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RAF Santa Cruz, India
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Those known to have served at RAF Santa Cruz, India during the Second World War 1939-1945. 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,
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to know more about RAF Santa Cruz, India? There are:-1 items tagged RAF Santa Cruz, India 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. |
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LAC David Johnson 84 Squadron Early February 1941 my Dad, David Johnson then aged 28 was working at Salford Electrical Instruments, then a Munitions factory on Silk St, Salford. He was in a reserved occupation and was not required to join the services. When a minor event changed this.
Dad and a couple of workmates called at the pub in their lunch break unfortunately they arrived back at work a little late.
There was a no nonsense approach to life those days, and Dad and his workmates were sacked. Mam was six months pregnant with their first child, Dad knew his priority was a wage coming in so he immediately went to the recruiting office and joined the RAF.
Going to war and fighting the enemy would have been nothing in comparison to telling my mother what had occurred. They had been married for three years and were renting a three bed. terraced hovel on West St, Lower Broughton. Mam at times could be terrifying, and no doubt verbally and possibly physically would have wiped the floor with Dad. Their parting would not have been amicable.
The next day Dad was at Recruit centre RAF Padgate, then after that onto 4 wing 5 recruit Centre West Kirby. Dad was based at Cranwell College on a training course in May when my older sister was born, the day after her birth Dad was granted five days leave. (And apart from one day in September of that year, that was the last Mam saw of him until June 1945).
In April 1942 he was posted to Care and Maintenance party based at Santa Cruz, Station Headquarters, India. After this, 84 Squadron, 7084 Servicing Echelon.
He came home to England in May 1945 and was based for a short time at 1 Air crew officers school, RAF Hereford. He had an exemplary service record and a good conduct badge A1st. February 1946 Dad was demobbed from 101 Personnel Dispersal Centre RAF Kirkham.
It was hard for Mam without Dad whilst he was in India, and sadly, she never really forgave him for joining up. As a child I remember the dreadful traumatic scenes in the house my sister and I witnessed, we with our arms around Dad, all three of us sobbing uncontrollably as Mam verbally attacked him, and even threatened him with the poker. She was a strong woman not afraid of anyone either man or woman.
Dad was a wonderful father to us, kind, thoughtful, caring, he loved us very much. Over the years Mam softened towards Dad, she realized she could not have had a better husband.
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L/Air. David Johnson 84 Squadron Leading Aircraftman David Johnson was born on 15th June 1913. He was in a reserve occupation and married with a pregnant wife when in January 1941 he joined the Royal Air Force to do his bit. His service records show that he was five feet three and a half inches tall, aged twenty seven with fair hair and blue eyes and from Lower Broughton. Salford. He was recruited at RAF Padgate and trained at Cranwell College. After completion of his training he was posted to India with the newly raised 2 Flight Indian Air Force. Then posted to the Care and Maintenance party, RAF Santa Cruz, Bombay. He spent some time at the Station Sick Quarters at Ratmalana Ceylon suffering with Malaria (no dates known), Finally serving with 84 Squadron 7084 Servicing Echelon Based in India. MO84S.E. In total he served five years with the RAF from January 1941 to February 1946 when he was eventually demobbed. David Johnson died in February 1994.
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