大象传媒

My dad, Jim Kevany, served in the RAF Regiment from its formation in 1942 until he was released in 1946. Prior to that he was a general duties airman at RAF St Athan in Wales.

In July 1944 2777 Armoured Car Squadron was formed. The Squadron entered France in August via Arromanches and immediately split up into the component Flights to commence guard duties and patrolling on various RAF sites. Throughout the rest of the war they often acted independently and sometimes as a whole squadron.

The Squadron was part of 84 Group 2nd Tactical Air Force and this Group had responsibility within the Canadian area of operations.

Dad's Flight was amongst the early liberators of Brussels and his Flight Commander was with the first Allied troops to liberate The Hague.

The Regiment only ever gets a fleeting mention in most of the Histories but the various squadrons carried out a wide range of operations and despite being "Brylcreem Boys" aquitted themselves very well, even in a front-line infantry role.

A great deal of the Flight's time was spent providing escort to Air Tactical Intelligence looking for V1 and V2 sites and equipment, often immediately after they were captured by the advancing troops. On several occasions they came under fire in this role. Near Middleburg, on Walcheren Island, they captured two prisoners.

For a week in December 1944 they took up front line duties in the River Maas and Ouder Maas areas to allow Canadian troops a break. Other squadrons took over for about a month in all.

In January half of the Squadron (not Dad's half) along with a Flight from a Rifle Squadron were credited with shooting down 3 FW190s and damaging 2 others with just personal and vehicle based weapons.

The back end of the war was spent in guard and escort duties as the advance into Germany gained speed.

Post war the guarding continued and patrols were carried out against potential Nazi sympathisers and black marketeering.

The photo was taken, I think in late 1945 or early 1946 judging by the fact they are all wearing medal ribbons on their battledress. Dad is second from the right in the back row.

I have managed to glean a great deal from official records but Dad never really wanted to talk about his time in the Air Force. Although he was never in the sort of action that the Army was involved in he was always close enough to see the aftermath and I have only come to appreciate what that may have been like over the last couple of years. I wish I had started my research when he was with us, a lesson for all would-be researchers.

If any one in the picture, or indeed the Regiment, could let me have any information about initial training and subsequent day to day life as a Squadron member I would really appreciate it. Per Ardua!

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