keith sommerville

**paulb007** · 21st September 2010, 17:28

ive just received my uncles raf records, but iam struggling to make out what all the codes
mean, so i have sent them to the raf historical branch to see if they can help me out,
my uncle never spoke about the war and he never claimed his medals of which i have
just sent off for, the only thing i know is he was a rear gunner and in late 1943 he was
with 76 squadron just before this he was at 41 base, i was told my uncle tore up all is pictures
he enlisted in 1942 and demobbed in 1945, is full name is keith malcom sommerville,
if any one could help in anyway i would be very grateful

**phill jones** · 21st September 2010, 17:56

[Keith , if you have your uncles RAF records , then you should have his RAF SERIAL NUMBER , this will help , do you know if he was an OFFICER or a NCO ie SGT .
His service records DEPENDING on what you have should show you when he enlisted where he did his training , and what SQD/UNITS he was posted too inc dates.
if you could maybe supply a little bit more information ,then I am sure someone will help if they can as there are several ways of finding out more , hopefully you can supply a bit more gen ie Service Number , Rank as this will help .
Phill Jones

**dfuller52** · 21st September 2010, 20:07

I just heard from namrondooh offline and he is going to look into his copies of the 76 Sqn ORB to see what he can find for you. His father was with 76 Sqn, as was one of my research subjects.

**paulb007** · 22nd September 2010, 17:38

cheers for the info

**paulb007** · 22nd September 2010, 17:54

hi phill
thanks for the info its a great help, this is the info i have.
service no 195559
3 itw
acdc
no1 manning base canada
raf/dpu ?
31 pd dis u.k
7 prc
19 o.t.u
41 base
76 sqd
20 o.t.u
then discharged
also london gazette > temp flt sgt then flt officer late 1945
is it possible to find out where and when he flew during his service
also on is records it shows 2 seperate entrys for fliming ?
sorry for all the questions but i tried other avenues on the net .
i have also purchased 2 books tailend charlies and to see the dawn breaking just to see
if by chance he was mentioned in anyway but no luck .
thanks again hope this helps

**phill jones** · 22nd September 2010, 20:58

Paul , in answer to your request ,
3 ITW .INITIAL TRAINING WING
acdc ,AIR CREW DISTRUBUTION CENTRE ?
NO1 MANNING BASE CANADA , POSSIBLY WHERE HE DONE HIS TRAINING
RAF/DPU . ?
31 PD DIS UK , ANOTHER DISTRUBUTION CENTRE ?
7 PRC .PERSONNEL RELOCATION CENTRE .
19 OTU , OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT .OPERATIONAL TRAINING , BEFORE POSTING TO SQUADRON .
41 BASE , POSSIBLY HOME BASE OF SQD.
76 SQUADRON .
THEN BACK TO 20 OTU , AGAIN OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT , POSSIBLY ON INSTRUCTOR DUTIES AFTER HIS TOUR OF OPERATIONS ??

THIS IS A BRIEF OUTLINE SOME GUESS WORK ON MY PART HOPEFULLY SOME OTHER CAN HELP , TRY A INTERNET SEARCH FOR 19 OTU , THIS SHOULD GIVE YOU SOME GEN
I CAN TELL YOU 19 OTU were based in SCOTLAND KINLOSS, NOT SURE WHAT DATES YOU HAVE ON YOUR UNCLES RECORDS SO SOME OF THIS IS GUESSWORK , BUT IT SHOULD GET YOU STARTED .
i WILL SEND YOU A PRIVATE E-MAIL WITH SOME OTHER BITS FOR YOU
PHILL JONES

**dfuller52** · 22nd September 2010, 23:12

Hi Paul,

No. 1 Manning Depot was the main assembly point for recruits in Toronto, on the site of the Canadian National Exhibition in a building called the Coliseum (still there). My fathers first days in the RCAF were spent there.

**Errol Martyn** · 23rd September 2010, 09:46

Paul,

With all due respects to Phill's effort, the following is a more complete and accurate interpretation of your uncle's service record:

3 itw - No.3 Intiial Training Wing, Torquay
acdc - Air Crew Despatch Centre, Heaton Park (a holding centre for trainee aircrew bound for Canada or South Africa)
no1 manning base canada - No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto
raf/dpu ? (? Is this exactly how it appears on the service record?)
31 pd dis u.k - No.31 RAF Personnel Depot, Moncton ('dis' probably refers to disembarkation UK)
7 prc - No.7 Personnel Reception Centre, Harrogate
19 o.t.u - No.19 Operational Training Unit, Kinloss (Whitley aircraft until Aug 44 then began converting to Wellingtons)
41 base - No.41 Base (became No.74 Base 7 Nov 4), Marston Moor (controlled 4 Group's No. 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit, No. 1658 HCU & 1663 HCU (all Halifax aircraft)
76 sqd - No.76 Squadron
20 o.t.u - No.20 Operational Training Unit, Lossiemouth (Wellington aircraft)

Errol

**AlanW** · 23rd September 2010, 09:57

Paul,
Your uncle's crew were as follows
F/Lt R.B. Hutchinson, pilot.
P/O D.M. Brown, A/B.
P/O J.M. Stewart, Nav.
F/Sgt D.S. Dare, W/Op.
F/Sgt N.E. Walton, Mid-Upper.
Sgt F.D. Harrop, F/E.
Your uncle was R/Gunner, he was posted out to 20 OTU on 01/04/45.
Last op with 76sqdn was on 19/03/45 to Witten

From 19th March back to 6th Oct 44 i have found 33 ops so far, will carry on search later.
Alan.