William James sterry

[sterry]

Hello I’m wondering did the raf in ww1 have individual photographs of officers? I’m looking for one possibly of probationary flying officer William James sterry RNAS 1918

[Michelle Young]

The best bet for photos really is the local newspapers to where the individual was living or born. 

[sterry]

What does it have to say about William James sterry Royal engineers British army ww1 sapper 1044?

[Michelle Young]

We don’t hold a physical archive Luke, you have to look for records online via Ancestry or Find My Past subscription sites. 

[horatio2]

3 minutes ago, sterry said:

What does it have to say ...?

What is IT? His RNAS ADM 273 record states "Previous service in HM Forces - Sap'r, R.E., T.F." -   https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9754040

This was carried forward to his RAF record -  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8230291

[Michelle Young]

Link to previous thread about WJ Sterry RE 

 

[horatio2]

1 hour ago, sterry said:

probationary flying officer William James sterry RNAS

His rank was Temporary Probationary Flight Officer RNAS.

The Admiralty Medal Roll records that his five weeks of RNAS service qualified him for the British War Medal in that rank. The medal was not claimed, presumably because medals were issued for his previous army service. 

[Matlock1418]

3 hours ago, horatio2 said:

The medal was not claimed, presumably because medals were issued for his previous army service. 

MIC [1044 RE] shows that a 1914-15, BWM & VM were issued and then all returned under KR 1923 para 992. "Medals which, at the end of one year, still remain unclaimed, will be sent to the Secretary, The War Office" As undelivered - to be broken up/destroyed.

M

Edited 29 November , 2022 by Matlock1418

[Matlock1418]

William STERRY, 1044, RE, claimed a disability pension [to go with his SWB it would seem - on a card with printer's mark of 11/16 - so seemingly after that]

Unfortunately no address provided [which might help focus newspaper photo searches].

M

[sterry]

If my grandfather was a 2nd lieutenant in the RAF does that mean  he was MADE to maybe go learn to fly or go on a test flight?

[KizmeRD]

No pilot was MADE to fly, all were volunteers who wanted the opportunity. By the end of the war PFO Sterry was still under instruction at 3 TDS. Pilot training took about 11 months to complete and he started with the RNAS at Greenwich learning such things as avaition theory, navigation & map reading, wireless signalling, basic aero engineering, rigging, and use of instruments. After which he was sent to No 43 TDS RAF (Training Depot Station, Chattis Hill, Hampshire) to complete a minimum of 25 hours of elementary flying using training aircraft over a three month period. Next he would have completed second phase flight training involving 35 hours on modern type aircraft (No 3 TDS, Lopcombe Corner, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire) to learn cross-country and formation flying, reconnaissance and gunnery.  Finally for the third and final phase of his pilot training he would have undergone combat training at a specialist school relevant to his intended operational role. On completion he would have picked up his pilots wings (but unsure whether he ever did due to him becoming unfit for GS).

MB

edit 43 TDS

On second thoughts, perhaps the course at Greenwich was only initial officer training, after which he then embarked on his ground training and flight training (with a TDS).

 

Edited 1 December , 2022 by KizmeRD