Air Force Records: A Guide for Family Historians, Second Edition is part of a series of books covering military records available at the British National Archives. From the Boer War, through two World Wars, Korea, Kenya, Suez, and other interwar actions, this book provides the necessary information for genealogists to trace ancestors who served in any of the many British air forces. The earliest service records predate mechanical flight with the Royal Engineers Balloon Section. Other forces include the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF), Glider Pilot Regiment, Fleet Air Arm, and the Royal Naval Air Services.
Each service is reviewed with an historical overview. Key records created and used by various government agencies which administrated the flying services and personnel are noted and referenced. Records types include operational record books, unit war diaries, individual service records, medal rolls, gallantry awards and casualty lists. Guidance is given with a focus on the National Archives, but also c0vers other resources including various museums and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Like so many books reviewed on this site, Air Force Records is an interesting read just for the historical insights it provides. This book is also exceptionally well organized with plenty of pictures and sample documents. The family historian will be able to quickly identify similar documents when conducting their own research. With a primary focus on the National Archives, the author provides useful instructions for accessing records located at the Archives, including using and searching the online catalogue. Each year, more and more of the records are digitized and placed in the DocumentsOnline section of the National Archvies’ website.
The author, William Spencer, works as the principal military specialist at the National Archives. He previously served 13 years in the Fleet Air Arm and holds a MA in War Studies from the Department of War Studies at King’s College. We have previously another book in this series by Spencer, First World War Army Service Records: A Guide for Family Historians.
Note: The British National Archives are no longer in the “publishing” business. First World War Army Service Records and other books previously published by the National Archives are in limited supply and may not be available in the future.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Using The National Archives
Introduction
1 Military Flying Up to 1914
- The Royal Engineers and their Balloons
- The Royal Flying Corps
- The Royal Naval Air Service
2 Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force up to 1918
- The Royal Flying Corp
- The Royal Naval Air Service
- The Royal Air Force and Women’s Royal Air Force
3 Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps From 1919
- Royal Air Force
- Fleet Air Arm
- Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps
4 Royal Engineers Balloon Section Records of Service
- Officers
- Other Ranks
- Case Studies
5 Royal Flying Corps Records of Service
- Officers
- Airmen
- Case Studies
6 Royal Naval Air Service Records of Service
- Officers
- Ratings
- Case Study
7 Royal Air Force and Women’s Royal Air Force Records of Service
- Officers
- Airmen
- Women’s Royal Air Force
- Special Operations Executive
- Case Study
8 Operational Records
- Royal Engineers Balloon Section
- Royal Flying Corps
- Royal Naval Air Service
- Royal Air Force: First World War
- Royal Air Force: Inter-war Years
- Royal Air Force: Second World War and After
- Fleet Air Arm
- Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps: Second World War and After
9 Casualties and Air Crashes
- Casualties
- Air Crashes
10 Medals and Awards
- Royal Engineers Balloon Section: Campaign Medals
- Royal Flying Corps: Campaign Medals
- Royal Naval Air Service: Campaign Medals
- Royal Air Force: Campaign Medals
- Awards for Gallantry and Meritorious Service
- Royal Air Force Awards
- Fleet Air Arm Awards
- Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps Awards
- The London Gazette
- Long Service Awards
- Coronation and Jubilee Medals
11 Court Martial
- Admiralty Records
- War Office Records
- Air Ministry Records
- Supreme Court Records
12 Prisoners of War and War Crimes
- First World War
- Second World War
- War Crimes
- Missing Personnel
13 Medical Records
- Records up to 1918
- Inter-war Records
- Second World War Records
- Post-Second World War Medical Records
14 Photographs
15 Records Held by Other Institutions
- Fleet Air Arm Museum
- Royal Engineers Museum
- Museum of Army Flying
- Airborne Forces Museum
- Imperial War Museum
- Royal Air Force Museum
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
16 Research Techniques
- Printed Sources
- The London Gazette Online
- Aids to Research
Appendix 1: RAF Ranks
Appendix 2: Useful Addresses
Appendix 3: Unit Abbreviations
Appendix 4: Royal Naval Air Stations
Appendix 5: Command and Organizations found in AIR 24
Appendix 6: Regimental Order of Precedence
Further Reading and Websites
Index
Air Force Records: A Guide for Family Historians, Second Edition is available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA02, Price: $24.45.