My great great uncle from WWI

[Jack]

Just doing some family research - this is my great great uncle:

 

No Surname Rank Service Number Date Of Death Age Regiment/Service Nationality Grave/Memorial Ref. Cemetery/Memorial Name

1 PETERSEN , FRANK SADLER Airman 2nd Class 60624 27/03/1917 25 Royal Flying Corps

 

So the question is - what does Airman 2nd Class mean? Was he a pilot/ground crew or admin etc etc?

 

 

 

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[Adrian Barrell]

Jack,

 

Air Mechanic, 2nd class was one rank up from the lowest so unlikely to be aircrew, though I believe anybody could volunteer to be an observer which was a very important role in an aircrew.

[Jack]

Fantastic Adrian! Thanks very much!

[Tony B]

Air Mechanic 2nd class may not sound much. But then he was in the forfront of a brand new service. So how many had the training to be anything else? A quick flit shows the first RFc casualties were Lt R Skene and Air Mechanic Ray Barlow at Netheravon 12/08/1914. So maybe wasn't a cushy ground job.

[Sean N]

Jack,

 

This RAF museum leaflet may help further research:

 

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/documents/e-Info%20Sheet%201%20WW1%20personnel.doc

[exocet R.I.P.]

The first picture is not R.F.C uniform.Therefore hae has transfered in from another unit.It looks line a line infantry uniform and prewar at that.Do you have any more picture Jack?Or even one that is closer to show his collar dogs.

In WW1 the system of numbering was different to WW2.Then the number a soldier had was unique and stayed with you no matter what(unless you were commissioned).In WW1 the number was regiment specific and would change if you changed units.My Grandad had 5 differents numbers by the time the war ended.

[Richard Farrant]

The first picture is not R.F.C uniform.Therefore hae has transfered in from another unit.It looks line a line infantry uniform and prewar at that.Do you have any more picture Jack?Or even one that is closer to show his collar dogs.

In WW1 the system of numbering was different to WW2.Then the number a soldier had was unique and stayed with you no matter what(unless you were commissioned).In WW1 the number was regiment specific and would change if you changed units.My Grandad had 5 differents numbers by the time the war ended.

 

 

Could be 5th Norfolk Regiment.........as it looks like Frank might have been in that one around 1912. That predates RFC.

[exocet R.I.P.]

Yes,that could be Britannia but it's a hazy image.

[Snapper]

The badge on the collar of the 'On War Service' image looks like the badge given to soldiers who had become unfit for war service to wear to keep the white feather lot away. A lot of Air Mech 2 were used to do radio work and if you visit the cemeteries of the Western Front you will find many who were killed working as communications operatives on the ground to planes in the air. Dangerous front line work. A lot depends on where the good man served, but being in the Eastern hospital Cambridge points to the strong likelihood he came back from the Western Front in a poor state of health from wounds or disease - or even the dreaded Spanish flu and subsequently died.

[Tony B]

Most flu victims buried in CWWG cemetries are 1919-1920. Might be worth enquiring of the hospital, they may have details of the cause, the death certificate will be available that should have the cause of death.http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/

Edited September 1, 2010 by Tony B

[Rick W]

Jack, have you tried to source, or get a look at any War Diaries? If you are lucky, his name may get mentioned in them, they are fairly detailed, although the lowest ranks may not get a mention. It may be different in the case of aircrew. I believe Jules aka Dawnpatrol is a specialist on WW1 aircrews. Maybe worth asking him if he is still on here.