Hi, I am new to this forum, but I am interested in researching my Great Uncle, Frederick Luckett who seems to have served with the Royal Engineers across the Balkans, and from some of his memoire, may have been a saboteur. Also another great Uncle, Harold Paul Marti. A Swiss National who flew with the RAF. Along the way, I hope to pick up anything I can about the 92nd, 326th and 407th Squadrons of the Mighty 8th. Purely because I am a drag racer, and we race on their runway at Santa Pod Raceway which was Podington airbase on the Beds/Northants border.
Hi & Welcome Ian from the Aussie contingent. Not my field checking British Army however I have some badge photos to get us going and a memories video of the 327th. 92nd BOMB GROUP "Fames Favored Few" 92nd View attachment 3497 92nd View attachment 3498 326th View attachment 3499 407th View attachment 3500
Great Uncle Harold Paul Marti - a Swiss National who flew with the RAF I hope this is of some interest (I am posting it on both threads where he is mentioned) - (He was commissioned from the ranks and ended the war as a Flight Lieutenant, no honours or awards found as yet in my searching) SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 JUNE, 1943 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE. GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH. To be Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency): 9th Apr. 1943 Ldg. Acm 1395303 Harold Paul MARTI (150316). SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 OCTOBER, 1943 Plt. Offs(prob.) to be Fig. Offs. on prob. (war subs): 9th Oct. 1943 H.P. MARTI (150316) SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 4 MAY, 1945 Flg. Off. to Flt. Lt. (war subs.): 9th Apr. 1945 H. P. MARTI (150316) (Here are a couple of spare references to the surname – they may be related) THE LONDON GAZETTE, 9 APRIL, 1946 NATURALIZATION. LIST OF ALIENS to whom Certificates of Naturalization have been granted by the Secretary of State, and whose Oaths of Allegiance have been registered in the Home Office during the month of March, 1946. The date shown in each case is the date on which the Oath of Allegiance was taken. *Marti, Jessie Charlotte; Switzerland; Of no occupation; Bel Air, Amersham Road, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. 2 March, 1946. * Re-admission to British Nationality. R. Fus. The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd Lts., 4th May 1946: 14008190 Stanley Vicente George MARTI (365545)
Harold Marti information Wow, thanks. Didn't expect information of this calibre so quickly. I only found out Harold was a relative about a week ago, and now I have photos of him flying T6's (which incidentally I am doing in Sept) and also his service number and promotion record. I am truly amazed. He went on to work in Liquefied Natural gas and LPG production for Shell and died from acute blood poisoning bought on from an accident in his 50's. This man proves to be very interesting. The other uncle, Frederick Luckett died back in the 1980's (when I was a mere teenager) so I didn't know him all that well. I have tracked back that he worked for Shand Kydd (sp) a high class fabric and wallpaper company, as one of their artists both pre and post war until retirement. But on the death of my great aunt, in 2001 we found several items which hinted towards a WWII career with RE and some intriguing items, such as double spaced books (popular fiction) in various Southern European languages, which he had translated into English in the intervening space. All publication dates were early 1940's, so it appears he was learning languages. He also had several books about nationalities, customs and locations across Southern Europe, again all 1940's, but makes no reference to this as a hobby, or as a touristic venture, so again we assume he was learning about those countries for war time purposes.
Great Uncle - Frederick Luckett - Royal Engineers This is the best I've found so far, this guy looks like a pre-war soldier (maybe a territorial) who was commissioned in 1939 and discharged in 1947 as a Major. Did your great uncle have a middle name? CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. 9th Nov. 1939 - Suptdg. Clerk Frederick Charles LUCKETT (108058) to be Lt. (Qr.-Mr.). 14th Nov 1939 War Office, 28th November, 1947. The following Officers are awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military): ROYAL ENGINEERS. Capt. (Qr.-Mr) F. C.: LUCKETT (108058) CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS - Capt (Qr -Mr ) F C LUCKETT (108058) to be Maj. (Qr -Mr ), 1st Nov. 1947. The undermentioned War Subs Capts (Qr -Mrs ) to be Capts (Qr -Mrs ), 1st Nov 1947 F C LUCKETT (108058) (Great Uncle, Frederick Luckett who seems to have served with the Royal Engineers across the Balkans, and from some of his memoirs, may have been a saboteur.)
