President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society

Chorley Branch Education Group

Talk Handout

Next Steps in Family History

RAF Records

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

The Royal Air Force

The Brylcreem boys

Formed in 1918 by amalgamating the Royal Naval Air Reserve and the Royal

Flying Corps

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

The RAF nearly did not come into being because the hierarchy at the War

Office did not think that aeroplanes would be much used after the war!

During World War II planes were used extensively to bomb battleships, submarines, towns and military targets

They were also used to drop parachutists behind enemy lines or in large

numbers for armed assaults

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

Where to Find the Records

RAF Cranwell – personnel records

RFC and Royal Naval Air Service – The National Archives – Kew

Air Historical Branch – Stanmore

Official records – National Archives

Royal Air Force Museum – Hendon

Imperial War Museum – London

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

TNA – Documents Online

Here you can search the records for WW1 Officers

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/raf-officers-ww1.htm

This collection comprises the records of over 99,000 individuals

The records were created from the inception of the RAF in April 1918,

however they include retrospective details of earlier service in the Royal

Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service, where appropriate.

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

TNA – 1918-22 - Other ranks

The records for non officers have not been digitised but you can order copies

to be sent to you on line.

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

Use the Advanced Search, type in the details of the individual and enter the

reference ‘AIR 79’

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/search/advanced-search

If the person also served in WW2 the record will be held at Cranwell

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

TNA – 1918-22 - WRAF

Also you can find details of the 30,000 women who served in the Women’s

Royal Air Force (WRAF)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/airwomen-ww1.htm

Here are some of the records for Elizabeth Scott

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

TNA – 1911-60 – RAF Squadron records

The Operation Record Books provide a daily record of events in each

squadron, entered on forms. The appendices may include some photographs.

Information includes:

aircraft type and number

names

rank of flight crew

names of passengers

weather conditions

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

flight/sortie details

They can be found at

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/raf-operations-record-books.htm

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

TNA – 1939-45 – Combat Reports

For WW2, Documents Online can provide Combat Reports

The reports contain

date and time of the combat

squadron of the individual submitting the information

type and number of enemy aircraft

height and general location of where the encounter took place

whether the enemy aircraft was considered as a casualty

whether there were Allied aircraft losses and if so, type

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

The Combat Reports can be found at

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/combat-reports-ww2.htm

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

Royal Air Force

The National Archives is not the place for service records, as these are still

with the Ministry of Defence. Ex-servicemen and next-of-kin may obtain brief

details by writing to: RAF Disclosures, Room 221b, Trenchard Hall, RAF

Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 8HB

Generally most personal records are difficult to obtain and are closed because

of the 100 year rule.

One source is www.cavillconnections.co.uk/spilsby.htm

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

This site has a partial 44 Squadron Crew and Aircraft Losses list, 1939-45

from RAF Spilsby

This was a Lancaster bomber squadron

Name R ank Date Airc raftB as

eTarget / Mis s ion F ate

F ate of

C rew

B uried / C ommem

orated

Take-off

time

T AR R ANT J R S gt

28.2 -01 .3.43

Lancaster I W41 37

KM-L WS t

NazaireC rash landed at base on return 1 844

T AT E J E F O 1 /2.1 0.42

Lancaster I W41 87

KM-S W Wismar

C rashed S kallingenDenmark Killed F ourfelt 1 800

T AUNT ON S R PO 6/7.09.40

Hampden I P2087 KM-M W Krefeld

C rashed near Munster PoW

T AYL OR A J S gt

1 0/1 1 .03.43

Lancaster I W4841

KM-W WG ardenin

gC rashed at S assnitz Killed

1 939 - 45 Berlin

T AYL OR AB S gt 2/3.1 0.43

Lancaster III JB1 36

KM-T DL MunchenC rashed at Otterfing Killed

DurnbachWar C em 1 847

T AYL OR DA, R C AF F S gt

21 /22.06.44

Lancaster III ND973

KM-A DLWesselin

g

C rashed at Herkenbosch{Limburg} Killed

JonkerbosWar C em 231 2

T AYL OR HA, R C AF S gt

31 .8-1 .9.41

Hampden IAD726

KM- W Koln

C rashed North S ea off E ssex coast Killed Adegem 2040

T AYL OR HH F S gt

1 1 /1 2.08.42

Lancaster I R 5732

KM-G W MainzC rashed at base on return 2255

T AYL OR J S gt

23/24.1 1 .43

Lancaster III LM373

KM-V DL Berlin ? KilledBerlin

1 939-45 1 71 6

Some RAF Websites and contact details

RAF History

www.raf.mod.uk/history/

Royal Air Force Officers’ Service Records http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/raf-officers-ww1.htm

The service records of officers who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF)

during the First World War. This collection comprises the records of

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

over 99,000 individuals.

