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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945
Logbooks
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Those known to have served with
2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
- Amlin James Gordon.
- Billingham William Harry. F/Sgt.
- Greaves Ernest Fox. LAC.
- Luba Maryian John. LAC.
- Thompson George William.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF) from other sources.
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Want to know more about 2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF)?
There are:295 items tagged 2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF) available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.
George William Thompson 84 Sqd.
My late Father George William Thompson, Royal Air Force was on-board the ss Aslem when she was sunk. Thankfully he was rescued after several hours in the water, I will always remember my Father saying that he was full of praise for the bravery of The Reverend Pugh tendering to the injured Airman who were trapped in the sinking ship. Dad always insisted on wearing his life jacket when on-board, he was ordered by a senior officer (no name though) to take it off & pass it him, Dad refused to do this & thus saved his life when the torpedo struck. I have seen a photo of my Mother, taken in his cabin, that is now at the bottom of the Atlantic having gone down in the Anselm.Thankfully Dad survived 1939 – 45 after serving in 84, 101, 109 & 2nd TAF from the beginning of the war, prior to that had served with the RAF in Iraq & Egypt (84 Sqd.) flying in such delights as Westland Wapitis & the Vickers Virginia transport.
I believe there is a plaque, statue & bust of the Rev Pugh commemorating his bravery & sacrifice, does anyone know where this is please? Any info would be appreciated.
Ann Jones
F/Sgt. William Harry Billingham Second Tactical Air Force
Bill Billingham joined the RAF in 1936 with a six month training at Uxbridge. After six months, he was posted to Peterborough No 7 Training School. At the beginning of 1938 he went to the armaments school at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey. In the summer of 1938 was posted to Mildenhall as and armourer. Bill was a ‘dustbin’ turret read gunner and got 3d a day danger money. In May 1939 Bill was rear gunner on Wellington planes and again got 3d a day danger money. In July 1939 the squadron was involved in the celebrations for Bastille day and was stationed at Le Bourget. In 1940 Bill was stationed at Plymouth, moving to Amesbury later in 1941. Bill joined the Second Tactical Air Force and was away from home for eighteen months travelling through France, Belgium and Holland with the unit. Bill left the RAF in 1946.
LAC. Maryian John "Mary" Luba 441 Squadron
Maryian Lubaserved with 2TAF, in 441 Squadron from 1942 to 1945 and was in Normandy, Holland and Belgium. He served as an Armourer, his first operational airfield on the European continent, was Benny sur Mere. He spent his 21st birthday 7th of September 1944 in newly liberated Brussels.He joined Bomber Command and was posted to 408 Goose Squadron at Linton on Ouse in March or April, 1945. While "bombing up a Halibag", a 500 lb bomb detonated severely wounding him. Are there any details of this accident anywhere?
John Luba
LAC. Ernest Fox Greaves
My father, Ernest Greaves was a volunteer, transferred from barrage balloons when the women took over what was Air Stores Park RAF 2nd Taf and as a result of Mountbatton's orders, the 2nd Taf mobile units were formed. He was a tough old lad, not a young man, born 1907 he was about 35 in 1942. He impressed, always being enthusiastic and one of the hardest of workers and was promoted to corporal, he was a B-class driver of a 3 ton Crossley. he funniest part was Dad had been a consciencious objector, however i know from experience when push comes to shuve you will fight. He ended up in the D-Day landings at Arromanches,with the 2nd Taf ground forces. He told me some of his experiences.The 2ndTaf mobile units went through France, the one thing about the Crossleys was they were a state of the art vehicle at that time. They had four wheel drive and bullet proof type tyres, a double set of gears and was all double clutching. Dad had been weapons trained on stens and brens and he also acted as a medical orderly and saved them all when the cook was ill, they had to be very flexible men. There is a joke about cooks, they say that a lot of mens lives were saved when they shot the cook. They did not come home once there but followed the army and took their orders from them, they never knew what they might run into. They went through Belgium, then Holland with 30 Corps, then accross the Rhine, on a pontoon bridge with no room to spare. This was were the four wheeldrive really came in and was one of my fathers most dramatic accounts. The reason is he must have missed out on the swimming course and he could not swim so had a fear in that area. Still they got over safely and ended up in Buckeburgh, while he was there he ran the bar in the Malcolm club. This reminds me about the programme on tv regarding the 101st American Airborne, one of the officers wanted some spirits, but they only had bottled beer, Dad had the same problem but they had run out of beer but had plenty of spirits. He took a truck to Hamburgh to exchange some of the spirits for bottled beer with the Americans.
He met my mother in Germany, she had been to school with Princess Dartmar of Schumbergh Iipper. My two sisters were born in Germany Dad was posted back to England but wrote to the Prime Minister of the day to get reposted back as he loved mum and would not abandon her with my sisters. He was reposted as a result. I was born when my father was back in England, he was stationed at RAF Syerston. There was heavy snow and my mother was taken by military ambulance, which got stuck in a ditch, they used the only blanket in the ambulence to put under the wheels, luckily a snow plough came along and got them out and I was eventually born in the Women's Hospital in Peel Street. His unit was on stand by to go to the middle east, so they evoked the kings year on him.
I would like to finish by saying that you don't hear much about what the Mobile units did, but they played an important role in many ways that people don't realize and the men that served deserve credit for their courage and fortitude. Fortunately for some, there are good endings.
Ernest Kenneth Greaves
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