70 Sqn and 77 OTU Middle East Query

[MartinHop]

I am doing some research on my Father in Law Who was a Liberator Airgunner with 70 Squadron in Italy and Middle East in 1945-46. I am looking for any suggestions on tracing his service during and just after ww2. He joined at Euston in April 1943, Deferred service till rejoining in July 1944 at 3ACRC Lord's. Then ACDC and transferred to Middle East for Airguner training. He was at 13 AG school in RAF BALLAH, then I think 77 OTU (Wellingtons) probably at Qastina before 1675 HCU at Abu Sueir for B-24 conversion. He then joined 70 Sqn at Foggia in June 1945 and went back to Palestine with 70 Sqn in October 1945 eventually returning to UK in Feb 1947. However the period between Oct 45 and Feb 47 are sketchy. He has mentioned Castel Benito in Libya and Lydda.

I am hoping to make some airfix models of the wellingtons of 77 OTU and B-24 of 70 Sqn for Xmas for him. Ay suggestions on serial numbers and markings? I can find no info at all on 77OTU or 1675 HCU.

All suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks

[PeterColwill]

Fate or coincidence?
There is a letter in the October issue of Flypast from R Harrison of York about 70 Squadron which may interest you. He was a 70 Sqn rear gunner in 1945.
Peter

[MartinHop]

Thanks, I'll look into that article.

[Zoran Petek]

No. 70 SQUADRON (231 Wing, 205 Group)
Converted from Wellingtons early 1945 at Cerignola, Italy.
Moved to Aqir, Palestine (12.10.45).
Shallufa, Egypt (12.12.45-31.3.46).
Liberator VI:
KH317/J, KK269/U, KK270/P, KK282, KK301/E, KK303/B, KK315/C, KK316/N (ex 104 Sqn EP-R), KK317/J (ex 37 Sqn 'K'), KK346/K, KK349/A, KK350/P, KK351/Q, KK352/O, KK353/F NIGHT RIDER, KK354 (ex 44-44435), KK355/T until early April 45 (Novska 3.4.45), than 'D' (Malabergo 19.4.45), KK356/S, KK359/H, KK360/P, KL353/V, KL354 (ex 31 Sqn SAAF 'F'), KL355/T, KL356/Q (later 'V'), KL363/R, KL378/R, KL387 (also 37 Sqn LF-V), KL527/.W, KL635 (also 148 Sqn FS-L)
Liberator VIII:
KG956 (also 214 and 614 Sqn), KN834 (crashed 2.9.46)
Nose turrets (or sometimes only guns) removed.
Red code letters on fuselage, repeated in small light letters on tail and nose. Either Day Scheme (Olive Drab/Neutral Grey as on KK353/F) or Night Scheme of Dk. Green/Dk. Earth/Night (Black) as on KL527/.W.
Later used Lancaster B.I(FE) in tropical White/Black scheme.

No. 77 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT
was formed April 1 1944 at El Qastina, Palestine, and disbanded there July 9 1945.
Wellington X
HE607, HE757, HE789, HZ111, HZ265, HZ267, HZ815, HZ948, LN490, LN495, LN650, LN669, LN746, LN754, LN755, LN762, LN764, LN776, LN815, LN859, LN897, LN912, LN915, LN929, LN954, LN957, LN965, LN975, LN981, LP121, LP124, LP135, LP140, LP141, LP142, LP185, LP188, LP194, LP227, LP246, LP250, LP260, LP261, LP262, LP263, LP281, LP283, LP285, LP304, LP305, LP334, LP361, LP363, LP383, LP428, LP445, LP544, LP580, LP606, LP611, LP684, LP686, LP750, LP774, LP963, LR117, LR122
Wellington XIII MF149
Other types: Hurricane IIC, Anson I LV256.

