RAF Hospital Glasgow

[CZ_RAF]

Hi all,

I would like to ask if anyone could pint me to the right direction as I was unable to find any information about RAF Hospital in Glasgow.
I have a report that one Czech airman undergoing training in Scotland was in May 1941 sent to "hospital in Glasgow".

I am trying to identify the particular hospital but no luck with Mr Google and TNA catalogue seach.

Any help much appreciated.

Pavel

[Theletterwriter]

Pavel

The RAF, as far as I am aware, did not have a specific hosptial in Glasgow and it is more likely that the Czech airman was hospitalised in a general hospital. If he was suffering from tuberculosis, it may be possible he would have been hospitalised at Mearnskirk Hospital on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Best wishes

Douglas

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Douglas, many thanks for your reply.
To be honest I have no idea why he was posted to the hospital but I am sure it was nothing serious as he finished his AG training with the following course.

Pavel

[Theletterwriter]

Pavel

If he was hospitalised in a general hospital, the Royal Infirmary or Stobhill Hopsital or the Victoria Infirmary may be possibiliities.

Best wishes

Douglas

[CZ_RAF]

Many thanks for additional possibilities Douglas!

Pavel

[AL90]

If the airman was stationed at Renfrew the nearest Glasgow hospital is the Southern General which is about 2km East of the airfield. Other posibility in Glasgow is the Western Infirmary on the other side of the river Clyde again only a few KM north. Paisley Royal Alexandria Infirmary (patched me up as a child repeatedly) was about 6km South of the airfield but is not in Glasgow as such.

Regards,
Alan.

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Alan, many thanks for details. My airman was stationed at the time at West Freugh so I think it may be any of them...

Pavel

[AL90]

Hi Pavel,
Bit of a strange case as Glasgow now is 146km from West Freugh on a mix of bad roads and motorway, probably around 250km in 1941, and would mean passing several main Hospitals in Ayr, Kilmarnock and Paisley. Dumfries hospital is only 98KM and Carlsile 158KM, the roads haven't changed much today and are more direct.
It would suggest specialised treatment at Glasgow possibly spinal or head injuries, assuming an accident, both of which are today treated at the Southern General in Glasgow.
There are a number of closer hospitals for TB, appendicitis etc.
Had a look for non fatal accidents in May '41 and came up with two possiblities:
Battle K9457 of 4BGS had engine failure and forced landed through a wall at nearby Portpatrick on 28/5/41.
Blenheim Z5974 of 5AOS crashed on a hill near Peebles after engine failure on 10/5/42 which would put him part of the way to Glasgow.
I don't have crew listed for these aircraft.

Alan.

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Alan,

many thanks for your interesting comment. To be honest I was not thinking about the reason yet, but your are right that it is a little bit so far...
Unfortunately I have only a note in the diary of his fellow trainee that he left for "hospital in Glasgow".
But I think you maybe get the point at the smae time:

Battle K9457 of 4BGS had engine failure and forced landed through a wall at nearby Portpatrick on 28/5/41.

It looks like the possible cause as the diary record is of 29.5.!

But unfortunately I havefound nothing in the 4 BGS ORB so the only possibility is to get a FAC for the plane.

Anyway many thanks for valuable info!

Pavel

[Pierre Renier]

Hi Pavel

Looking in the official history for RAF Medical Services, the only references I quickly spotted was under the section dealing with Coastal Command. This implied that the only medical cases going to Glasgow were for opthalmic reasons. Also typically in Scotland extensive use was made of hospitals controlled by the Army and civilian E.M.S. hospitals.

Kind reagrds
Pierre