Service notation - No. 3 S of GR

[dfuller52]

Can someone please tell me what this abbreviation refers to and where it was? It was a stop on a service record between No. 3 PRC and 407 Sqn.

I assume it means School of something. My man was a navigator and the date was Dec 1941.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi David,

School of General Reconnaissance

Ross

[alclark]

Formed at Squires Gate, Blackpool, mainly flew Bothas and other such types.

[dfuller52]

OK, thanks got it now...

[dennis_burke]

Finally found a thread to ask this question in!

What was the purpose of the SofGR? I'm an airman who in the course of his trainign having returned from ATTS in the US was posted to:

Posted: 6 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) 3-Feb-43
Posted: 3 School of General Reconnaisance (S of GR) 11-Apr-43
Posted: 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit ((C) OTU) 22-Jun-43
Pilots Course Passed 68.40%, 3 SofGR 22-Jun-43
Promoted: Temp Flight Sergeant 25-Jun-43

I'm wondering actually what was the training obtained at the SGR? I understand the AFU and the OTU.

He went on to 131 OTU and as KOAS in a crash in Ireland.

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Dennis,

I can only add that our pilots and navigators from No 311 Sq passed there short term courses when flying with the CC on Wellingtons and later Liberators.
So I suppose there were lections and maybe practical flying excercises for CC service like ship and submarine recognition.

Pavel

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Dennis,

May I ask the name of your pilot.

No.3 SoGR and 8(C) OTU was the usual route for aircrew destined to serve with photo recce units (and met. recce. units). Did he fail the course at 8(C) OTU?

Courses at No.3 SoGR consisted of numerous navigation exercises and practice patrols. Presumably also included lots of classroom instruction on reconnaissance techniques related to coastal command work ie ship recognition, basic met etc.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[dennis_burke]

Thanks Andy, thats great help.

he was F/Sgt John Reid MCMILLAN 986831 KOAS 28th Dec 1943

His service file makes no mention of any failures of any course, it only mentions passing the 3 SoGR course as such.

He has two mentions of being promoted to Flight Sergeant. They are as follows, as transcribed by me:
Promoted: Temporary Sergeant u/t Pilot, Character VG 31‐Dec‐42
Posted: 6 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) 3‐Feb‐43
Posted: 3 School of General Reconnaisance (S of GR) 11‐Apr‐43
Posted: 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit ((C) OTU) 22‐Jun‐43
Pilots Course Passed 68.40%, 3 SofGR 22‐Jun‐43
Promoted: Temp Flight Sergeant 25‐Jun‐43
Posted: 131 OTU 17‐Jul‐43
Promoted: Flight Sergeant 21‐Sep‐43
Promoted: Flight Sergeant; Trade: Pilot Character VG 25‐Dec‐43
Killed on Active Service (Flying Accident) 28‐Dec‐43

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Dennis,

Many thanks for the extra info.

Regards your man, I'd say he may have been destined to be a photo recce pilot but his stay at 8(C) OTU was rather short so I assume he was found unsuitable for some reason. 131 OTU was a flying boat OTU so it looks like he was going to end up on a Coastal Command General Reconnaissance unit.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Pierre Renier]

Hi Dennis

Reading between the lines it would appear he was selected as an able navigator for further training at 8(C)OTU however having read the offical history on medical services in the RAF a substantial number of students arrived not having undergone decompression tests.

Photo Recce was one of the few areas where crews had to take such tests. They would undergo 3 simulated ascents and if you failed at any stage had to be posted away. Maybe there is something noted in a section on medical tests? I believe the test were either undertaken at Farnborough and Benson, then also later at 8(C)OTU.

Kind regards
Pierre