Pay site. (£3.50)

Recommendations for Honours and Awards 1935 – 1990 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/recommendations-honours-awards.htm

Recommendations for honours and awards to British army personnel

and those of the dominions. This collection also contains details of some

awards to members of the Royal Navy (RN), Royal Marines (RM) and Royal Air Force (RAF), and of decorations exchanged between British

and allied armies.

Pay site. (£3.50)

Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/airwomen-ww1.htm

Records of around 30,000 women who served with the Women's Royal

Air Force during the First World War.

The Women's Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918. At the same

time the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service

(RNAS) came together to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). The WRAF included volunteers from the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC),

Women's Legion drivers and the Women's Civilian Subordinates.

Pay site. (£3.50)

Air Ministry Combat Reports (1939 - 1945) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/combat-reports-ww2.htm

You can search and download Second World War combat reports of

squadrons, wings and groups in Fighter, Bomber, Coastal Commands

and Fleet Air Arm squadrons. The records cover Commonwealth and

Allied units based in the United Kingdom including the United States

Army Air Force. You can use the links below to jump to the topics you

are interested in.

Pay site. (£3.50)

RAF Spilsby and its Squadrons www.cavillconnections.co.uk/spilsby.htm

Dedicated to the crews of the Lancasters of 44 and those of 207

Squadron who failed to return from operations at Spilsby and its other

bases. Alphabetical list of men killed. Free

Other web sites BBC WW2 – Peoples War

www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar

Commonwealth War Graves Commission www.cwgc.org

Genuki Military page www.genuki.org.uk/big/MilitaryRecords.html

About war memorials and the men recorded on them (With photographs) www.roll-of-honour.com

Where to apply for service records

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

The Wartime Memories Project (WW1 & WW2) www.wartimememories.co.uk/

War Memorials Archive http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/

The National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Some databases available on Ancestry www.ancestry.co.uk/

England, The National Roll of the Great War, 1914-1918 Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950 Great Britain, Royal Naval Division Casualties of The Great War, 1914-1924 UK, British Officer Prisoners of War, 1914-1918 UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 UK, Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920 UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920 UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007 Web: UK, Recommendations for Honours and Awards Index, 1935-1990

Databases available on Find My Past ` www.findmypast.co.uk

WW1 Gillies Archive plastic surgery pioneers 1917-1925 Royal Air Force Muster Roll 1918

WW2 Prisoners of War 1939-1945 WWII Escapers & Evaders

The Genealogist www.thegenealogist.co.uk

War Office Weekly Casualty List 1917 - 1918

Operations Record Book (RAF Form 540), 617 Squadron,

(highlights) (Dam Busters)

Air Force List

Air Force List, April 1918

Air Force List, October 1933

Air Force List Sep 1938

1939 January Air Force List

U.S. Air Force Register - Vol.1 Active Lists 1959

U.S. Air Force Register - Vol.2 Retired Lists 1959

RAF Cranwell – personnel records

Personnel Records

Royal Air Force personnel records are held at RAF Cranwell. If service number and details are known, please quote it in the correspondence.

The personnel records department will only divulge information to the

person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died, to his or her

immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

from the person about whom they are enquiring, or from his or her next

of kin, before any information will be given to them.

A charge of £30.00 will be made for any information they provide; If

cheques are submitted with queries, they should be made payable to 'HMG Sub-Account 3627'. This applies to personnel records only. The

only people exempt from charge are the person to whom the records

refer to or their widow or widower.

The address is:

RAF Disclosures section

Room 221b, Trenchard Hall

RAF Cranwell

Sleaford

Lincs NG34 8HB

For records of decorations and citations: RAF Disclosures section

Room 221b, Trenchard Hall

RAF Cranwell

Sleaford

Lincs NG34 8HB

For medal claims:

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Ministry of Defence Medal Office

Imjin Barracks

Innsworth

Gloucester

GL3 1HW

Records for precursors of the RAF (the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal

Naval Air Service) are held at the National Archives, as are RAF records for

service during the First World War.

