78 Sqn RAF VR

[Dannemois]

Seeking information on the death of Frank Lewis Jones; can you help

Known info:

Details from the 1939 Register @ Dillows, Cuckfield, Sussex. Frank L Jones, born 28 Jan 1892 occ Marine Insurance Manager other details Flt Lte & Adj No 78 Wembley Borough Squadron Air Defence Corps.

CWGC: FLIGHT LIEUTENANT, FRANK LEWIS JONES. Service Number: 61672, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
78 Sqdn. Died 31 March 1942. Buried or commemorated at ALPERTON CEMETERY UK. Plot D. Grave 117.

Probate: Frank Lewis of 46 Oldborough Road, North Webmley, died 31 March 1942 at Leavesden Emergency Hospital Watford Hertfordshire.

Thanks in advance

[78SqnHistory]

Hi,

He died of natural causes.

Regards

Daz

[Dannemois]

Hi Daz
Where did you find this, please

[Alex Smart]

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...rmen-31-3-1942

[Don Clark]

Just to amplify a little - I was still drafting as Alex was posting:


I hope readers may excuse me remarking that the thread title
"78 Sqn RAF VR"
is not right and may perhaps mislead.


"31-Mar 1942 JONES, FRANK LEWIS (61672) RAFVR - age 50 Flt Lt
He was serving with No 78 Sqn ATC and died at Leavesden Emergency Hospital, Watford, cause unknown. He is buried in Wembley (Alperton) Burial Ground."
Source: Malcolm Barrass Air Of Authority site www.rafweb.org (members area/RAF Casualties) and also in the sub-forum here Unaccounted Airmen
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...0571#post30571 as noted above

Posting on death confirmed by the CWGC entry for F/Lt Jones where the Graves Register image included at
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...,-frank-lewis/
shows 78 Squadron Air Training Corps

That is, one of the ATC units (formally established from 1941 out of the pre-war Air Defence Corps), for training youth as an aid to possible later RAF entry.
This ref may be of interest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Training_Corps

So 78 Squadron ATC was not an operational Squadron of the Air Force and not 78 Squadron RAF.

In wartime, all civilian RAF recruits entered the RAFVR rather than the permanent RAF: RAFVR refers to the person's enlistment not to his Squadron posting.
London Gazette Search shows
F/Lt Frank Lewis Jones 61672 was commissioned into the RAFVR(T) (RAFVR Training Branch) in February 1941 as Acting Pilot Officer.
Source https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...5119/page/1819
LG Search, not always predictable, did not find his promotion to F/Lt.
ATC Squadron war-time adult staff were of just this sort: RAFVR (T) members...while the Cadets were of the ATC as such.

ATC Squadrons include location as part of their name; it turns out that 78 (Wembley) Squadron ATC continues today
https://atc.fandom.com/wiki/78_%28Wembley%29_Squadron and
http://maison-de-stuff.net/rob/78/info.htm

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Further to Don's comment of not finding his promotion to Flt Lt in the LG, you won't.

Until very recently the highest substantive rank in the RAFVR(T) was Flying Officer with all subsequent promotions being Acting (paid) or (unpaid). An officer would be granted Acting (paid) whilst filling an establishment post for Flt Lt but could be grant Acting (unpaid) after completing 9 years commissioned service. Because promotion to Flt Lt, Sqn Ldr and Wg Cdr were all acting ranks they will not appear in the AFL or LG.

On retirement/relinquishment, officers generally are listed as Fg Off, retaining Flt Lt/Sqn Ldr/Wg Cdr

I believe the situation has changed with the abolition of the RAFVR(T) which has been replace by the RAF Air Cadets Branch and promotions above Fg Off may now be substantive.

Malcolm (ex RAFVR(T))

[Dannemois]

Thanks to everyone for the details and links, much appreciated