More abbreviations and acronyms ?

[apttony]

I have recently received a copy of my father's service record for the period he was in the RAF between 1943 and 1946.

I've been succesfully working though the abbreviations and acronyms surrounding his various postings, but still have a few I do not understand.

'LAC' is straightforwrd, but can anybody explain the significance of 'LAC GP2 AC2 F2E', bearing in mind that his trade is given as 'FME' - Flight Mechanic Engines? Does any of this imply that he might have sometimes flown in his capacity as a LAC ?

My second question is that at the time of recruitment, his Civil Occupation is given as 'Progressman' (which I understand), and his Employer as 'IND CD 172.15. DIS. 130' Is it possible to work out where/who that was?

Thanks
Tony

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Tony, according to my list:

FME Flight Mechanic Engines (early war years)
FME Flight Mechanic Electrical (later war years)

I suppose there were same kind of classes or groups of FMEs after passing some kind of exam but I am not so sure...

Pavel

[Dick]

Hi Tony
As a Flight Mechanic your Father would not have been a Flyer, but it wasn't unknown for a Ground Tradesman to fly on ,say, a Test Flight to analyse a fault and again to see if the remedy had corrected the fault. I am not sure how much this was a duty or simply voluntary. The abbreviation AC2 usually means Aircraftman Second Class and was the usual rank on entry to the RAF, whether it means this on your Father's record may depend on the context. It is a lower rank than LAC and even if the LAC rank was temporary I would have expected a Qualified Mechanic to drop to AC1 and not 2.
The rest I am not sure of, but GP sometimes means General Purpose and was used in many contexts. It could simply signify that your Father was not regarded, or employed, as a Specialist on a specific engine
Regards
Dick

[John Wright]

Your father would have been an LAC in a previous trade but passed out of training as a AC2 Fitter 2 Engines

John

[David Duxbury]

Tony,
"GP 2" indicates Group II (or Group 2 in Arabic numbers), although Roman numbers were normally used in RAF during WW2. This was his trade group, which dictated his pay rates, promotion path, etc. If he had undergone a Fitters course to graduate as a Fitter IIE he would have been transferred to Group I, which was the most senior trade group, and included the RAF's most valued tradesmen. I cannot understand how he could have been holding two classifications simultaneously (LAC and AC2) unless one was his substantive classification (AC2), and LAC was an acting classification (for pay purposes in a particular position or post.
David D.

[John Wright]

David, holding a rating in 2 trade groups was quite common ,EG I was an LAC DMT Group 5 and on passing out trade training AC2 Armoured Car Crew Group2 holding my Lac rank for pay untill I caught up But on posting to a non Armoured unit would have reverted to LAC DMT Group 5. regardless of rank also redundand aircrew at the end of the war retained their Aircrew rank and pay but holding a lower rank in their new trade such as clerk,motor mechanic etc.whilst working.
John

[apttony]

David,

'Promotions, Reclassifications, Reversions' are stated as....

AC2 On enlistement May 1943
AC1 Dec 1944
LAC Mar 1945
LAC Sep 1945
LAC GP2 AC2 F2E Jan 1946

I'm not surehow that fits in with your comment.

I have another question.......

All his Movements are recorded and dated, but the initial column is headed 'Dep. P.O.R' with values underneath such as '127/43' and ' 223/43' I take it that the second value relates to the year......what is the first?

Tony

[John Wright]

Tony,the first number would be the sequencial number of POR for the year.
John

[apttony]

At the top of the Record form is a reference to previous CIVIL OCCUPATION and EMPLOYER. The latter has a coded reference, which is "IND CD 172.15. DIS. 130"

Does anybody know if it possible to identify the Employer?

Tony

[apttony]

I'm back and just asking the same question again in the hope some one may know the answer or where to look.......

At the top of the Record form is a reference to previous CIVIL OCCUPATION and EMPLOYER. The latter has a coded reference, which is "IND CD 172.15. DIS. 130"

Does anybody know if it possible to identify the Employer?


thanks
Tony