Lt Leslie Hambin RFC/RAF

[Hambo]

Was a first timer until yesterday but the response was so quick and detailed I thought I'd try my luck again!

My grandfather served in the RFC and RAF during the Great War and rejoined to fly in the reserve from 1922 to 26. I made a visit to the PRO earlier this year and was delighted to find at least part of his records have survived. I could use some help though understanding some of the short form used on the records.

He was born on the 17th of July 1899 but his records say the 17th of January 1896 this I guess was to due to being underage.

There is no record of where or when he joined up but he gives my great gradfather as next of kin so I imagine he was aware of the decption.

He seems to have started in 104 Training battalion as a Lance Corporal then we have a big gap to where he is approved for pilot training on the 14th of September 1917 apparantly transferring from the 17th Batt Royal Fusiliers. I know that he did not go to France until he went out with the RAF ( he died in 1982 so I knew him well.)

Now I need some help as there is a big gap. On the 19th of Jan 1918 he was attached to "2 Sof A" does anyone know what this means? then in April 1918 he goes to "3 TDS" then in September to "21 TDS" and is posted to 95 squadron on the 9th of October 1918 and I know he was in France as a result. When I looked up 95 Squadron at the PRO it seems they were disbanded in August 1918!

On the 22nd of November he goes to 5 "AAP"

Can anyone help with what the letters mean and with what happened to 95 squadron and why it seems to have taken so long between being approved for training and actually being posted to France given the presumed shortage of pilots?

His reserve records list the aircraft he is qualified on ( preceded by the letters AM from 95) BE,RE8,SE5a,Sopwith Pup and Camel DH9 and 9b(?) Avro and Bristol Fighter. I do remember talk of him doing ferrying work at some point which may explain the variety of aircraft listed.

Out of interest I have his goggles, wings (RFC and RAF) and sam brown as well as an identity braclet which gives "52466 R.F.C" also some photos.

Heres hoping

John

[MikeW]

Hambo,

2 SOA No.2 School of Aeronautics, at Oxford. Ground instruction, drill, square bashing, lectures on guns and engines, that sort of stuff.

3 TDS No.3 Training Depot Station, at Lopcombe Corner, quite near Middle Wallop on the Wilts/Hants border. Training squadron for new pilots.

21 TDS No.21 Training Depot Station, at Driffield. Formed 15/7/18. Training squadron for new pilots.

5 AAP No.5 Aircraft Acceptance Park. Not sure where no.5 was situated.

Mike

[Killratio]

Hambo & Mike,

5 AAP was formed at Filton for acceptance from local manufacturers of F2b (the Bristol Fighter), DH9 and DH9a aeroplanes.

Restyled No.5 (Bristol) AAP on 10.12.17. It closed in 1919.

Hambo

Not sure where you got the information that 95Sqn disbanded in August, it was actually 4/7/18 according to Jeff Jefford, THE man. It did however reform at Kenley to fly the Buzzard on 1/10/18. It drew its officers from 21, 28 and 51 TDS's , which explains Grandad's attachment. Also not sure how he would have got to France with them, the war ended while 95 was still at Kenley and they disbanded on 20/11/18. He would have gone to 5 AAP to ferry aircraft, after that (22/11/18 makes perfect sense.) He may have done some ferry flights to France from here?

Hope this helps

Darryl

[Dolphin]

Hambo

Further to Mike's response, No 5 (Bristol) Aircraft Acceptance Park was at Filton.

There were two No 95 Squadrons. The first was formed on 1 September 1917 as a unit to provide replacement aircrew and was disbanded in July/August 1918. The second No 95 Sqn was formed at Kenley, and was to use Martinsyde F.4 Buzzards, but the Armistice arrived before its aircraft and the squadron was disbanded shortly after.

Cheers

Gareth

[Killratio]

Snap!!!

[Hambo]

Thanks very much for all the information. It sounds like he never went overseas which may explain his survival. The record is stamped "Service considered for the grant of war medals" both of which I have.

Did I read somewher that you'd didn't get the 14-18 victory maedal and the war medal unless you'd served overseas?

Also Gareth could you tell me if the Buzzard was a bomber because I do remember some family talk of him training on bombers when the war ended.

Finally is there any explaiation why there would have been such a long gap between being approved for pilot training and it actually begining

In the meantime thanks for all your help

Hambo

[Dolphin]

Hambo

The Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard was a single seat fighter with a very good performance, and was the machine chosen to replace the SE5a in RAF service. A long-range version, the Buzzard Mk 1a, was to have been an escort fighter for the Independent Force, RAF. The French Government was also enthusiastic about the Buzzard and the machine would have been used as a SPAD XIII replacement in French service. After the Armistice, the RAF didn't want the type but it was used by Ireland, Finland, Latvia, Portugal and Spain.

A photograph of a Buzzard is below.

Cheers

Gareth

[Hambo]

Thanks Gareth much appreciated

Hambo