Post by exkiwiforces on Jun 27, 2017 0:01:30 GMT 12
For those who may not be aware I have been diagnosis with PTSD, Depression and Anxiety when I was AME out of in theater mid November last year, since then I've had more runs down the rabbit hole than Bugs Bunny's lifetime and I was able to be finally sent to a PTSD stabilization cse at St John of God Hospital in Richmond Nth, Sydney NSW about 5 weeks ago. While I was in the Xavier ward which is for PTSD patient's and I came across a bit of history in how the Xavier ward was named. Br Xavier completed two operational tours in Bomber Command, I went hell you were lucky to survive 1 complete tour let alone 2 tours in Bomber Command and I went right, before I go back to SJOG I'm going to some further research in Br Xavier exceptional wartime history.
I have Br Xavier Service Number, he enlisted in WA, before under taking the usual square bashing and basic air gunnery in Australia before heading overseas.
Please note: I'm new to aviation researching as I'm more of reader than a researcher unless it involves ground combat being ex Cav, so if have made any mistakes please let me know. via private message.
"During the my preliminary research into the Bomber Squadrons that Br Xavier served in No12 Operation Training Unit was a run of mill training unit to train up bomber crews before they were posted as a complete crew to an operational SQN, Br Xavier crew was posted No90 SQN which operated the Shorts Stirling Bomber the first of the British heavy bombers. The Shorts Stirling bomber wasn't the best bomber at time due its deficiencies no thanks to the British Air Ministry at the time, as a result of the Stirling's short comings it was retired from bomber duties and No90 Sqn was rerolled into mine laying around German ports/sea routes and supporting the Marquis (French Resistance). Mine laying required the Aircraft to at low altitude around 500ft or lower in and around heavied defended ports/ German sea lanes and supporting the Marquis required them to fly around heights at between 200ft and 800ft dropping supplies or parachuting agents in an aircraft that wasn't suit for either job duty. Its amazing he was able to complete his 30 sorties in a aircraft that had major deficiencies and perform roles that the Shorts Stirling wasn't design for.
After his 30 sorties he was rested and they were normally posted a Training Unit probably in Br Xavier case to a Air Gunnery School. During this time he volunteer for operations again and what happens next has me blew me away. Which got think why he decided to the order after the war more on that later.
Br Xavier volunteer for operations in No223 SQN which was a part of No100 Support Group of RAF Bomber Command. This Group is up there with the elite Pathfinders Group and the famous 617 Dambusters SQN. 100 Group was operating as Electronic Intelligence/Warfare, Signal Intelligence/warfare, and Counter/ Offensive Electronic Warfare which we now call Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). This was real cutting edge technology and there was no known doctrine at the time so the Aircrews and their scientific advisors were making things up as the went real trial and error stuff with a little help the from British Combined Forces (Commando's , Airborne and the Coastal Navel Forces of the Royal Navy) and the odd stray German night fighter that landed/ crashed in England in an effort to reduce Bomber Command's horrendous losses at time and try end the war sooner rather than later.
No223 SQN in which Br Xavier served in flew the US B24 Liberator Bomber which was only aircraft along with the B17 another US aircraft that was on strength with No223 SQN while the only aircraft that could carry the jammer and gathering Electronic/ Signals Intelligence equipment at the time. Other tasking's his SQN did, were fly as bait for the British night fighters to encourage the German night fighters to try and intercept the bomber while gathering Electronic/ Signals Intelligence on ground base and airborne radars fitted the German night fighters, fly with along side the main bomber stream in a jamming role as the German Anti Aircraft gun were radar control or jamming the night fighters radar, or a group of No223 SQN flying a spoofer missions to fool the German radars/ night fighters to the support the main bomber streams or in support the British Night fighters.
Br Xavier was demobbed from RAAF 462SQN, 100 Group. He went to Ireland join a monastic order of St John of God at the end of the war.
The more I started to research No223 and No100 Group the more I started to think Br Xavier in why he decided join a monastic order of St John of God at the end of the war. Having done a basic research into the St God John Order, I have come a conclusion that Br Xavier may be quietly suffering PTSD as a result of his service in Bomber Command while attending the need of others."
Where I access Br Xavier service doc's National Archives: A few things didn't match up? i.e. what's on the wall in the Xavier Ward and on his service doc's
1. The types of Aircraft he flew? He flew the Fairy Battle, Vickers Wellington and Shorts Stirling. But no mention of the B24 at 223SQN, but in his service docs did mention the B17 which was on strength in 223SQN?
2. He his break between tours is a bit weird as his service doc's said he severed in a few training establishment's and further research into some of these unit's its appears some of these units don't exist? Or is it me looking in the area?
