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Archiver > STEER > 2008-04 > 1208158614


From: "Jack Steer" <>
Subject: Re: [STEER] Military Records
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:36:54 +0100
References: <01e801c89bb5$2db4f940$19744754@your904q9zk0ar><000801c89cd3$381e1ff0$6400a8c0@PC195704879258><98524E00F2114AB59D2991F555040498@simlaptop><009d01c89d73$6ef096c0$5b6b4754@your904q9zk0ar><2B3C6A4F524C44D7BEACE428CE7A8511@simlaptop>


Simon,

Do let us all know how you get on. Funnily enough my father was in Calcutta
in 1944, but on and perhaps under the sea. A CPO taught him to drive in a 3
ton lorry in one afternoon and he was issued with a RN driving licence. Not
at all sure that equipped him to drive a car in the UK.



Regards

Jack Steer





----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: [STEER] Military Records


> Jack,
>
> Thanks for the links, but I am beginning to think that once again, I have
> incorrect info. The links you sent suggest that 215 Squadron were not
> equiped with Dak's until 1945 but Dad was in the thick of it.
>
> I stumbled accross http://www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/index.html and these
> have
> links to Squadron details.
>
> I looked at the Service Records on National Archives and there was only
> one
> reference to a Steer and that is a Combat report by Sergeant Steer from 49
> Squadron. I have requested this but I had problems with the site and I
> still
> cant sign in. I have paid for this pdf and when I do get the link to this,
> I
> will be happy to send this as I somehow think this is not my Sergeant
> Steer,
> 49 Squadron was Bomber Command and not transport. 62 Squadron was in the
> right place with the right aircraft but I have not found anything on Dad
> just yet. 216 Squadron is another possibility as they had Daks from March
> 1943 and were recorded as having a presence in the Aegeon and the far
> east.
>
> 31 Squadron is also a possibility as Returning to India the squadron
> re-equipped with the Dakota. After the Japanese invasion of Burma, it flew
> missions between Calcutta and Rangoon dropping supplies for the XIVth
> Army.
> I have photo's Dad took in both Rangoon and Calcutta.
>
> I will have to dig this out an have another look.
>
> Simon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jack Steer" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 3:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [STEER] Military Records
>
>
>>
>> Simon,
>>
>> <As you seem to be back in the chair>
>>
>> I'm not, nor would I attempt to do the sort of research that was done on
>> your family six years ago.
>>
>>
>>
>> <do you have any access to military records?>
>>
>> Only what there is for free on the web. I do not know what Ancestry has
>> had
>> transcribed.
>>
>>
>>
>> But I did find this, which may be useful
>>
>>
>>
>> Cambridgeshire Archives -
>> http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/visiting/
>>
>> R.A.F. SQUADRON OPERATIONS RECORD BOOKS available on microfilm at ...File
>> Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
>>
>> R.A.F. SQUADRON OPERATIONS RECORD BOOKS ... 1939-Oct 1939 (AIR27/263,
>> microfilm reel 2); 215 Squadron, Sep 1939 - Feb 1942. (AIR27/1329,
>> microfilm
>> reel 16) -
>> www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/.../6F107421-ED25-4E7B-A741-444CD91C4010/0/RAFSquadronsOperationLogBooks.pdf
>> - Similar pages
>>
>> BASSINGBOURN:
>>
>> 104 Squadron, May 1938-Sep 1939 (AIR27/821, microfilm reel 7);
>>
>> 108 Squadron, May 1938 - Sep 1939 (AIR27/849, microfilm reel 11);
>>
>> 21 Squadron, Sep 1939-Oct 1939 (AIR27/263, microfilm reel 2);
>>
>> 215 Squadron, Sep 1939 - Feb 1942 (AIR27/1329, microfilm reel 16);
>>
>> 35 Squadron, Dec 1939, Oct 1942-Dec 1944 (AIR27/379 - 381, microfilm
>> reels
>> 2, 4)
>>
>>
>>
>> 215 Squadron, Sep 1939 - Feb 1942 (AIR27/1329, microfilm reel 16);
>>
>> 35 Squadron, Dec 1939, Oct 1942-Dec 1944 (AIR27/379 - 381, microfilm
>> reels
>> 2, 4)
>>
>> 215 Squadron RAF - http://www.rquirk.com/215.html
>>
>> Reformed October 1, 1935 at Worthy Down from "A" flight of 58 squadron
>>
>> It initially flew Viginia Anson and Harrow aircraft.
>>
>> Twice (in April 1940 and May 1940) it was absorbed into No. 11 OTU.
>>
>> It was reformed again on December 9, 1941 at Newmarket for "overseas
>> service".
>>
>> Air crew were trained at Waterbeach starting February 21, 1942 on
>> Wellington
>> aircraft.
>>
>> The Wellingtons were flown to India at the end of March 1942.
>>
>> Wellingtons were used for supply dropping and bombing until June 23,
>> 1943,
>> when the squadron was withdrawn from operations for conversion to
>> Liberators.
>>
>> Liberators were used on operations starting October 1, 1944 until the
>> squadron's role was changed to transport duties in April 1945 using
>> Dakota
>> aircraft.
>>
>> On February 15, 1946 the squadron was renumbered as 48 squadron
>>
>> Squadron Bases in India:
>>
>> (While using Liberator and Wellington aircraft)
>>
>> Asansol: April 14, 1942 to April 16, 1942
>>
>> Pandavewar: April 17, 1942 to August 17,1942
>>
>> St. Thomas Mount: August 18, 1942 to October 12, 1942
>>
>> Chaklala: October 13, 1942 to March 11, 1943
>>
>> Jessore: March 12, 1943 to September 16, 1944
>>
>> Digri: September 17, 1944 to December 27, 1944
>>
>> Dhubalia: December 28, 1944 to May 4, 1945
>>
>> Aircraft types flown:
>>
>> (While in India)
>>
>> Wellington IC: February 1942 to September 1943
>>
>> Wellington X: September 1943 to August 1944
>>
>> Liberator VI: August 1944 to April 1945
>>
>> Liberator VIII: August 1944 to April 1945
>>
>> Dakota III, IV: April 1945 to February 1946
>>
>> Information from the Official Records
>>
>> The Operation Record, Form 540
>>
>> Liberators listed as serving with 215 Squadron
>>
>> Includes the "fates" of the aircraft.
>>
>> W/O J. L Gilbert RNZAF served as a navigator with 215 Squadron on
>> Liberator
>> and Dakota aircraft. He has kindly provided a copy of his logbook
>>
>> Flying Log of W/O J. L. Gilbert
>>
>> Ken Kemp served as an Air Gunner on 215 Squadron: Linda Ibrom has
>> produced
>> a
>> very detailed write up on his time with 215.
>>
>> Ken Kemp, Liberator Gunner
>>
>> Note: L. Anthony Leicester has written a book "Flights into the Night"
>> Published by Crecy Publishing Limited (ISBN 0 947554 84 X), which covers
>> his
>> time flying Wellingtons with 215 Squadron in India.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Jack Steer
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Simon" <>
>> To: <>
>> Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 12:36 AM
>> Subject: Re: [STEER] Military Records
>>
>>
>>> Jack,
>>>
>>> As you seem to be back in the chair, do you have any access to military
>>> records. I was never able to find the records for my father at Kew. I
>>> have
>>> his demob card from the RAF reserves but thats about it.
>>>
>>> His name was Maurice Edward Steer borne 17th July 1924 and I understand
>>> that
>>> during the war he was in 215 Squadron with the rank of Flight Sargent.
>>>
>>> Simon
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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