Servicing Commando Units (SCU) were first formed on the 31st January 1942 to provide a means of early operation from forward, or captured enemy, airfields.

 

It was initially proposed that they be called RAF Commandos however Mountbatten, a strong supporter of the concept of such a force, decreed that they be called Servicing Commandos. Their role would be to support operations at such locations by aircraft servicing, rearming, refuelling, and if called upon to, by defending such forward operating airfields until full support from Army units was in place.

 

They were volunteers and all highly skilled technicians. Their training included physical training, vehicle driver and amphibious training, rearming and refuelling aircraft, weapons drill and use of revolvers, bren guns, tommy guns, grenades, anti tank rifles, live firing exercises at night, etc. They wore army style khaki uniform instead of their RAF blues.

Their extensive training culminated in a course at the Combined Operations Training Centre, Inverary where, upon successful completion, they were permitted to wear the Combined Operations Badge. 

Twelve units were formed in the UK, and three in the Middle East, comprising some 2,400 all ranks. Their area of operations also included North Africa, Italy, France, and the Far East. Servicing Commando Units were disbanded in 1946.

3201, 3202, 3203, 3204, 3205, 3206, 3207, 3208, 3209, 3210, 3225, 3226

3230, 3231, 3232

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Read more about the Servicing Commandos in these two excellent articles written by Wing Commander S.D. Ellard and Wing Commander Tim Newstead. 

 

They were publisheded in Journals 39 and 51 of the RAF Historical Society, and are available with other articles on the RAF Museum website.

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The SCU Training Course dates at CTC Inverary can be found here [view].

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