raf help

[Shirleyjjj]

from - www.raf.mod.uk

quote

If you are the immediate Next of Kin or are able to provide the consent of the immediate Next of Kin you
should make your application on the Application Form Part 1 for Next of Kin or Enquirers with the Consent of
Next of Kin. A link can be found on the Service Records Information page.
Note that if you are not the immediate Next of Kin or do not have the consent of
the Next of Kin* then for a period of 25 years following the date of death the only
information that will be disclosed to you is surname; forename; rank; service
number; regiment/corps; place of birth; age; date of birth; date of death
where this occurred in service; the date an individual joined the service,
the date of leaving and any orders of chivalry and gallantry medals
(decorations of valour) awarded, some of which may already have been
announced in the London Gazette.
After this period the following information will also be disclosed, the units in which
he/she served, the dates of this service and the locations of those units;
the ranks in which the service was carried out and details of WWII '

as far as i am aware these records are confidential as ive been trying to get hold of my fathers but i did ask them as they said i could get them as he died but i have to provide evidence to support my being his next of kin - they dont just give the records out to anyone who asks as they could be giving personal info out on live people or people who just died

[rafcommands]

Yes

As the cut and paste says

If you are not next of kin or do not have next of kin consent, then provided you provide proof of death over 25 years ago then any one can get a subset of his service record.

The OP says he died in 1973 ergo any one can apply for a copy.

Ross

[Shirleyjjj]

ok - apologies for that Ross didnt realise the 25 yr after 1973 as doesnt seem that long ago - !! i  i must be getting old

[sandi15]

Hi, The photo I have is plain black & white but nothing on the back which i'm thinking was a copy but as to where the original is, I have no idea. My granddad was called David Wilkie Barnett and was born in 1901 Dundee. He died in 1973. On his pic there is what I would say his number(?) and above that near the shoulder is what looks like a bird/wings? We were always told he failed his pilot's exam but maybe that's what he told his family, I don't know. I just wish he had spoken about it before he died but were we living outside Scotland for a while and  only got to see them once a year. Such a headache and I've still to trace my g.uncle who was in the Black Watch and served in India before WW11 and another granddad who was in the med core at the same time!!

[rafcommands]

No problems,

There are a few items that can be found for any RAF serviceman who served between 1918 and mid 1970s.

One of which is his service number

The National Archives has the RAF card index which was transferred in preparation to release of all service files to them. Airmen who served prior to about 1923 but not recalled during WW2 are already released.

Just free down load the correct AIR 78 document for his surname range and as a minimum you will get your fathers service number. If he was liable to call up due to pre war service his card will be marked as F in a circle. If he was a militia or national service conscript then this will be shown as well.

Some post war card have dob.

With the service number then you can look on the web to see where it was issued and the approximate date range.

You say your father was with a Repair and Salvage Unit (RSU) - these were mainly in the Western Desert and a photo taken just after enrolment at Weston suggests that he was trade trained as airframe/engine ground crew at the local training station there.

Regards
Ross

[rafcommands]

Hi Sandi15

I think his card is in AIR 78 as Barnett D W with service number 158404 and is marked as F in a circle to suggest pre war service training and Class F reserve for WW2.

You are correct with RFC service he appears in the muster roll for the RAF on formation 1st April
 1918

http://www.britishmedals.us/files/Book6_files/raf18b.html

158,404 Barnett D W enrolled 1/12/17


Regards
Ross

[rafcommands]

This is the link to his RFC -1918 to 1928 service record at TNA, Kew

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C12139753

It is not digitised but you can apply for a copy.

Service number block 155001 to 160000 was issued to RFC civilian boy entrants from Oct 1917 to Dec 1918

Regards
Ross

[Shirleyjjj]

thanks Ross -

You say your father was with a Repair and Salvage Unit (RSU) - these were mainly in the Western Desert and a photo taken just after enrolment at Weston suggests that he was trade trained as airframe/engine ground crew at the local training station there

Yes that was my father - not the other ladies whos post it was bt he was in France, belgium and borders and guard to the menin gate and thats right he WAS in the  RSU !!! but this is the first time ive actually LOOKED at the BACK of the photo and didnt realise it thats where he may have been based. ( i think he was also radio operator but never actually flew the planes himslef )


for the lady whos post it is -

pic is similar to my fathers would have been taken about 1941  just shows wings on sleeve - i would suggest getting the service records for him so that you can gather more info -

they said they would be better in the RAF as conditions were better than the army so he joined at age 17 to save him being called later and possibly serve in the army

most men didnt like to talk about the war just they couldnt - they just wanted to get on with life when they came home - it took my father years and years and only just started telling us things in his 80s - not sure why he probably didnt think it would be interesting

[sandi15]

Wow, thanks Ross. I looked in there but couldn't find him. Will check it out. Spoke to one of my sisters and she remembers gran saying he was ground crew/land gunner. but that's all she can remember. What exactly do you mean when you mentioned class F reserve for WW2?