Casualty enquires

Information about casualties is deemed to be personal and only

enquiries in writing from or on behalf of next of kin can normally be

considered. Casualty enquiries are dealt with by:

Service Personnel & Veterans Agency

Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre

Room G35 Innsworth House

Imjin Barracks

Gloucester

GL3 1HW

Tel Number: 01452 712612 Ext 6303 / 7495

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)

On Monday 2 April 2007, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) officially

launched the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, aimed at

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

improving personnel, pensions, welfare and support services to

members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) has been formed through a merger of the Veterans Agency (VA) and Armed Forces

Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA). The new Agency will provide

for the first time, a range of 'through life' support functions direct to

around 900,000 serving and ex-Service personnel.

Key contact information

0800 169 2277 Freephone

0800 169 3458 Textphone Email: veterans.help@spva.gsi.gov.uk

Website: http://www.veterans-uk.info/

RFC and Royal Naval Air Service – The National Archives

The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue,

Kew,

Richmond,

Surrey TW9 4DU.

Fax: +44 (0)20 8878 8905.

Air Historical Branch – Northolt

Air Historical Branch (RAF) and Publications Clearance Branch (Air),

Building 824,

RAF Northolt,

West End Road,

Ruislip,

Middlesex,

HA4 6NG.

Fax: +44 (0)20 8833 8170.

The Air Historical Branch was established in 1919 with the task of writing the

Official History of British air operations in the First World War. Today, its aim

is to maintain and preserve the historical memory of the RAF, and to develop

and encourage an informed understanding of RAF and air power history by

providing accurate and timely advice to Ministers, the RAF, other government

departments and the general public.

Air Historical Branch (RAF) also maintain historical records relating to

individual aircraft.

Further details can be found on the Air Historical Branch (RAF) website -http://www.raf.mod.uk/ahb/

Royal Air Force Museums – Hendon & Cosford

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

Contact Cosford

T: 01902 376 200 cosford@rafmuseum.org

Royal Air Force Museum Cosford,

Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8UP

Contact London

T: 020 8205 2266 london@rafmuseum.org

Royal Air Force Museum London, Grahame Park Way, London

NW9 5LL

Collections -- http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default.aspx

The Collections underpin the RAF Museum. The whole collection

comprises several hundred thousand objects ranging in size from

aircraft to lapel badges, and spanning more than a century of aviation

history. The Collections can be searched on line and are grouped as

follows

Photographs

Fine art

Medals and uniforms

Film and sound

Aircraft and Exhibits

Library Archive

Imperial War Museum

You can explore a catalogue of over 600,000 items in their collections - pretty much everything in the databases in fact. There are items from aircraft down

to shoes, photographs and art, weapons and toys, films,

interviews and music, posters and letters, books from the library and records in the

museum's own archives. Almost 90,000 of them have digitised images, sound or

video that you can see and hear.

All to be found at http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search

IWM London is at present closed. It will reopen 19 July 2014

The address is

IWM London Lambeth Road

London SE1 6HZ

IWM North

The address is

IWM North

The Quays

Trafford Wharf Road

Manchester M17 1TZ

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

IWM Duxford

The address is

IWM Duxford Cambridgeshire CB22 4QR

Churchill War Rooms

The address is

Churchill War Rooms

Clive Steps

King Charles Street

London SW1A 2AQ

020 7930 6961

HMS Belfast

The address is HMS Belfast

The Queen's Walk

London

SE1 2JH

020 7940 6300

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

An aircrew sergeant of No. 209 Squadron RAF about to launch a carrier

pigeon from the side hatch of a Saro Lerwick flying boat. - IWM

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorate the 1,700,000

men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars.

The cemeteries, burial plots and memorials are a lasting tribute to those who

died in some 153 countries across the world and the Register records details

of Commonwealth war dead so that graves or names on memorials can be located. Their database can be searched on line at http://www.cwgc.org/

They also can be contacted at

Head Office

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2 Marlow Road

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 7DX

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1628 634221

Fax: +44 (0) 1628 771208

Casualty Enquiries Tel: +44 (0) 1628 507200

Good luck.

Get searching.

Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society

Chorley Research Centre at Astley Hall Farmhouse

Opening times

Saturday Noon—4:30pm Monday & Friday 10:00am—4:30pm

Last appointment 3:00pm

Booking advisable—Tel. 01257 231 600 (Answer phone when centre is closed)

Research Enquires - chorleyresaerch@lffhs.org.uk

Website—www.lfhhschorleybranch.com

LFHHS

President – Steve Williams

Society Website – www.lfhhs.org.uk

President Steve Williams Web-Site: www.lfhhs.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 513437

Reg. Charity Number - 513437