- RAF SERVICING COMMANDOS 1942 - 1946 -

By Ed Stevens

This is a brief account of a Commando group whose wartime work is, perhaps, less well known than their Army, Marine and Navy counterparts. They were recruited from the service personnel of RAF Squadrons as notices posted at RAF Stations testify... 'Volunteers wanted in all trades for units to be formed to service aircraft under hazardous conditions.' Click on the links below or scroll down the screen to read the story.

 ~ Background ~

Planners saw a need to provide forward aircraft servicing support as the Allies advanced through enemy held territory. It would take time for squadron ground crews  to reach forward positions so small self contained mobile servicing units were required to fill the gap. They had to be capable of setting up operations, under fire if necessary, including fuel, spare parts and ammunition for the servicing of engines, guns and air-frames... and all from tools and equipment carried through an assault landing. They also had to assist during assault landings as required.

To set this up a memorandum from the War Cabinet Annex in Whitehall to the M.O.D. dated 27/1/42 recommended the formation of R.A.F. Servicing Commando Force. The memo was signed Lord Louis Mountbatten, Commodore of Combined Operations.

 ~ Formation ~

In practice fifteen such units were formed each commanded by an engineering officer and usually with an armament officer and an adjutant. Each unit comprised about 150 men organised into four flights similar to army platoons. There was a flight sergeant with corporals as section leaders. A sergeant was responsible for each trade such as engine, airframe and armourers.

Fifteen 3-ton trucks held each unit's equipment and personnel when on the move. There was also 15 cwt (3/4 of a ton) vehicle and a jeep for the Commanding Officer and a motorcycle for the unit despatch rider. Airmen were armed with Sten guns or rifles and each flight had a Bren gun.

 ~ Training ~

All ranks had to undergo military training supervised by Army Officers seconded for the purpose. They were taught to drive and, because they would be involved in amphibious landings, swimming training was given. After this initial 'toughening up' training, two weeks was spent at the Combined Training Centre (CTC) at Inveraray in Scotland.

CTC Inveraray specialised in all aspects of amphibious training in the use of minor landing craft. Here the volunteers underwent rigorous practical training including embarking on landing craft of the Royal Navy. Some of the more strenuous activity involved the use of scrambling nets to board landing craft. Assault exercises in the surrounding countryside followed the landings. After completion of this training the coveted Combined Operations badge was issued.

During the next few months, and prior to deployment, the units moved from airfield to airfield gaining wide experience of servicing different aircraft such as Spitfires, Typhoons, Mustangs and Mosquitoes.

 ~ General Deployment ~

Each unit had one mobile workshop which came ashore in the early stages of a landing while the other vehicles, including fuel tankers, usually landed later on D date. The general deployment over the years 1942 to 1945 looked like this.

The Mediterranean. Commando Units 3201, 02, 03 and 04 took part in operations in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. In addition 3230, 31 and 32 trained in Palestine and served in Sicily and Italy.

Normandy 3205, 07, 09 and 10 embarked at Gosport early on the morning of 6^th June 1944. The personnel were in groups on an American Landing Ship Tank (L.S.T.) and also smaller Landing Craft Tank (L.C.T.). One of the latter was torpedoed and set on fire on the way across the English Channel to Normandy. Two airmen were injured and they and the others were rescued and returned to England by naval craft.

South East Asia. After withdrawal from Normandy the four units (3205, 07, 09 and 10) embarked for passage to South East Asia. However the operational life of the units against enemy forces was to come to an abrupt end with the unexpected surrender of Japan on 2/9/45. Operation Zipper, the invasion of Malaya, in which they would have been involved, was cancelled with the ending of the war.

 ~ Unit Deployments ~

Commando Unit 3201 trained in the UK and landed in North Africa on D-Day at about H + 60 minutes and reached Maison Blanche airfield at 9.10 hrs. When not involved in assault landings they worked alongside aircraft recovery units. They were in Sicily in 1943 and Corsica in January 1944. Their CO throughout the 2.5 years was Flt. Lt. H Webster who made this critical comment... the unit was misused after Sicily, no one on the staff knew its capabilities.

Commando Unit 3202 trained in the UK and served in North Africa and Italy. It was disbanded in December 1943 at Taranto Italy.

Commando Unit 3203 trained in the UK and served in North Africa, Sicily and at Salerno in Italy where they serviced any fighter aircraft that came their way. They were disbanded at Portici, Italy in February 1944.

