Records & Archives
This is a "Beta" version of a page under development
This is one of several inter-related 'Research & Social' pages. It is effectively a continuation of People & Places.
The initial page has specific links to Elsham Wolds and Social Media
Please see statement below on External Content
Resources on other pages are useful for starting research, but the following may provide more detailed or comprehensive information.
RECORDS
Service Records, detailing Training, Postings and (if next of kin) Personal Details, of UK World War II RAF Personnel can be obtained from the MoD (Ministry of Defence)
via the 3rd Party Disclosure Team at RAF Cranwell, near Sleaford in Lincolnshire. Full details can be found on the UK Government website.
To apply for a Service Record, it is necessary to complete both a Request Form and a (second) Search Form. The latter is generally Service specific (Army, RAF or Royal Navy etc.) and is
sometimes referred to a ‘Part 2’ form. An administration fee for each record requested is usually payable on application (currently £30, at time of writing).
PLEASE NOTE that from February 2021, the MoD began transferring just under 10 million personnel records to The National Archives for permanent preservation.
During this process, it is possible that records may not be available, as explained below.
ARCHIVES
Pre-Registration or a pre-booked appointment may be required prior to visiting these locations in person
The National Archives is the UK Government's official archive located at Kew, in south west London.
Although they do not necessarily hold all types of record, the website provides a very useful introduction to conducting research, including
Research Guides
specific to RAF (plus RFC and RNAS) records. They hold Squadron (or Unit) Records, including those for day-to-day operations and orders or correspondence.
As indicated above, transfer of service personnel records from the MoD to Kew has commenced.
This will take place over a period of six years. The records are from all three services (Royal Navy, Army and RAF) for individuals with a date of birth prior to or up to 1939.
They include around 500,000 with First World War service and the vast majority of those who served in World War II.
The aim is to assure long-term preservation and provide the widest possible access. However, a lot of work is necessary before the records are made accessible to public - online and in the reading rooms at Kew.
Airmen from (then) Dominion or other Commonwealth countries who served with UK based Squadrons were, generally, part of their own country's Air Force - e.g. RAAF, RCAF etc. As a result,
associated information is often found from records in birth nation, such as that held by
National Archives of Australia or Archives: New Zealand.
DETAILS OF OTHER COUNTRIES PENDING.
The RAF Museum holds extensive collections of aircraft, artefacts and documents at Hendon (north west London) and Cosford, Shropshire.
Details of these and how to visit can be obtained from the website.
The Library and Reading Room (visits normally by appointment) are currently closed, but a limited online service and further background information
is available on the Research Enquiries page.
More Related Links in:- Elsham Wolds and Social Media and People & Places
EXTERNAL CONTENT
EWA have no control over external parties, information relating to them or the nature, content and availability of their sites, on this page or elsewhere
on this website. The inclusion of any information or links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse any views expressed.
[i.e. We accept no responsibility for any service provided by external parties or their websites]