No. 1675 (HEAVY) CONVERSION UNIT
was formed October 15 1943 from No. 5 Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit at Lydda, Palestine, and disbanded October 12 1945 at Abu Sueir, Egypt.
No. 1675 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft:
Liberator II
AL518, AL525, AL540, AL563
Liberator III
BZ893, BZ927, BZ933, BZ934
Liberator VI
EV817, EV852, EV854, EV957, EV859, EV903, EV910, EV912, EV914, EV916, EV917, EV931, EV934, EV937, EV964, EV973, EV976, EV999, EW101, EW143, EW159, EW163, EW169, EW193, EW201, EW203, EW206, EW227, EW228, KG823, KG824, KG838, KL495, KL521
Liberator VIII
KL509
Other types used: Harvard IIA, Hurricane IIB BD837, Argus II.

[Amrit]

No. 70 SQUADRON (231 Wing, 205 Group)
Converted from Wellingtons early 1945 at Cerignola, Italy.
Moved to Aqir, Palestine (12.10.45).
Shallufa, Egypt (12.12.45-31.3.46).
Liberator VI:
KH317/J, KK269/U, KK270/P, KK282, KK301/E, KK303/B, KK315/C, KK316/N (ex 104 Sqn EP-R), KK317/J (ex 37 Sqn 'K'), KK346/K, KK349/A, KK350/P, KK351/Q, KK352/O, KK353/F NIGHT RIDER, KK354 (ex 44-44435), KK355/T until early April 45 (Novska 3.4.45), than 'D' (Malabergo 19.4.45), KK356/S, KK359/H, KK360/P, KL353/V, KL354 (ex 31 Sqn SAAF 'F'), KL355/T, KL356/Q (later 'V'), KL363/R, KL378/R, KL387 (also 37 Sqn LF-V), KL527/.W, KL635 (also 148 Sqn FS-L)
Liberator VIII:
KG956 (also 214 and 614 Sqn), KN834 (crashed 2.9.46)
Nose turrets (or sometimes only guns) removed.
Red code letters on fuselage, repeated in small light letters on tail and nose. Either Day Scheme (Olive Drab/Neutral Grey as on KK353/F) or Night Scheme of Dk. Green/Dk. Earth/Night (Black) as on KL527/.W.
Later used Lancaster B.I(FE) in tropical White/Black scheme.

No. 77 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT
was formed April 1 1944 at El Qastina, Palestine, and disbanded there July 9 1945.
Wellington X
HE607, HE757, HE789, HZ111, HZ265, HZ267, HZ815, HZ948, LN490, LN495, LN650, LN669, LN746, LN754, LN755, LN762, LN764, LN776, LN815, LN859, LN897, LN912, LN915, LN929, LN954, LN957, LN965, LN975, LN981, LP121, LP124, LP135, LP140, LP141, LP142, LP185, LP188, LP194, LP227, LP246, LP250, LP260, LP261, LP262, LP263, LP281, LP283, LP285, LP304, LP305, LP334, LP361, LP363, LP383, LP428, LP445, LP544, LP580, LP606, LP611, LP684, LP686, LP750, LP774, LP963, LR117, LR122
Wellington XIII MF149
Other types: Hurricane IIC, Anson I LV256.

No. 1675 (HEAVY) CONVERSION UNIT
was formed October 15 1943 from No. 5 Heavy Bomber Conversion Unit at Lydda, Palestine, and disbanded October 12 1945 at Abu Sueir, Egypt.
No. 1675 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft:
Liberator II
AL518, AL525, AL540, AL563
Liberator III
BZ893, BZ927, BZ933, BZ934
Liberator VI
EV817, EV852, EV854, EV957, EV859, EV903, EV910, EV912, EV914, EV916, EV917, EV931, EV934, EV937, EV964, EV973, EV976, EV999, EW101, EW143, EW159, EW163, EW169, EW193, EW201, EW203, EW206, EW227, EW228, KG823, KG824, KG838, KL495, KL521
Liberator VIII
KL509
Other types used: Harvard IIA, Hurricane IIB BD837, Argus II.

Please attribute sources with a link. In this case https://www.rafweb.org/Members%20Pag...ts_001-100.htm and https://www.rafweb.org/Members%20Pag...perational.htm

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