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Dean |
Posted: Mar 20 2006, 12:27 PM
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ADF Serials Aircrew Research ![]() Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 774 Member No.: 20 Joined: 18-June 05 ![]() |
Okay, this has been bothering me for sometime but what are the period abbreviations for the various RAAF ranks. I started out using the modern style of rank abbreviations but have inadvertantly found I am using different styles so I want to remain consistant with the period.
An example is the junior Officer rank of Flying Officer Flying Officer (full) Flg Off F/O FLGOFF (modern abbreviation). Gordy, I know you may be able to help. |
Warhawk |
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ADF Serials Research Co-ord ![]() Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 1,989 Member No.: 82 Joined: 9-March 06 ![]() |
Dear Dean,
I should talk. I've been using Lac instead of LAC for Leading Aircraftman! Right, depending on records I'll be using the following in all data: Am for Airman Lac for Leading Aircraftman Cpl for Corporal Sgt for Sergeant F/Sgt for Flight Sergeant W/O for Warrant Officer F/O for Flying Officer P/O for Pilot Officer F/Lt for Flight Lieutenant Sqn Ldr for Squadron Leader Wg Cdr for Wing Commander GpCpt for Group Captain Above that,."Headsheds" Your feedback would be appreciated, as others in maintaining uniformity Best Gordy |
Dean |
Posted: Mar 20 2006, 08:29 PM
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ADF Serials Aircrew Research ![]() Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 774 Member No.: 20 Joined: 18-June 05 ![]() |
Hi Gordy,
I started using the modern day abbreviations until sometime ago when I converted everything up to about the 1970's when the more modern versions came into being , which I think would have been the same time when they introduced the "Bus Conductor" uniform. But these are my current abbreviations. I have been undecided how I should have Warrant Officer abbreviated, either as W/O or W/Off but as it is in the list it appears to as the modern version and I would like to keep things in period form. AC/W AC1/AC2 Lac Cpl Sgt F/Sgt WOFF Plt Off Flg Off Flt Lt Sqn Ldr Wg Cdr Gp Capt |
darren.crick |
Posted: Mar 20 2006, 09:36 PM
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ADF Serials Webmaster ![]() Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 1,782 Member No.: 2 Joined: 29-May 05 ![]() |
Guys,
Grahame Higgs put together some, check the link at the bottom of each page on the website... Darren |
gordon |
Posted: Mar 26 2006, 03:55 PM
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ADF Serials Webmaster ![]() Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 411 Member No.: 30 Joined: 10-July 05 ![]() |
Ok the abbreviations I use are for WW2 because that is my main interest and my book deals with that era too.
A/C A/C1 L/A/C Cpl Sgt F/Sgt W/O P/O F/O F/L S/L W/C G/C A/C A/V/M They don't list anything higher than that because the highest ranking officers were Bostock, Jones and Bennett. All of whom were A/V/M. These abbrev. were used from at least 1938 until the funny ranking system the RAAF dabbled with around the time of the Korean War. These abbrev. come from RAAF Saga, RAAF Log, These Eagles and Victory Roll. Gordon ps. I think these abbrev. (with the exception of A/C and L/A/C) are much easier and better on the eye than the current abbrev. As Shakespeare is reported to have said, "Brevity is the soul of wit" and I say "Brevity is the soul of non-touch typists" ;) |
rhughes |
Posted: Apr 29 2006, 01:43 PM
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New User ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3 Member No.: 42 Joined: 10-September 05 ![]() |
Colleagues - just to confuse the issue further, with a historical (or hysterical) footnote, in the mid 1980's the RAAF, along with bus conductor uniforms, introduced for a brief period the rank of SGT (Air) and F/SGT (Air) to denote aircrew status. These were primarily for maritime aircrew. Originally the role of pilot, navigator and Airborne Electronic Officer (AEO) were all officer positions.
However NCO of the rank of SGT and F/SGT were encouraged to apply for training as Airborne Electronic Analysts (AEA's) to supplement the limited pool of AEO's on P-3's at the time. Furthermore, I recall that SGT's who were trained to be analysts were promoted automatically to F/SGT (Air), and if they ceased flying were relegated back to SGT status. Of course that went down like a lead balloon with the non-flying SGT's and F/SGT's, particularly when sorting out mess access. The system only lasted a couple of years and was scrapped, regards, roy hughes |
herkman |
Posted: Apr 29 2006, 08:40 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) ![]() Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 415 Member No.: 6 Joined: 2-June 05 ![]() |
The latest RAAF news shows the current abreviated rank structure
Regards Col |
Dean |
Posted: Apr 29 2006, 09:39 PM
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ADF Serials Aircrew Research ![]() Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 774 Member No.: 20 Joined: 18-June 05 ![]() |
Hi Roy, This sounds awfully familiar to the "Pilot" ranks they introduced in the late 40's after the RAF introduced them. When non-commissioned pilots graduated they were given the Rank of Pilot 4 (or P4) and was distinguished by wearing a laurel wreath badge on both arms, in the normal position on non-commissioned officer stripes, with one star inside the wreath denoting the rank of Pilot 4. This allowed the wearer to enter the SGT's Mess but for disciplinary purposes it was rated below the rank of corporal. After six months, a Pilot 4 was promoted to Pilot 3, equal in general status to a Sergeant, but lower for disciplinary purposes. In the end the system was unworkable as a pilot could be flying operations, and then find himself rostered for guard or picquet duty that night. Fortunately it was dispensed with in 1950. This system also applied to Signallers who graduated as S4 and so on. |
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gordon |
Posted: Jun 5 2006, 04:00 PM
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ADF Serials Webmaster ![]() Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 411 Member No.: 30 Joined: 10-July 05 ![]() |
Dean and Roy,
Sounds like adding several layers of complexity to a simple system. Either of u know when the P4 P3 etc grading came in and when dropped? From the ORBs they were using WW2 ranking system until at least mid-1948 and were still using the P4 etc system in Korea in late 1950. Gordon |
Dean |
Posted: Jun 6 2006, 11:12 PM
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ADF Serials Aircrew Research ![]() Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 774 Member No.: 20 Joined: 18-June 05 ![]() |
That's right Gordon. That is the period when this system was used. It was an unnecessary change but it shows that we were still following the British way of doing things and perhaps blindly following the RAF with what they did.
Sometimes what might look good on paper won't actually be so good in the end. |
gordon |
Posted: Jun 7 2006, 01:10 PM
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ADF Serials Webmaster ![]() Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 411 Member No.: 30 Joined: 10-July 05 ![]() |
Thanks Dean.
So roughly from mid-1948 till end of 1950. Gordon (The Correct) :P |
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