USA Volunteer Reserves - HMT Orcades - Embarkation in Halifax

Discussions related to the second world war.
Post Reply
User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2788
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 127

USA Volunteer Reserves - HMT Orcades - Embarkation in Halifax

Post by Temujin » Sat Aug 29, 2020 8:27 pm

George, again while looking for other information, I spotted these USA Volunteer Reserves nominal roll on embarkation to England.

I’m not sure if these were American Volunteers in the RAF.....or where American Service Personnel......the Enlisted Serial Numbers don’t seem to be US, And it lists some of them as “Sergeant Pilots” And the Officer’s as “Pilot Officers” which would tell me they were American Volunteers in either the RAF or RCAF

the records say they were coming from 31 PD (31 Personnel Depot) = 31 RAF Depot (formerly 31 Personnel Depot). Formed at Moncton (Canada) in October 1941.

I thought they may be of interest to you
A9378112-3918-45D8-A84E-7BC2EFB2589D.jpeg
A9378112-3918-45D8-A84E-7BC2EFB2589D.jpeg (1.12 MiB) Viewed 3393 times
08BE9CF0-417A-4830-807C-D0E7B4BBF704.jpeg
08BE9CF0-417A-4830-807C-D0E7B4BBF704.jpeg (781.34 KiB) Viewed 3393 times
5B349270-0FBB-40EA-A25D-F0841FCC0EF9.jpeg
5B349270-0FBB-40EA-A25D-F0841FCC0EF9.jpeg (855.13 KiB) Viewed 3393 times

This was the transport they were on, and are listed in the General Numbers of RAF/RCAF/RAAF/Norwegian AF personnel proceeding to England
FCE13436-3C60-4377-8112-A3978874823C.jpeg
FCE13436-3C60-4377-8112-A3978874823C.jpeg (646.15 KiB) Viewed 3393 times
ED25F97C-9813-4914-9C5D-5317DE4593D8.jpeg
ED25F97C-9813-4914-9C5D-5317DE4593D8.jpeg (597.97 KiB) Viewed 3393 times

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2788
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 127

Re: USA Volunteer Reserves - HMT Orcades - Embarkation in Halifax

Post by Temujin » Sat Aug 29, 2020 8:51 pm

Follow UP.......I check the first one on the Sgt Pilot list, Leonard Taylor Hays, and indeed he was a RAF Eagle Squadron Volunteer, here is his US Draft Card that confirms this
A038AEEB-2B72-4105-9AF8-D03730EFA46D.jpeg
A038AEEB-2B72-4105-9AF8-D03730EFA46D.jpeg (302.19 KiB) Viewed 3385 times

georgetanksherman
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 626
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:53 pm
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.
Commendations: 16
Contact:

Re: USA Volunteer Reserves - HMT Orcades - Embarkation in Halifax

Post by georgetanksherman » Mon Aug 31, 2020 11:34 am

Temujin, I started on the top section of the P/O, looks like all but one started in the Royal Air force and when the U.S. officially joined in the war they transferred over to USAAF

P/O J. Floyd Andrews RAF transferred USAAF, survived, helped start up P.S.A. Airlines

P/O Mason Lively Armstrong - still researching

P/O Harold Eugene Bangerter, RAF No. 112 Squadron transferred to USAAF 148 Ftr Sqdn

P/O Charley Mack Blakeney was with RCAF No. 428 Sqdn as a Flt Lt, and was awarded a DFC

P/O Archie Warren Chatterley and P/O Richard Ververs Douglas were RAF Eagles transferred to USAAF 334th Squadron

P/O Forrest Martin Fisher transferred to USAAF but stayed on detachment with RAF No. 105 Squadron was killed in action flying Mosquito LR506

P/O Baylis Earle Harriss stayed RAF attained the rank of Sqdn Ldr awarded DFC

P/O Dixie Green Jackkson, RAF Transferred to USAAF KIA July 14, 1943

P/O William Edwards Jeavons, an aircraft crash on the station he was assigned and he was severely injured, still researching more on him,

The story continues ! will do the rest in a bit for those that might be interested !

Post Reply