Hi guys.
I am actually posting this hoping someone can do me a favour. OK here is the question.
I am in Scotland and like most people I dont actually have much money. I am researching a crash at the moment that happend during WW2.
The witnesses say that it was pilot stupidity that caused the crash but I have found a report using PROCAT that mentions this aircraft being tested for Carbon monoxide contamination. I have the report reference and details. What I am asking is.
Does anyone visit the PRO regular and if so would you be willing to look out the report for me copy it and send it up to me.
I will pay the postage and copy fees but I cant afford to pay a researcher other wise I would have the report by now.
I cant see me ever getting down to London in the next 10 years or so unless I win the lottery so I would be ever so grateful if anyone could manage this for me.
This would also mean the possibility that the pilot was innocent and was blacked out so couldnt avoid the crash.
Also Do you think that at the time of the accident this report would have been looked into as evidence or would it have been overlooked as the peole at the scene would decide what went wrong.
Regards Merlin
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th January 2003 at 16:42
RE: PRO at Kew.
Merlin
The more you delve into your case the more doubtful you will be re the outcome of the prang. In my case in the RAF I had Queens Regulations read to me on several occasions to put me in my place! I always vowed I would pursue the matter, no matter that it is 43 years on. My case is currently with the Government Ombudsman to resolve these anomalies. I might not have gone much further with this case but when one senior member of RAF Innsworth said “there is no cover up” without me asking, then I knew that there was one!
www.fleetairarmarchive.net/ is also a useful site……
By: Merlin3945 - 12th January 2003 at 22:26
RE: PRO at Kew.
Hi John
Thanks for the good info.
I am like yourself an aviation researcher of sorts. I already know about the AM1180 and AM78 records cards and share your reasonable doubt to the actual cause written on some of the reports. I have found this interesting reading in the past. But this aircraft is RNAS a chesapeake to be precise and have already contacted Yeovilton about the possibility of existing records but as you probably know loads of the record cards were destroyed. The reason given to me by someone was that once an item of equipment was destroyed or no longer with the Navy the records were destroyed as there was no point to keeping records of something you didt have.
Any way I am in the process of trying to get some other files which might help with the cause of the accident.
Regards merlin
ps.
Does anyone know if a researcher could get their hands on local services records. By this I mean Police reports or fire service reports. I feel sure that this accident would have had to been submitted to both services.
Anyone else got any info on where to find obscure reports that I might not think of. IE crew details,aircraft details, Local reports etc etc.
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th January 2003 at 15:06
RE: PRO at Kew.
If this crash involved an RAF aircraft, you can get this information free of charge (Large Stamped addressed envelope helpful)from the RAF Museum at Hendon. The accident record card is called the Form A1180 and is based upon the Hollerith punch card system. The basic results from the Board of Inquiry will be appended thereon, whether you believe what is written on the card is up to you. My accident bears some resemblance but as most of the info is missing presumed destroyed I and umpteen others have other theories! Best of luck….
By: Merlin3945 - 11th January 2003 at 09:39
RE: PRO at Kew.
Hi People
Glen, the last time I looked at the costs for the PRO it came to quite alot of money. The first thing was you send them £10 andthey will look at the file and if the cost of copying comes to less than £10 then you will be sent the report. I assume you dont get any change as a way of paying for the persons time.
Ashley, Thanks, good info as usual but I have already looked up the details using PROCAT and there are a few reports and copies I would like but that will have to wait. as I said above I am sure that is the way they work but I will look at the site again to see their method of sending copies out.
Steve I would like to take you up on your offer. It is one report into a test that they did the year before on the exact aircraft I was looking into and it actually came as a surprise to me finding it.
The 60th anniversary is coming up soon and I was supposed to have built a memorial for the incident as about 13/14 people were killed and many more injured. But ill health in the family etc you know how it goes and I have not been able to get along with the project but now I have a new burst of energy to get on with the research and hopefully at the end I will have a very comprehensive report on the incident at the end of it all.
Steve I will contact you via email.
Regards Merlin
By: Glen - 10th January 2003 at 19:59
RE: PRO at Kew.
You can get all the info you want without even setting foot in the PRO. They will (for a cost) print you off as many copies you need of a document providing you know the pro ref no (i.e. AIR27/???, AVIA18/???),post them to you and send you an invoice or you can pay by credit card.
Done this myself a few times and as long as it is not reams of paper invloved it is still cheaper than using your own or any other form of transport. You just miss out on the experience of actually getting your hands on the documents written at the time of the event.
Hope this helps
By: Ashley - 10th January 2003 at 11:57
RE: PRO at Kew.
Merlin…have you tried looking at http://www.pro.gov.uk ? You may be able to get the info you need this way…
Ashley
By: Steve Bond - 10th January 2003 at 11:13
RE: PRO at Kew.
Be glad to help as I get to Kew fairly often. Please send the details.
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January 9, 2003 at 9:47 pm