RAF pilot?

[DREADNOUGHT]

Hi All

This topic is for RAF expert members. I recently bought a 1944 RAF battledress badged up to a flight sergeant pilot. It has a name inside which is PROBERT 288. After a bit of research I believe he's 1134184 FLIGHT SERGEANT P.D.PROBERT, he was attached fo 550 Squadron in June 1944. His role is stated as being a wireless/radio operator which obviously doesn't tally with the pilots brevet on his tunic. The brevet doesn't appear to have been tampered with in any way, so my questions are

1- Could a pilot have served as a wireless operator for the duration of his service with a squadron, I believe the navigator acted as the co-pilot when necessary. 

 

2- Can anybody tell me anything about this guy, or point in a direction where I can research him

Any information would be much appreciated as I've gone as far as I can go in researching him

Cheers

Graham 

[Trooper_D]

Graham

 

A nice research project.

 

I wonder what information your research threw up to suggest that 'Probert 288' was P D Probert s/n 1134184. I would have expected the '288' on the tunic to be the last three digits of the wearer's serial number, which obviously doesn't match with that of your possible candidate. Of course, the number might means something else.

 

Would it be possible to have a photo of the tunic, please?

 

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Trooper_D

[DREADNOUGHT]

Hi I'm on holiday at the moment and will post pics when I get back. I simply put 288 Flight Sergeant Probert RAF into the search engine and the 550 Squadron site came up with some limited info. Flt Serg P.D.Probert no PD288 W/OP. Through meticulously checking the site I found him and some extra info on him including his RAF number above. He flew in a Lancaster named " The Phantom of the Ruhr "

Cheers

Graham

[Trooper_D]

Thanks for the clarification, Graham. Good sleuthing! I hope that someone will be able to help you with your questions.