Understanding two RCAF RADAR items from the CMF in WW2
I know little about the Mediterranean theatre in WW2 and for these examples I have used “RAF Censorship” 2nd ed by Colley and Murchall. I do not have any info as to where the British FPOs were except for this book.
Have I understood these two honour envelopes from a Canadian in the RCAF Corporal Akrigg (R81370) both addressed to Canada correctly?
1) F.P.O. 660 dated 16-02-44. RAF censor type 14 censor 4.
C&M show R14/4 only used in Algeria March 43 to April 44. Also F.P.O. 660 apparently mainly used in Corsica but later than February 44. F.P.O. 660 also seems to be associated with RADAR units and it is known that Canada supplied many radar technicians to the Allied forces in WW2.
2) F.P.O. 793 dated 14-10-44 with RAF censor type 15 censor numbers 43. and 161
From C&M Type R15/161 used with FPO 793 comes from Yugoslav island of Vis and also associated with RADAR
From C&M Type R15/43 appears to be exclusively used in Italy around October 1944.
I assume that Akrigg was involved with RADAR – probably a technician?
Questions
If the first cover was posted in Corsica would it have passed through Algeria for censorship by censor 4. Is anything known about RADAR in Corsica
Would a cover posted on Vis in October 44 addressed to Canada have been routed though Italy and also censored there.
Chaps, re R14/4: all our recordings are with other RAF censors, and some are with FPOs which may (or may not) have been in Algeria: we have recordings with FPO 386 in 1943 and FPO 462 also in 1943 - the geographical precision in Proud's listing is not always as we would wish, sadly (not Ted's fault!). I'm tempted to suggest therefore that it may have been used as a Base Censor (presumably in addition to R20/2) in Algiers. Come to think of it, for mail from Corsica to Canada in early 1944, a route via Algiers seems pretty reasonable and pragmatic.
I'll address your R15 cover in a separate reply.
chra
N