Air Force Lookups - if you need help

[rafcommands]

Hi Val,

You need a bit of luck and access to the Operation Record Books held at Kew.

First look at the ORB for No.500 Sqn. Track back from the final op until you get to his first Op. Next check the monthly summary around this time. If you are lucky then his posting in will be recorded as well as where from.

If not then its a trawl through the OTU ORBs to see if you can pick up the trail again.

Failing that it's passenger lists to see if he came from Africa prewar. If no entry then he may have joined locally in Rhodesia.

All a bit hit or miss and very time consuming.

Regards
Ross

[Benn2509]

Hi Ross, Many thanks for your information, I've printed off the relevant forms and I'm hoping the RAF can supply the service records.
Thanks again.
Benn.

[manus]

Hi Ross
Thank you so much for your help and all the information. It's so sad he was only age 19 born Waterford Ireland. My dad never spoke about it.  Maybe he found it to upsetting as my dad would have only been 17 year's old when it happened once again thank you.

Regards Manus

[SooCatt]

Hi Ross
I wonder if you missed my earlier posting or was it that you had no luck with any information.
Here it is just in case you missed it

Hi
This is a long shot but I'm hoping you may be able help.

I recently came across a vague reference to a spitfire which crashed at Pelton Fell in County Durham.  The pilot was killed but I have no idea when it was except that it was during WW2.

Is it possible that you have further info.  When it was? Who the pilot was?

Thanks in advance for your time and efforts

Susan

Thanks
Susan

[rafcommands]

Hi Susan,

Nearly 23,000 Spitfires were built and almost two million men enlisted into the RAF.

Without confirmation of the type and a year it is an impossible task to go through the Form 78s and Form 1180s to find one specific aircraft.

You need to find more info than the brief mention on the Peoples War before a search can commence.

Your loss could even be post war in 1948.

Regards
Ross

[SooCatt]

Thanks Ross
I did think it was a long shot but I appreciate you taking the time to reply. 
Susan

[rafcommands]

Hi Susan,

"The impossible we do immediately, miracles take a little longer".

My hunch about 1948 looks to have paid off.

How does the side of a hill located near Holmeside Old Hall and across the fields from Peartree Cottages, Holmeside sound?

03 Sept 1948
TP240
Spitfire FR14
No.612 Sqn

Squadron Leader John Child

The pilot, who was out of current flying practice and had no instrument flying rating, entered cu-nim cloud whilst flying in formation at 6500 feet. He lost control of the aircraft and it dived steeply into the ground,

Regards
Ross

[David Layne]

Nice one Ross.  Most impressive.

[Ceeoh]

Hi, do you know if  it is possible to trace airmen when one has no knowledge of whether they survived the war.

When I was a child we had two young airforce service men billeted with us, they were only 21 years old, I would love to know what happened to them.  I do have their service numbers.

Ceeoh