Commando Unit 3204 landed in Sicily in July 1943 and disbanded at Catania on 3/2/44. (Photo; LAC Henry John Clifford Elcome, 'Cliff' to his friends, taken sometime in 1943/44)

Commando Unit 3205 embarked at Gosport early on the morning of 6/6/44. They landed on the Normandy beaches on D+1. One vehicle hit a mine on leaving the landing craft resulting in 2 fatalities. The unit serviced Spitfires during June. They sailed for India on 2/11/44 with 07 arriving in Chittagong, India on 5/12/44. In January they landed at Akyab in January 1945 from Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM). They subsequently operated on the Arakan peninsula.

In early September 1945 they were on board ship bound for Morib in Malaya when the first atomic bomb was dropped. They disembarked at Morib and then on to Kelanang. Later they were posted- to Batavia, now Jakarta, in Java by way of Singapore. They were disbanded on February 28th 1946

Commando Unit 3206 landed in Normandy on D + 10 and operated through France to Belgium. They were disbanded in April 1945.

Commando Unit 3207 arrived in India in December 1944 in Burma spending Xmas 1944 at Imphal where, together with No 3 R&SU, they engaged in recovery and salvage work. In February they moved by road to Monywa where part of the unit was later flown into Meiktila in Burma. Here they occupied a landing strip inside a defensive box and were joined by the RAF Regiment who assisted in the defence of the box. During this period  both Sgt. Brown and Nobby Coxhall, who was in Normandy with 3209, earned the Military Medal. The part unit was withdrawn from Meiktila on 29/4/45. After the fall of Mandalay the unit left for Mingladon which by then was securely in Allied hands and then onwards to Rangoon. Here they took part in a victory parade and then sailed to Singapore arriving there on September 5^th. Prior to being disbanded (possibly at Kallang) on 31^stMarch 1946 3207 serviced planes used to repatriate ex POWs (prisoners of war).

Commando Unit 3208 landed in Normandy on D + 10. where they were engaged in servicing Mustangs and other aircraft. They moved to forward airfields with the advancing Allied troops and serviced Mosquitoes covering the Rhine crossing. They were disbanded in March 1945.

Commando Unit 3209 landed in Normandy and were greeted by one of their comrades in the assembly area behind the Normandy beach with the words Where have you lot been?  He was wearing a naval jersey given to him by one the crew of the naval cutter that deposited him on the beach.

Replacements for the missing men and some equipment was received within a few weeks but in the meantime 3209's corporal cook, assisted by a general duty airman, used compo rations (a crate containing food for 14 men for one day). To heat up the canned food, such as stew, a makeshift cooker was constructed out of half a petrol can, filled with earth and liberally soaked in petrol!

The units operated mostly on the B2 and B3 landing grounds in Normandy returning to England at the beginning of August. They were given leave before sailing for the Far East at the end of the year. (Photo; Servicing Commandos watching a bulldozer clearing ground for the first new landing strip in Normandy).

On landing in Bombay in January 1945, 3209 spent some time in a transit camp possibly called Worli. From there across India to Singabeel in the state of Assam; to Calcutta, for a short stay on the Midan; back across India to a Seaplane base at Korangi Creek on the coast not for from Karachi. Here they underwent some training on landing craft but spent most of the time swimming! Once more across India to Bobbilli on the coast north of Madras, where we waited for the delivery of some Bedford trucks, then down to Madras and aboard a TLC to Rangoon. They were scheduled to take part in Operation Dracula... the seaborne assault on Rangoon but this was cancelled upon the surrender of the Japanese in early September 1945. 3209 was then split up and never came together again.

A Squadron (1 and 2 flights) sailed to Rangoon from Madras and were then transported to Bangkok by landing craft. Here they established a staging post where they serviced visiting aircraft. B Squadron (3 and 4 flights)  sailed from Rangoon to Saigon on board the troop ship 'Silesia.' It was not altogether a safe environment since the following transport was fired on by Nationalists as it sailed up the Saigon River. They established the No. 2 staging post for aircraft en-route to Japan and also took part in airfield defence against insurgents seeking to prevent the return of the French. The squadron also carried out sweeps of the countryside looking for terrorists and arms. They provided a guard of honour for Lord Louis Mountbatten on his arrival in Saigon and received a pep talk from him. 3209 was disbanded on 22^nd November 1945 and the members were posted to R.A.F. units throughout South East Asia. (Photo; Armourers making up rockets for Typhoons).

