find the gazette entries for the dates either. Is it possible to find out what was written, or what happened some, somehow. Wwii mentioned in despatches headache armed forces. Both chaps are sadly no longer with us, but one of my uncles has got two children still alive whom i have no contact with.
Example of mentioned in despatches letter from the. Post 1920, for the issue of a kings commendation for brave conduct or a mention in despatches, a bronze emblem of a single oak leaf was worn on the appropriate. B dated 7th february 1919 for gallant and distinguished services in the field. A soldier mentioned in dispatches or despatches mid is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldiers gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy. Although quite pleased, i felt rather guilty when i.
Ww1 gv army military japanese victory medal first world war british allies japan. For the first time online, leading british genealogy research website thegenealogist has released over 81,000 records of records of mentioned in dispatches from the first world war, linked to citations from the london gazette. The following officers and men have been mentioned in despatches in recognition of their services during naval operations carried out in conjunction with military operations in. Royal navy medals mid, mentions in despatches, world war 1. My maternal grand father was mentioned in despatches. Rosalie, you would need to get a copy of his war record first which should have details of why he was mentioned in dispatches the 19391945 medal is separate the mentioned in despatches if some sort of honour for something he had done not a medal. Only raf officers of ranks below air commodore will be shown here in detail. Please note, there is a break in the ring section however a nice example and have shown ring size too. This is an original ww2 medal mentioned in despatches oak leaf for sale. Raf service records created since the beginning of the second world war. A member of the armed forces mentioned in dispatches or despatches, mid is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described in some countries, a service members name must be mentioned in dispatches as a condition for receiving certain decorations.
A valuable research tool for family history, genealogy, medal collectors and professional australian ww2 researchers. Mackay, mb, chb, dph, 2115 employed with raf medical branch. The 1944 kings birthday honours, celebrating the official birthday of king george vi, were announced on 2 june 1944 for the united kingdom and british empire, new zealand, and south africa. Mentioned in despatches navy net royal navy community. Second world war most recommendations survive for the raf. German sentries and silently dispatch them to nazi nirvana. Ww2 raf flight lieutenant observer tunic uniform mentioned in despatches. The mid is a special clasp to signify a mention in despatches from the front. Charles thomas elliot holloway chas to all his friends joined the raf as a 16 year old airman. All recipients listed alphabetically with unit indicated. In summary, those made for service with 211 squadron raf in world war ii were as follows. In may 1945 several of us were mentioned in dispatches. In the resources section you will find some excellent guides to wings and wing collecting.
Alternatively you can leave a comment on this page using facebook in the comments box at the bottom of the page. We offers a superb reproduction of the second world war wwii mentioned in despatches certificate, printed on a4 high quality art paper, which will be inscribed with the recipients rank, name and regiment in the same style as appears on the original scrolls. Jan 12, 2014 hi i wonder if you can help me please. The following announcement was written by the folks at. The range of reasons for awarding a mention in despatches was immense. The example of the mentioned in despatches letter from the secretary of state for war from world war one reads.
British royal air force pilots padded wings as issued during world war two. In his youth marcinkus was a lithuanian multifold football champion and a playing coach for the lithuania national football team. The despatches were usually published in the london gazette, so a mention equated to a public commendation. Royal air force combat reports 19391945 the national archives. Despatches during world war 2, submitted by commanders in chief, were published in the gazette from 1941 until 1951. The mention in despatches is the most junior form of recognition that was announced in the london gazette. Im helping a friend whos father was mentioned in despatches twice. Ww2 peoples war homepage archive list timeline about this site. British commandersinchief of a theatre of war or campaign were obliged to report their activities and achievements to the war office in the form of despatches, which were published in the gazette. They are the official reports which pilots or air gunners filed after they had encountered enemy aircraft on operational flights.
In summary, those made for service with 211 squadron raf in world war ii were as follows distinguished service order dso. The royal air force and air forces of the british commonwealth had a huge array of wings and badges for their air crews. The wing shape took the form of an eagle and the monogram became raf. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online for the first time online, leading british genealogy research website thegenealogist has released over 81,000 records of records of mentioned in dispatches from the first world war, linked to citations from the london gazette. The goal is to create a collection of images of as many different patterns, sizes and makes of the wings worn by these valiant people. Public record office air 25025 has recommendation for a military medal. The wings became the symbol of qualification worn by trained pilots. Sometimes erroneously called an oak leaf, the mid for service in this period, is worn on the victory medal and consisted of a single broad spray of oak leaves. It was instituted during world war 1 and continued being awarded for active service right up until 20 aug 1920. Ww2 mentioned in despatches oak leaf medal ribbon clasp sew. Redirected from list of wings of the royal air force wings within the royal air force have both administrative and tactical applications. This is an archived page from the older dcboard forum of raf commands.
Oct 17, 2005 am researching my fiancees grandfather george john william smith who served in the royal engineers. Many of the rafs numbered wings were originally royal flying corps rfc or royal naval air service rnas units wings can be found at every station in the raf and also abroad, deployed on operations. Marcinkus participated in an early transeuropean flight on 25 june 1934, and was the only lithuanian pilot to serve in the royal air force raf during the second world war. Fo robert marshall smith j36983 rcaf mentioned in despatches 626 squadron deceased award effective june 1946 as per london gazette of that date and afro 72646 dated 26 july 1946.
