Help ID uniform and rank

[seadog]

Hi all,
Can anyone help identify this uniform and rank. This is a friend of mine’s father, we know he was a flight engineer, at one stage on flying boats, stationed in Simonstown (where he met my friend’s mother) but also serving in central Africa. As he died very young we are not sure if he was British (RAF,RN???) or South African (UDF?). Any help will be appreciated.

[grey_green_acorn]

Seadog,
The shoulder boards do not look like RAF. My father was an RAF Navigator stationed at Mtubatuba (KZN) and I believe at Simonstown on attachment to 22 Sqn SAAF and 23 Sqn SAAF from Jan 1944 - June 1944 operating Lockheed Ventura I and V aircraft on anti-U Boat patrols. He also flew in a Catalina PBY with 269 Sqn SAAF.
For some reason he had to have a South African passport while attached to the SAAF!

Tim

[Traist]

Hi Neville, if he was UDF, he should have the orange tabs as you mentioned he also served outside SA. I don't see them there. Regards Andrew

[Arthur R]

Neville,

I doubt SAAF, for the following reasons:
~ no signs of orange shoulder tabs, as mentioned by Andrew
~ no collar badges
~ no army rank badges, which were also worn by SAAF at that time
~ SAAF didn't wear shoulder boards.

If he were RN, the stripe across the shoulder board would have a curl on it.

Perhaps RAF, although he's not wearing any wings, which one would expect if he was a flight engineer. Perhaps he was still a candidate officer when these pics were taken.

[seadog]

Hi Thanks to all replying. I agree the wedding (taken in 1942/3) photo also just cut the cap off so can't see the badge or make out the buttons.

Neville

[milhistry]

Imperial Airways later BOAC wore khaki drill summer uniforms with merchant navy style shoulder boards.