Maybery in India

spad · 13 July 2007, 11:40 PM

While serving in India

Richard Maybery flew as an observer with a local unit. Does anyone know which unit this was, and any details of his service?

john_g · 14 July 2007, 09:46 AM

Hi

I have not found any information to confirm that Richard Aveline Mayberry served in any other squadron other than 56 sqn, but if he did serve in India it would have been with 31 Sqn, who did have some Observers.
He is not listed in

Above The Trenches as serving with any other sqn and he is not listed in the 31 sqn history First in Indian Skies personnel index.

john_g

spad · 15 July 2007, 12:02 AM

Hi John,

The recent book by Osprey on SE5 aces mentions that he flew as an observer while recovering from an horse riding accident. It also indicates he trained as a pilot in the middle east.

john_g · 20 July 2007, 11:07 AM

SPAD

I have been at the NA today and I checked the AIR76 records for a George Nelson Smith there was only one.

He was born on 25/7/1894 and was living at 233 Queens Road, London, S.E.15.
His posting are a bit muddled but he was first posted to Reading on 30/3/1917, and sent to The School of Aerial Gunnery at Hythe for a course on how to use a Lewis gun on the same day. 20 April he was posted to 62 Sqn, 16 may he entered France and joined 22 Sqn as a FO "O" Observer on Bristol F2's. Around November 1917 he was again posted to Reading, and then to East Retford (TS?) on 12/2/18 he is listed with 33 Sqn. Gazetted FO on 6/4/18 with effect from 17/2/18. To 90 Sqn 7/11/18, N.E. Pool 18/11/18 and sent to General Northern Hospital Lincoln same date. 90 Sqn disposal 1/5/19.

He is listed as an Accountant at a bank in Rio .... Any help?

I hope this is your man.

john_g

Bulldog90 · 20 July 2007, 12:17 PM

Maybery was the mentor for

Indra Lal Roy, the only Indian born pilot to make ace. Perhaps this is his India connection?

Bulldog 90

john_g · 20 July 2007, 12:58 PM

Spad,

Please ignore my post about Smith, that was for some else. Mayberry I could not find a record for him.

john_g

ronnoco · 16 August 2007, 07:02 AM

Hello
The official records for the RFC/RAF in India are virtually non-existent and other Middle East files are not much better. However R A Maybery joined 31 Sqn on 5/2/16 as an observer, though I don't have a leaving date. The only other reference I have was that he joined an unknown flying training unit in Egypt (presumably for pilot training) on 9/4/17. Once upon a time there were two complete sets of Daily Routine Orders for the two training wings in Egypt and both have been weeded out! In contrast there are at least two, if not three, copies of 5 and 40 Wings in Palestine! When officialdom reqiures weeding of official files they should at least employ someone who knows what they are doing.
Regards
Mike