RAF gentleman

[horseshoes]

I have a photo of a gentleman called G Evans whose RAF number is 1256828. How can I find out where he's from - I think it may be Mountain Ash in South Wales, or possibly Blaenau Ffestioniog in North Wales. Thank you.

[CAJ1]

Hi, try this link http://www.nationalar...-person/airmanraf.htm

Do you know the years he was in the RAF?

[horseshoes]

No I don't I'm afraid; this is his photo on a greetings card. It looks WW2 to me. I'll go and look at that site now though and see what I can discover. Thank you.

[horseshoes]

Oh and he was stationed in Lyness, Orkneys.

[CAJ1]

WW2 service records are held by the Ministry of Defence and full details can only be requested by the veteran himself or, if deceased, his next of kin. There is a fee of £30 and you can download an application form here 11:14 Mon 11th Apr 2011

[CAJ1]

Sorry...here's the link http://www.veterans-u.../service_records.html

Did he survive the war? If he died in service he will be commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site http://www.cwgc.org/d..._honour.asp?menuid=14

[horseshoes]

I don't want to appear a meanie but I really wouldn't want to pay £30 for it; I may never use it again. But I appreciate your help - thank you. BTW he didn't come up as a casualty on the other list so I can assume he survived.

[echokilo]

Can you post the photo on here - might help us??

[dotty.]

Do you have a rank at all ? The number indicates he was transferred over to the RAF from the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) which suggests he was already an airman with the RFC after 1912 but before the RAF which was formed in 1918, RFC personal took their service number with them when they were transerred to the RAF

[horseshoes]

Here he is: 1256828 A/C Evans G RAF Lyness, Orkneys

http://i53.tinypic.com/14dlzdy.jpg

[DaisyNonna]

So glad you found him.

[horseshoes]

I already had him Daisy! I was trying to find out where he's from:-)))

[dotty.]

I can't see anything on the top of the arm at all, and the cap badge looks quite small too, my great uncle had the almost identical uniform, he was in the RAF in 1940

[CAJ1]

On second thoughts, it probably wouldn't be worth paying the £30 if he wasn't related to you as they might not give you the information.

Good luck with your search :)

[dundurn]

This would be the postcard currently listed on ebay, I presume? He's not wearing wings, neither pilot's nor observer's so probably ground crew. Not surprising given that Lyness was the HQ of the Orkney Barrage Balloon establishment which as far as I'm aware had no aircraft. The main flying base for Orkney was RNAS Hatson (HMS Sparrowhawk). Lynes was staffed from Early 1940 to November 1944 though it wasn't fully operational for the whole of that period.