RAF abbreviation - swa MEP?

[Grovetown]

Wonder if anyone can help with the attached abbreviation.

 

FO  transferring from the Central Flying School to 'Swa MEP'? NEP perhaps?

 

Am assuming Swa is one of the Schools of Aeronautics, yet can't see how the 'w' fits?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

Cheers,

 

GT.

[DavidOwen]

I suspect this will be miles from the correct mark but my (Canadian) source has SWA = South West Atlantic Area (no idea where the extra "a" is) and NEP = Non-effective Personnel.

Nothing for MEP.

 

Looking forward to reading the right answers!

[Terry_Reeves]

According to Ray Sturtivant’s Flying Training And Support Units since 1913 SWA stands for South West Area.

 

TR

[topgun1918]

SWA = South-Western Area; No 2 Area had been formed on 1 April 1918 and re-named South-Western Area on 8 May.  The only commanding officer I've come across is Major-General Mark Edward Frederic Kerr.

 

As to NEP, at the moment I've no idea.

 

Graeme

 

[Grovetown]

Thanks to all so far.

 

NEP was making sense as 'non-effective personnel', as the man in question had a crash at Upavon in January 1918 that seem to presage long periods of being unfit.

Yet if South West(ern) Area is correct, it doesn't seem/ sound like something you'd post an injured/ sick pilot to.

 

Thanks again.

 

GT.

[topgun1918]

Maybe he took up a non-flying position.

 

If you have a name, a look in the Air Force List might help.

 

Graeme

 

[Grovetown]

His name was Leonard Francis.

 

Checkered history: in June 1917, he was the cadet pilot of a plane that crashed at Camp Hoare/ Borden, killing his passenger Capt. Stanislaus 'Dan' Cruess-Callaghan; younger brother of the Irish ace Joseph Cruess-Callaghan.

 

Cheers,

 

GT.

Edited 29 October , 2018 by Grovetown

[quemerford]

NEP is non-effective pool: a status rather than a posting, since personnel could be declared thus but still working (e.g. pilots in admin roles) at their home station. As in B Elliott, posted also via hospital to HQ 28 Wing and to SW Area NE Pool:

 

 

Edited 29 October , 2018 by quemerford

[Grovetown]

That's all a very great help: many thanks to all.

 

16 hours ago, topgun1918 said:

The only commanding officer I've come across is Major-General Mark Edward Frederic Kerr.

 

https://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Cmd_H1.htm

 

Kerr, then Maj-Gen Game; then Maj-Gen Longcroft.

 

Cheers,

 

GT.