LAC Svend Verner Steffensen Andersen

LAC Svend Andersen was a Dane living in Brazil at the outback of war. He travelled to the United Kingdom to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He was trained as engine mechanic and later fitter ans served with 77 Squadron in Britain and 357 Sqn in India.

Svend Verner Steffensen Andersen was born on 22 November 1907, to Ole Steffensen Andersen and Anna Kristine Andersen (née Olesen).^[1] Andersen grew up in the southern parts of Copenhagen, on the island of Amager. His father worked as a wireman for the municipal power stations in Copenhagen.^[2] In October 1927, Andersen obtained a diploma in commerce from Købmandsskolen (business college) in Copenhagen in October 1927.^[3]

Andersen lived in Brazil before the war, but travelled to the United Kingdom to volunteer for the Royal Air Force.

In Royal Air Force service

In a letter of 19 October 1942, Captain Iversen of the Recruiting Office, Danish Nationals, refers Andersen to his liaison Sqn Ldr P. N. Shone at the Air Ministry

This serves to introduce Mr. Svend Andersen, a Danish subject who is anxious to be enrolled into the Royal Air Force. / Mr. Andersen, who is 34 years of age, has come from Brasil. He is anxious to be trained a a mechanic if possible.^[4]

Three days later, he was medically categorised as Grade 1 and, on 26 October 1942 he enlisted at 1 Recruit Centre and commenced service. Andersen was classified as Aircrafthand/Flight Mechanic (Engine or Airframe) and ranked Aircraftsman 2nd Class (1830524). He was sent to No. 3 School of Technical Training for training and, on 21 April 1943, he was promoted to Aircraftman 1st Class and re-categorised as Flight Engine Mechanic.^[5]

Servicing 77 Squadron Halifaxes

Having been fully trained as a mechanic, Andersen was posted to an operational unit, 77 Squadron, on 13 December 1943. He remained with this squadron, that was flying Halifax bombers out of RAF Elvington, until late November 1944. The service element of the squadron was later re-organised and became 9077 Service Echelon, which Andersen was attached to from 13 December 1943.

Meanwhile, on 7 July 1943, he was posted to No. 1 School of Technical Training for training as Fitter 2 Engines. He was re-categorised as such on 30 October 1943, and returned to No. 9077 Service Echelon, which later became part of No. 42 Base. Andersen was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 1 September 1944.

Another Dane, Pilot Officer John Norgaard, RCAF, served in 77 Squadron from February 1944 until Norgaard’s crew was shot down on 15 March 1944. It is not known if the two men met while at RAF Elvington.^[6]

The Far East

The Danish volunteers for the most part volunteered for the duration of hostilities plus one year and, thus, not only for the war in Europe. Andersen was one of a few Danes in the RAF for whom the worldwide nature of the war became a reality: On 27 November 1944, he was posted to 5 Personel Despatch Centre which processed personnel who were being sent overseas. It is presumed that he was sent overseas by ship.

On 14 December 1944 he was transferred to Air Command, South East Asia and, on 12 January 1945, he was taken on strength at 129 Staging Post at Ceylon. He remained there until being posted to 357 (Special Duties) Squadron at Jessore in India. This squadron was flying a flight of Liberator bombers as well as a flight of Dakotas for special deliveries for partisans in Burma. He remained only at the squadron for a short while before returning to Europe.

On 15 July 1945, he was taken on strength at 1 Personnel Despatch Centre, West Kirby, and on 24 August 1945, he went to RAF Sylt and seems to have remained there until May 1946.^[7]

Released from the RAF, returning to Brazil

Preparing for the final release from service, he was transferred to the British Air Forces of Occupation, Personnel Holding Unit, on 12 May 1945 and then to 100 Personnel Despatch Centre on 4 June 1946. He was released on 11 September 1946.

Andersen returned only briefly to Denmark as he left the country on 20 September 1946 to return to Brazil via the UK.^[8]

Endnotes

[1] Parish register, Filips Sogn.

[2] DNA: 1916, 1921, 1925 Census of Denmark. The family lived at Hollands Alle14 for many years. Ole Steffensen Andersen worked as a kabellodder for Elektricitetsværkernes Ingeniørkontor.

[3] Foreningen til Unge Handelsmænds Uddannelse, Købmandsskolens Dagskoler, 1928.

[4] DNA: 10194 - Danske Råd i London, Rekrutteringskontoret, pk. 72, Korrespondence med engelske, islandske og norske myndigheder.

[5] Form 543, Service Record.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] CPR-registration from the Municipality of Copenhagen; Ancestry: UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960.