Hello,

If you can help;

If anybody knows; I was wondering what reserve depots actually were?. Are they pilot pools for pilots to be drafted into squadrons? or are they reserve squadrons in their own right?.

I had a great-uncle who was plucked from a reserve depot & sent to France & then was sent back to RD (reserve depot) after his time in France (7months). He was a qualified pilot, but what role would he have played on the Front coming from RD?. He ended up in 5 RD ,(England); how many RD's were there & were the pilots considered not as proficient as others?

Hope my question/s are not too complicated. If anyone can help or inform me where I could look for info, thanks a lot.

Regards,
Cherryboy.

Cherryboy

According to Air Britain's Flying Training and Support Units Since 1912 2nd edition by Sturtivant and Hamlin, there was only one Reserve Depot which was at Farnborough, it was formed on 15/01/18 and replaced by the Administrative Wing and Recruits Dept, the RD was disbanded in 00/02/18.

When you say he was sent back to RD from France, I would have thought that meant he was sent back to the Regimental Depot, which may have been a paper move, in that he would probably have had some leave to take before being reassigned to another unit. There was a Regimental Depot at Farnborough and I believe there might have been one at Uxbridge? There were also a number of Aircraft Depots and these had pilots pool attached to them. The Pilots and I imagine Observers waited for a vacancy in a suitable squadron.

I would have thought that if your man had flown in France for some seven months then he was posted back for a rest, on arrival they usually had a few days leave and then sent to a training unit for a month or two before being posted on to another unit.

Not sure what you are getting at when you say what role would he have played on the front coming from a RD. There was stead flow of pilots and observers to replace combat losses, sickness and those due a rest, pilots pools were where the men were held so that replacements could be sent to a squadron a.s.a.p.



Not sure if this helps much?

john_g


www.66squadron.co.uk

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply. Clears things up for me a bit more. I was told RD stood for reserve depot but your explanation, (regimental depot), makes more sense.

I'm still confused with it all really, his RFC papers are hard to work out.
It states; 12.11.17 admitted to 2nd Military Hospital Old Park Canterbury
18.12.17 Furlough to 28.12.17

After which it just says; Rejoined R.D. then
RDO(9) to (5)RD on the 10.4.18 then
5RD to School of Instruction, Henley on the 26.10.18

He transferred to the RAF, 1.4.18 as a sergeant mechanic.
I know he was a qualified pilot but as I can't find squadrons he may have been with, I didn't know whether he flewin France or worked as a mechanic ect.

I think I've made it even more confusing!. Thanks very much anyway John.

Cherryboy.

Cherryboy

One thing I have noticed with this post is that we do not know his name? If we knew his name someone might have heard of him and this might help your search.

If he was admitted to the hospital then there might be a casualty card at the RAF Museum Hendon.

If he was a qualified pilot, did the take his Royal Aero club Certificate?

john_g

His name was George McCallum Cherry:







Brian has sent me the parts of the RAF Record so I can post them here.


Steve.

and







Steve.

Cherryboy
Excellent stuff. He was awarded his Royal Aeroclub Certificate on 14 May 1916 number 2981, if you visit Ancestry.com, you should be able to see a scan of his record card and a photograph, mind some are missing. The card should give you details of where he took his certs and what he was flying.

As he applied for a commission in 1918 you should also check his AIR 76 record at the NA you need film AIR76/85 names Cheadle - Chisholm.

He is not listed in the April 1918 AFL, but he listed in the August 1919 list as a Technical Officer.

I hope this helps.

john_g

www.66squadron.co.uk