Burma posting

[Shaun]

Hi all,

My great uncle has kindly given he his RAF paybook, from when he served in the RAF 1943 - 1948... He served in Burma from early 1945 - 47. There are a few bits in the paybook which I am interested to know what they mean.
On 3 occasions he was issued a Mk2 Sten gun and 1 magazine, which is written across the Leave granted page. One is a stamp which says Sten Carbine MkII R58111 issued at No 5 PDC... Any ideas on what PDC is? Maybe Personnel Distribution Centre?

Whilst serving at 56 MU (FRU)... He also has written "certified BOC at no2 FEU CRU 1203"... Any ideas on this at all?

And on another note, probably a long shot. There are 2 bearthing cards for ships in his paybook. No ships names... Or dates I don't suppose there is anyway of finding out when he arrived and left Burma.... Cheers


Shaun

[David Duxbury]

Shaun,
5 PDC would indicate No. 5 Personnel Despatch Centre, a unit established in the UK to prepare and document personnel being despatched overseas. Unfortunately I do not have the actual location of 5 PDC, but other Board members will have this information. The issue of a weapon at this unit may well have been normal practice for personell departing for an operational theatre, along with a check of all kit, final pay action and medical examination, and other documentation.
David D

[Shaun]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply! My uncle has since given my nan a shoebox full of his old documents from his time in the RAF and in Burma servicing aircraft, etc. So hopefully these should contain some more info.

Cheers

[Matt Poole]

Hi, Shaun,

Your uncle's RAF personnel file -- that is, the bare-bones highlights that are released to the next-of-kin -- can be purchased for a princely sum of 30 pounds. It should have dates of postings & movements, although scribbled by a bored clerk who may not have been too concerned with legibility! If you can scrounge together the 30 pounds, the purchase of the file (which takes a few months, I gather, for the backlogged order to be filled) is a worthwhile gamble.

[Shaun]

Hi cheers for all the replies guys. He has told me he was part of a team, later in 1947, that dismanteled aircraft and buried various parts in various places. His memory is not once what it was as he has named a few places he worked doing this and was wondering if there was a way using his service details that i could track where about he was in Burma.

[David Duxbury]

Hey Shaun,
He must have been involved in burying all those "Missing Spitfires" that nobody else has been able to locate! Better keep you head down as the whole world will be trying to contact you now!
David D

[Shaun]

Hey Shaun,
He must have been involved in burying all those "Missing Spitfires" that nobody else has been able to locate! Better keep you head down as the whole world will be trying to contact you now!
David D

Hi David,

Yes it was quite an interesting story, as he gave he his paybook, and after a quick flick through it I noticed he was in Burma from 1945 -48, one thing led to another and he mentioned as he was Aircraft fitter. He was involved in stripping Spitfires down and distributing the 3 main parts... Weapons, engines and airframes to 3 different locations in Burma... Which are all well away from the current digs...He also mentioned, more interestingly that he was involved in stripping down Japanese aircraft and burying them too. But really wanna try and track his movements as I have 2 of the 3 locations located, and to be fair I am just interested in were my family served... Certainly a country full of aircraft!