In the months that followed V-E Day hundreds, likely thousands, of RCAF personnel were retained overseas. The process of repatriation was undoubtedly lengthy but it's hard to believe that the aircrew/groundcrew were simply idle...
My own father remained in England until he was shipped back home in late January or early February of '46 but I never was able to ascertain exactly what or where he was posted after the break-up of his crew in June of '45.
He mentioned (at least I think he mentioned) returning to RAF Rufforth (where his crew had attended 1663 HCU Mar-May '45 on Halifaxes) and apparently partaking in some food drop flights (on Halifaxes I presume)with scratch crews assembled for the purpose. These were apparently over an area just outside of Rotterdam but I've never been able to confirm that. I believe he "volunteered" to become part of Tiger Force but even post V-J Day it seemed to take quite a window of time to return home. Several of the other members of his crew were already out of the service and had been back back home in Canada for four or five months.
Apparently Dad mentioned doing aerial photo reconnaisance flights over Eygpt & into India but I have no particulars - only fading memories & recollections from the past and no log book to refer to.
By October of '45 I believe he was stationed to Southern England around Torquay & Paignton area where I take it crews awaited repatriation.
At one point he thought he'd be home by Thanksgiving but as it turned out didn't get home until after Christmas likely in late January of '46.
A letter he wrote home in mid October stated that the Queen E sailed out of Bournemouth but it was mostly ground crew on board, no aircrew. That and if they didn't get shipped out soon the whole town was likely to go up in flames as one pub had already been burned down! (I take it the servicemen were getting antsy and impatient to go home)
Just wondered if there are any RCAF vets onboard who were still overseas during the post V-E/V-J Day period and can recount what it was they did to stay active or occupied during this time as Squadrons were disbanded and the service personnel were dispersed to return home.
How did the drafts to return home work? Was it "First come - first serve" basis or was there some rhyme and reason to the order of repatriation?
|