Overview of Military Aviation Records

The records of military aviation start from late in the 19th Century and in the 1910s cover the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. Their successor, the Royal Air Force, was formed on 1st April 1918. These surviving early records cover a much wider range of topics than the records from later in the 20th Century. Most of these records are kept in the Greater London area.

The basis of most research is the Squadron, Flight or Unit record book. This can be called variously War Diary, Record Book, Operations Record Book etc. To avoid repetition, the records in these notes will be described as Squadron records. The word aircraft should also be taken to include lighter than air craft.

In addition to the names of the crew, Squadron records of the First World War include details of:

• date
• aircraft type and identity
• duty
• up and down times, and
• remarks.

Remarks would include notes of combats, results of bombing, observations during the flight etc. as appropriate to the type of duty. During the First World War, Squadron Books included non-operational as well as operational flights. Many Royal Naval Air Service records were based on locations rather than Squadrons. The Army and Air Force Lists include details of commission and promotion dates. Service records state the squadrons with which a person served, but no other details apart from next-of-kin and some limited medical information. In addition, the range of early records is very wide and it would be impossible to list them all. However, examples are:

• lists of squadron personnel with remarks on their performance
• postings in and out of squadrons
• honours and awards
• combat
• bombing
• reconnaissance and photographic records
• correspondence
• Wing and Brigade records
• routine orders
• lists of aircraft allotted to squadrons
• accident records
• court of enquiry
• hospital records
• orders of battle
• histories of specific battles, etc.

There are records of higher authorities such as Wings and Brigades that summarise lower formations and these can be used where gaps do occur. There are also records of Stations, Parks etc. Not all of the record types necessarily survive for any one squadron. Equally, people did not necessarily remain with one squadron throughout their service and, unless their duration of service was short, it would have been unusual for them to do so. During the First World War, balloons were very important and there are many records on that subject. In addition, there are many files of specific subjects with a very wide list of contents. Examples are:

• parachutes
• machine guns
• wireless
• aircraft performance
• papers of individual personnel
• maps and charts

However, this list is far from exhaustive. Most of the records apply to Northern Europe, but records exist of squadrons in Italy, the Balkans and the Middle East. There are records relating to anti-submarine activity. There are some records of training in Canada and the United Kingdom, although few of these have survived.

After the formation of the Royal Air Force, the types of records gradually changed. Records of the inter-war years (1920 to the late 1930s) are rather sparse, but once the Second World War became increasingly likely, the surviving records increase. The Air Force List includes details of commission and promotion dates. Service records state the squadrons with which a person served, but no other details apart from next-of-kin address and some limited medical information. By the start of the Second World War, much of the correspondence has not survived from squadron level, although there is much correspondence, meeting minutes and reports etc. from higher authorities. The service records for people who continued to serve, or who joined the Royal Air Force after the early 1920s and up to date will not be available for many years. However, close relatives may obtain a copy of a service record from:

PMA (CS)2a
RAF Personnel Management Agency
RAF Innsworth
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ
England.

Apart from the person who served, the people who may apply for a copy of a service record are limited to:

• Spouse
• Children
• Brothers and sisters
• Nieces and nephews

It should be noted that in cases where the person came from another country, service records were usually returned to the country of origin and application should be made to that country. In such cases, different rules of access may apply.

Squadron records of the Second World War contain a daily diary with information of historical interest. The daily diary includes the name of the Base and often includes records of postings in and out and of casualties. When the squadron was engaged on operations there is an Appendix that includes records of date; aircraft type and identity; crew; duty; up and down times and remarks. Remarks would include notes of impressions recorded by the crew of the flight and information about combats, bombing reconnaissance etc. as appropriate to the purpose of the flight.

Many different types of record have survived; again, the range is so great that it is impossible to list them all. However, some examples of the types of record available are:

• combat
• bombing
• photographic and anti-submarine reports
• individual aircraft records
• accident and loss records
• honours and awards
• Station
• Wing
• Group and Command records
• individual operation records
• daily orders
• results of operations and orders of battle, etc.

As the RAF became an increasingly technical service, organisations like the Operational Research Section had a profound influence on operations and many of their reports on the effectiveness of existing operations and practices and recommendations for improving operations and practices have survived. The activities of these and other technical organisations necessarily had an effect on the people serving with the Royal Air Force.

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