3. Did the Gunners within Bomber Command maintain any type of logbook? Like a pilot, Nav or FLT Engineer would do.
4. I got bugger all from the Australian War Memorial, but I got heck off a lot from National Archives and I want to know where else I could go to for further research into Br Xavier time in Bomber Command.
Or is there someone willing to give me a hand into further research into Br Xavier time in Bomber Command?
Thanks, Ex
I have Br Xavier Service Number, he enlisted in WA, before under taking the usual square bashing and basic air gunnery in Australia before heading overseas.
Please note: I'm new to aviation researching as I'm more of reader than a researcher unless it involves ground combat being ex Cav, so if have made any mistakes please let me know. via private message.
"During the my preliminary research into the Bomber Squadrons that Br Xavier served in No12 Operation Training Unit was a run of mill training unit to train up bomber crews before they were posted as a complete crew to an operational SQN, Br Xavier crew was posted No90 SQN which operated the Shorts Stirling Bomber the first of the British heavy bombers. The Shorts Stirling bomber wasn't the best bomber at time due its deficiencies no thanks to the British Air Ministry at the time, as a result of the Stirling's short comings it was retired from bomber duties and No90 Sqn was rerolled into mine laying around German ports/sea routes and supporting the Marquis (French Resistance). Mine laying required the Aircraft to at low altitude around 500ft or lower in and around heavied defended ports/ German sea lanes and supporting the Marquis required them to fly around heights at between 200ft and 800ft dropping supplies or parachuting agents in an aircraft that wasn't suit for either job duty. Its amazing he was able to complete his 30 sorties in a aircraft that had major deficiencies and perform roles that the Shorts Stirling wasn't design for.
After his 30 sorties he was rested and they were normally posted a Training Unit probably in Br Xavier case to a Air Gunnery School. During this time he volunteer for operations again and what happens next has me blew me away. Which got think why he decided to the order after the war more on that later.
Br Xavier volunteer for operations in No223 SQN which was a part of No100 Support Group of RAF Bomber Command. This Group is up there with the elite Pathfinders Group and the famous 617 Dambusters SQN. 100 Group was operating as Electronic Intelligence/Warfare, Signal Intelligence/warfare, and Counter/ Offensive Electronic Warfare which we now call Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). This was real cutting edge technology and there was no known doctrine at the time so the Aircrews and their scientific advisors were making things up as the went real trial and error stuff with a little help the from British Combined Forces (Commando's , Airborne and the Coastal Navel Forces of the Royal Navy) and the odd stray German night fighter that landed/ crashed in England in an effort to reduce Bomber Command's horrendous losses at time and try end the war sooner rather than later.
No223 SQN in which Br Xavier served in flew the US B24 Liberator Bomber which was only aircraft along with the B17 another US aircraft that was on strength with No223 SQN while the only aircraft that could carry the jammer and gathering Electronic/ Signals Intelligence equipment at the time. Other tasking's his SQN did, were fly as bait for the British night fighters to encourage the German night fighters to try and intercept the bomber while gathering Electronic/ Signals Intelligence on ground base and airborne radars fitted the German night fighters, fly with along side the main bomber stream in a jamming role as the German Anti Aircraft gun were radar control or jamming the night fighters radar, or a group of No223 SQN flying a spoofer missions to fool the German radars/ night fighters to the support the main bomber streams or in support the British Night fighters.
Br Xavier was demobbed from RAAF 462SQN, 100 Group. He went to Ireland join a monastic order of St John of God at the end of the war.
The more I started to research No223 and No100 Group the more I started to think Br Xavier in why he decided join a monastic order of St John of God at the end of the war. Having done a basic research into the St God John Order, I have come a conclusion that Br Xavier may be quietly suffering PTSD as a result of his service in Bomber Command while attending the need of others."
Where I access Br Xavier service doc's National Archives: A few things didn't match up? i.e. what's on the wall in the Xavier Ward and on his service doc's
1. The types of Aircraft he flew? He flew the Fairy Battle, Vickers Wellington and Shorts Stirling. But no mention of the B24 at 223SQN, but in his service docs did mention the B17 which was on strength in 223SQN?
2. He his break between tours is a bit weird as his service doc's said he severed in a few training establishment's and further research into some of these unit's its appears some of these units don't exist? Or is it me looking in the area?
3. Did the Gunners within Bomber Command maintain any type of logbook? Like a pilot, Nav or FLT Engineer would do.
4. I got bugger all from the Australian War Memorial, but I got heck off a lot from National Archives and I want to know where else I could go to for further research into Br Xavier time in Bomber Command.
Or is there someone willing to give me a hand into further research into Br Xavier time in Bomber Command?
Thanks, Ex