Commando Unit 3210 landed in India on 14/1/45 and after training at Worli moved to Calcutta. Flights were employed at various stations until the orders came through to prepare for Operation Zipper. However, as with other units in the far east the surrender of the Japanese on 5/9/45 changed all plans and expectations. In September they were bound for Malaya on board the SS Dunera. On the 17^th they transferred to landing craft off Morib beach having to wade through four feet of water and march nine miles to their assembly area!

Aircraft were serviced at airfields in Port Swettenham and Kuala Lumpur's Kelanang airfield. On the 21st of September they were advised of a move to Batavia in Java and shortly thereafter they sailed from Port Dickson to Batavia, with their vehicles, aboard four LCTs. They took over airfield defence from an army detachment and serviced incoming aircraft and initially two squadrons of Thunderbolts. With little notice the unit was disbanded on 31 October 1945.

Commando Unit 3225 was formed in the UK in July 1943 and served in Egypt around the end of 1943.

Commando Unit 3226 was formed in July 1942. They served in Sicily and Salerno, Italy where, despite the airstrip coming under enemy fire, petrol was brought up from the beachhead area. After further service the unit was disbanded in January 1944.

Commando Units 3230 and 3231 were formed in Palestine (Egypt?) in the Spring of 1943. They were deployed to Sicily and the toe of Italy before being disbanded in November 1943 and January 1944 respectively.

 ~ Memories of D-Day ~

Gordon Taylor was a member of 3209 on D-Day and recorded these thoughts on 24th July 1944. His early involvement in the war was seriously interrupted by a German torpedo!

Sunday 4 June 1944 - Old Sarum, Salisbury. Hanging around all day. Received £ 1.00 for changing into 'foreign currency.'

Monday 5 June - left Salisbury at 13.00 hrs and arrived in Portsmouth area after travelling all day. Loads of work. Collected 24 hour ration packs and changed money into francs, £2 and received 400 francs. Bed about midnight tired out.

Tuesday 6 June - up at 02.45 hours and away by 05.00. With only a few of my mates (unit split up). On landing craft by 10.00 hrs. Moved off at 14.00 hrs. to join the rest of the convoy at about 22.00hrs. Bed down in lorries to sleep.

Wednesday 7 June - at about 02.00 hrs gunfire heard, all boys reached for tin hats. Suddenly there was a terrific crash and a tremendous yellow flame lit the whole place up. In a few seconds there was a large fire going. All I remember was that I found myself wandering about the deck. Most of the boys had, by now, got over the first shock, and were standing well to the front as the fire was spreading and had reached ammunition which was exploding. I went to the front and found that we were not sinking so I decided to stay on a little longer. Two chaps, Canadians, dived overboard. I don't think that they were picked up or seen again.

The fire was well alight and we could see chaps trying to get out. I don't think they did. We could not get down the other end because of the fire and the damage to the side of the ship. The front half was now rocking about badly as its back was breaking leaving the top plates holding the two halves together.

Thursday 8 June - arrived back in England at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and was taken to Winchester Hospital. And was soon asleep. Gordon was transferred to Hospital in Bradford and was eventually posted to 141 Wing HQ at West Mailing.

 ~ The Fallen ~

RAFSC 3201 - 612453. Sgt Benjamin Pickering RAF. 17 November 1942. Age 22. Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Algeria. 3H10.

[Information provided by Tony Stanhope from "A History of the RAF Servicing Commandos" by J P Kellet and J Davies].

 ~ Further Reading ~

The RAF Servicing Commando and The Tactical Wing Association In 2006 the RAFSC Association joined forces with today's Tactical Supply Wing to form a new association representing a common heritage. New members are welcome.

RAF Servicing Commando website

RAF Beach Units

Official RAF website.

A History of the RAF Servicing Commandos, by J P Kellett and J Davies, published by Airlife in 1989. ISBN 1-85310-051-X.

Spectacles, Testicles, Fags and Matches - the untold story of the RAF Servicing Commandos in World War Two. Written by Tom Atkinson. Published by Luath Press Ltd, Edinburgh in 2004. The author was a member of RAFSC Unit 3210.

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