Service record queries

**petertking** · 19th May 2023, 20:27

I have three queries regarding entries in the service record of a second pilot who flew in Wellingtons for 148 squadron in 1942 up until July 1942. I know that he was at 2METS in September and October and his service record shows him assigned to 22PJC, then Heliopolis and then 23 PJC between late October and mid November. I can't find any reference to "PJC" anywhere - any ideas?
He is then back in the UK assigned to Uxbridge, with no date. The next entry is "Henlands Farm" and something like "Silham". The LH column has a form ref number 8/43. Again any ideas?
He was there for 2 months before moving on to Dyce. His mustering entry then changed from pilot to "AFC" and he went through a series of schools in 25 Group such as 7AGS and 10ANS before release in Nov 1945. Any ideas on "AFC"

TIA

**David Duxbury** · 20th May 2023, 05:38

petertking, from the records of other Middle East aircrew, I would suggest that "PJC" should actually read "PTC" (for Personnel Transit Centre if I have my ducks all in a straight row!) As to "AFC", absolutely no idea. Does he have a trade group linked to that remustering (can provide clues). The "8/43" reference number is probably the appropriate POR (Personnel Occurrence Report) number. from which the posting (or other occurrence) was obtained. POR's were generated by all units, formations, headquarters, etc. and were numbered serially.

**jonny** · 20th May 2023, 07:15

There appears to be a link with a Hurlands Farm, Selham (West Sussex), and RNAS Cowdray Park (a satellite of Lee on Solent). Another site suggests that Cowdray Park was used by No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron RAF "for secret mail pick-up training." All a little tenuous, I know!
AFC = Airfield Controller?

**petertking** · 20th May 2023, 17:48

Thanks both. David, this is my second time around looking at this chap and now you mention PTC I think that I came across that at the time (a couple of years ago now) but didn't record it in my notes! It appears to be PJC, but that's the trouble with interpreting hand writing! As regards his trade that is also AFC - Jonny's stab at Airfield Controller sounds like a sensible guess to me. And Hurlands Farm , Selham looks like a good fit. So thanks again

**David Duxbury** · 20th May 2023, 21:01

Remember that Airfield Controller is only a guess, and if such a trade existed in the RAF, then it ought to be fairly easy to check that such an abbreviation actually existed. Many "guesses" have been offered on this and other sites, and quite a few false ones have been thrown up over the years, some might have even been accepted as "true" when they have never been confirmed.

**bvs** · 20th May 2023, 21:17

I agree with David - it is tempting to have a guess at acronyms and place names but I have resisted the temptation - it would be interesting to have a look at his service record if you could post it Peter ?
I obviously do not know how much material you have on this Pilot other than service record ?

regards baz

**jonheyworth** · 20th May 2023, 21:25

It's PTC as suggested, for sure.

**petertking** · 21st May 2023, 09:42

I am going to Kew in a couple of weeks so if I have time I shall look up one or more of the record books for units that he was posted to after the AFC course at the bottom of the service record, and hope that they have postings listed with more than just AFC to go on.

**bvs** · 21st May 2023, 19:55

Hi Peter
Many thanks for posting the SR

Almost definitely remustered to a ground trade as he was still a Sgt at the end of the war.

I have just been looking in RAFWEB and starting in 1944 there was a trade group title of 'Airfield Controller'

The Airfield Controllers School - was set up in November 1942 under No 50 Group at Watchfield - later part of the School of Flying Control 1943.
So 'Airfield Controller' or something similar might well be a logical guess.
Interesting that he was at (Station ?) Dyce and/or 8 (coastal) OTU just before remustering,so did he fail an OTU course or perhaps have a medical problem ??

regards baz

**petertking** · 22nd May 2023, 14:28

baz,

I have just edited this response. I was going to say that I was unaware of a medical problem other than that he had to have corrective lenses in his goggles. I have just realized that the reference to being fit pending corrective lenses was dated November 1942. He had only flown 10 ops in North Africa before going to 2 METS where he had 3.4 hrs flying in Sept and Oct 1942 and never flew again according to his logbook. So perhaps his eyesight was the issue. He had survived unscathed from 3 cat E crashes, of which two were at 15OTU (one a fatal) and the third was his fourth op with 148. In all cases he was the second pilot.

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