RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Roobarb on Saturday 11 September 10 23:33 BST (UK)
-
My father served in the RAF in WWII. I've read in a family history magazine (and maybe on here) that I can send for his records. How do I go about this and what does it cost? Both of my parents are dead, I have two elder siblings - would the request have to come from the eldest ?Or could I be regarded as next of kin for this purpose? What evidence would I have to provide?
-
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/raf.html
Info here :)
Ady
-
Thank you Ady, that's very helpful.
The page you referred me to stated that records were available for Officers and Airmen, my father was neither of those. However, when I looked further into the site it looked as though the records are for any RAF servicemen, unless I'm mistaken. Unfortunately I'm rather put off by the £30 fee they ask for, it's a bit steep!
Thanks for the info anyway. :)
-
Dont give up on it Roobarb, the £30 is well worth the info it provides. Getting my Uncles RAF service records opened so many doors for me and rest assured that there are many folk on here who will help you with any codes or other info you may not understand.
I sent the kinship form, the fee and a letter of authority signed by my Dad who is the next of kin. In your instance, l am sure you will be successful if you explain the circumstances. Go for it!!
One thing to remember also, ask for photocopies of the actual records or you just get a printed summary. Sometimes they include a glossary of terms for your assistance.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
-
Thanks Welwyn, I'll certainly think about it. I have a lot of info about my dad's parents and where he lived so not sure what other information it would give me. I just thought it might be interesting.
Can you send a photocopy of the death cert? I wouldn't want to go to the expense of getting a copy from the GRO!
-
Hi Roobarb, l would have thought that the photocopy will be OK, if you need to prove that the chap is no longer with us.
Do you know anything more about where he served etc. ???
-
Not really Welwyn. I remember him telling me about being in Somerset at some point and that the scrumpy was rather potent! I think he was in Ireland as well but don't know much else.
-
Dont give up on it Roobarb, the £30 is well worth the info it provides. Getting my Uncles RAF service records opened so many doors for me and rest assured that there are many folk on here who will help you with any codes or other info you may not understand. One thing to remember also, ask for photocopies of the actual records or you just get a printed summary. Sometimes they include a glossary of terms for your assistance.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Roobarb I would second what Welwyn has put here. By the way I think you may be getting confused by what an airman is if I read your post right. Airman covers anyone from AC1 to W/O in the RAF not just for aircrew. Do you have any of his documents?
Dee
-
No Dee, nothing referring to his RAF service. 'Scuse my ignorance but what's an AC1 and a W/O? ???
I think he was something on the mechanical side.
-
Hello again Roobarb....
AC Aircraftsman?
W/O Wireless Operator or maybe Warrant Officer.
When you say mechanical, maybe he was ground crew. They were usually referred to as Erks.....but were much appreciated by the aircrews for their vital role.
-
Ah, thanks Welwyn, I think he may well have been ground crew. Erks eh? ;D
My brother night know a bit more about it, I'll have to see if I can find out.
Thanks for the info, all very interesting.
-
Sorry Roobarb. Glad Welwyn stepped into the breech hes very good at that. Have been performing MacBeth and am only now catching up on myself...
I meant Warrant Officer in my posting.
There are some books about life in groundcrew including:
Hornchurch Offensive: The Definitive Account of the RAF Fighter Airfield, Its Pilots, Groundcrew and Staff: Volume Two: 1941 to the Airfield's Final Closure
by Richard C Smith, Michael Donnet, Lieutenant (Foreword by), Peter Brown (Introduction by)
Aces, 'erks and Backroom Boys: Personal Stories from Britain's Air War 1939-45 by Edward Smithies
Erks Eye View: Memories of R.A.F. National Service
(ISBN: 1858580544 / 1-85858-054-4 ) by Russell, Eric W.
Dee
-
hi roobarb, like the guys say , dont be put off by the fee. i did it and found that my late dad was all over scotland and in malta and egypt on radar. some parts i knew other's i had no idea about.you soon find that you want to find out more. good luck.
-
Thanks everyone, very helpful stuff. :)
-
I would agree with the others about how useful the service sheets are. Some of what very very little my father did tell me was wrong anyhow!
Bill - my dad was in radar in the south of england and then Egypt, Libya, Jordan and Palestine, which I am still trying to unpick as the service record is sadly basic and I dont understand a lot of the acronyms.
Fortunately my mother kept his letters which are proving essential in putting any kind of location to the unit names.
If anyone can help with clarifying the following list of units from his service sheet, it would be most helpful.
1 ACRC
11 ITW
SHQ Susp section
216 MU
9 RS
BPSO HS
73 wing
Renscombe Down GH Gers
RAF Thame MUE
RPDC
M East
21 PTC
219 group
AHQ(u) malta
ME
101 PDC Class b release
-
Hi Greensteam,
First two might be Aircrew Recruitment Centre and Initial Training Wing.
Sure you will have most of the abbreviations fairly swiftly, some great knowledge on here.
Theres your cue Dee!!!
-
MU stands for Maintenance Unit
-
hi greenstream, some info for you 1 acrc is air crew recruitment centre, 11 itw is initial trainng wing, 216 mu is maintenance unit, 6 rs is radio school , me is middle east 21 ptc is personnel transit centre 101 pdc is personnel despatch centre ( when you leave the service ) i think this is at kirkham near blackpool ?. ahq ( u ) is at valletta , malta, 73 wing from 17/ 2 / 41 was at barkston ash near chuch fenton on the east coast uk and was responsible for the ground radar units from the tees to the wash.
hope this info is of some use.
regards.
bill.
-
Bill,
You are a star! Is this from your own knowledge or is there a master list somewhere?
Many thanks
greensteam
-
hi greenstream, hope it was of some help to you . it may not all be correct however i hope it is.
i dont have mastercopies of this info , it is just bits and pieces i have picked up from various newsletters of the RAF plus general info picked up on a site like this one.
bill.
-
Welwyn thanks for the vote of confidence unfortunately I have been here there and everywhere and havent got on here much...more of that on another thread.. There are some really great websites that have details of things like abbreviations and more indepth details about RAF units. Will have to use my own computer to give you them though as this will only let me do one page at a time...Why are MOD computers so out of date!!!