Am researching my fiancees grandfather george john william smith who served in the royal engineers. Sister miss e, smithies was mentioned in a despatch from lieutenant general sir w. Im hoping to add to those sources by displaying as many wings as possible on this site. Therefore, while a navy and raf aircrew might take a similar amount of time to reach an operational squadron, the naval officer has to wait until he has completed his conversion training to receive his wings. I know there is a thread regarding how to obtain service records but i dont know if this will include these. British field commanders despatches the long, long trail. Wwii mentioned in despatches headache armed forces page 1.
My grandfather refused to talk about his experiences in the war but my father says that he was twice mentioned in despatches. The commandersinchief of each theatre of war infrequently submitted a despatch to the war office, outlining the events since the previous despatch and listing those men who had been nominated as worthy of a mention. This list of despatches available on the long, long trail is work in progress. Find thousands of soldiers and army nurses who had come to. In the battle of britain r t bickers, london, 1990 the raf ww2 author, in this official 50th anniversary book, decsribes goodman as palestinian on page 197. This and the victoria cross were the only forms of recognition for gallantry or distinguished service in action that could be made posthumously. Wing commander beamish took over command of a royal air force station after two squadrons there had been intensively engaged in successful fighting operations over france for thirteen days and personally led them on many patrols against the enemy. Together with his sister they all returned to england aboard the minnedosa in 1920. Search records of soldiers awards from the london gazette. Royal air force history section the royal air force, 19391945 the second world war a day by day account the war in france and flanders, 19391940, by major l. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long trail. H lewis raf mentioned in dispatches leaf at the best online prices at ebay. Australian army personnel mentioned in despatches 193945. They also had metal wings used strictly for dress occasions.
Royal air force combat reports 19391945 the national. Mentioned in dispatches wwii citation army rumour service. He was also mentioned in dispatches on 1 january 1945. If you wish to post a query about this page, then please go to the newer raf commands forum and register as a member. We have no idea what this was for but would like to find out. Worth a mention australian army mentioned in despatches ww2. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online on. British raf, airmens service records 191239 wing commander sherrard. British commanders in chief of a theatre of war or campaign were obliged to report their activities and achievements to the war office in the form of despatches, which were published in the gazette. At a recent event we both attended,we got chatting about service careers and. Despatches during world war 2, submitted by commandersinchief, were published in the gazette from 1941 until 1951. I know henry kaye as a fellow volunteer worker at a london based charity. Naval observers are awarded their own aircrew brevet, consisting of shorter wings either side of a fouled anchor surmounted by a crown. Oct 09, 2015 rosalie, you would need to get a copy of his war record first which should have details of why he was mentioned in dispatches the 19391945 medal is separate the mentioned in despatches if some sort of honour for something he had done not a medal.
Army wings operated under the direction of the army hq and delivered. Ww2 mentioned in despatches oak leaf medal ribbon clasp. Recommendations are also available for the military medal, meritorious service medal and in some cases mentions in despatches. Womens lives in war and peace 19391949 which was honoured to sister lorna bradey of the qaimns for distinguished service. Having gained his wings in ealy 1942, he joined 1 sqdn 16.
Ww2 peoples war the war in 80 signals wing raf bbc. Wings within the royal air force have both administrative and tactical applications. Sometimes individuals are mentioned by name, though often it is just the. It was and is an honour granted with a symbol usually an oak leaf appended to a campaign ribbon without a specific medal of its own. Soldiers mentioned in dispatches are now available online. The general conditions applying to awards made by the sovereign to british commonwealth personnel for gallantry are recorded in a number of published and official sources. Short, that is, of getting his full service records from the national archives there may be some family politics with his second wife that make access difficult. He played a leading role in establishing an independent royal air force raf, often referred to as the father of the raf. Overview history 2 pages of the mentioned in despatches. The wings were given royal approval by king george v in february 19 under army order 40. The mention in despatches being sought is an award without a despatch. Ww2 wings in collectable wwii military badges, ww2 boots in wwii royal air.
Hi folks, i only learned last week from my 85 year old mother that both her brothers were mentioned in despatches during ww2. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long. The reports cover action seen by the squadrons, wings and groups serving with. The issue or supplement number, title and date of publication are listed below. Nov 05, 2014 the following announcement was written by the folks at. Mentioned in despatches decorated senior raf pilot officer jacket, post ww2. Oct 24, 2017 if your name appeared in these lists you were said to have been mentioned in despatches. Clarke, robert, flight sergeant 1002829, royal air force no. Most of these badges were fabric wings sewn to the uniform. Air force cross afc full size royal air force military medal raf for gallantry. The 1944 kings birthday honours, celebrating the official birthday of king george vi, were announced on 2 june 1944 for the united kingdom and british empire, new zealand, and south africa being near the end of world war ii, it included a great many military personnel who were mentioned in dispatches the recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their mention.
Does anyone know how i can get a coy of the mid citation for my grandfather, from wwii. Raf militaria for sale in uk 61 used raf militarias. Mentioned in despatches ww2 an example of mentioned in despatches ww2 can be found in millions like us. Ginge was born on 21st jan 1917 in the station family hospital in rawalpindi, india, son of sgt terry marsh culver. Example of mentioned in despatches letter from the secretary.
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