Airmans Service Record?

Wow! Thanks Don – loads of good info there. I´ll see what I can find out.:)

The family say he flew Lancs and trained in Canada. Maybe he was RCAF?

Thanks

Sorry, just re-read your post and saw this bit. Was he part of the Empire Training Scheme perhaps? I know a lot of Australian And NZ aircrew trained in Canada on their way to the UK.

Just been through this entire exercise for my late Mother’s records last year. I required them to allow internment in the “Returned Services” section of the local cemetery.
You think it’s hard from there, try doing it from the other side of the world. They don’t even have email at the records centre (RAF Innsworth from memory) and I had to do everything by fax and post…..

Having said that I did get hold of one particularly helpful lady who really went out of her way to help.

Luckily I found her service records (including a dry cleaners receipt) amongst her papers, so largely short circuited the process.

Anyone in Birmingham care to check to see if her dry cleaning’s ready for me.:D

Cranwell or Innsworth?

Seemingly, you know have to apply to RAF Cranwell. There is a form that you can download however, reading down the form, you send it completed to RAF Innsworth…a bureaucratic body swerve.
To be fair, your money, now £30, does not go to the RAF, they don’t charge anything in my experience. It goes to the agency at RAF Innsworth which, like all agencies, is orientated to releiving you of your dosh. NOK should get the record free but this does not always happen according to some. What you get for you £30 is a double sided piece of A3 paper. Not trifling for what you get but it depends on how much you want it. .

I think this is just a case of MoD / RAF not updating their records / forms. The RAF Disclosures office, part of the RAF PMA, was at Innsworth until Jan 08 but has now moved to RAF Cranwell.

They are nothing to do with the Agency (SPVA = Medal Office & JCCC) which is still based at Innsworth, nor does the SPVA receive the money – not sure where that goes – The Treasury?

James,
Oh well! Y’can’t win ’em all. Keep me in the picture if you find anything!
Rgds
Resmoroh

This might be your man?
Robert Logan born 1923
Enlisted at Padgate between Sep 39 and Jul 40 (OR Number 1076305).
LAC by 29 Aug 42 when Commissioned as A/Plt Off (128703) – Source LG
Confirmed(?) as Plt Off(?) 28 Feb 43. – source LG.
KIA 19 Jul 44 flying with 619 Sqn (Lancs). He has no known grave – source CWGC.

BUT(!!) if he was wearing his watch when KIA/NKG then how come you’ve got it? I’ve got some more on this character (if he’s yr man). Send me a PM.
HTH
Resmoroh

Wrong man I´m afraid. “My” Robert Logan died around 1971. The watch was in a draw since then. He trained in Canada with the RCAF. I will try to get more info from the family, but I don´t think they know too much of his service time either.

His flight logbook was sold on a Ebay a while back. Would have been interesting to see.

Seemingly, you know have to apply to RAF Cranwell. There is a form that you can download however, reading down the form, you send it completed to RAF Innsworth…a bureaucratic body swerve.
To be fair, your money, now £30, does not go to the RAF, they don’t charge anything in my experience. It goes to the agency at RAF Innsworth which, like all agencies, is orientated to releiving you of your dosh. NOK should get the record free but this does not always happen according to some. What you get for you £30 is a double sided piece of A3 paper. Not trifling for what you get but it depends on how much you want it.
I am aware that other countries provide this free. Australia I know used to but I think they have now reverted back to charging.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

This might be your man?
Robert Logan born 1923
Enlisted at Padgate between Sep 39 and Jul 40 (OR Number 1076305).
LAC by 29 Aug 42 when Commissioned as A/Plt Off (128703) – Source LG
Confirmed(?) as Plt Off(?) 28 Feb 43. – source LG.
KIA 19 Jul 44 flying with 619 Sqn (Lancs). He has no known grave – source CWGC.

BUT(!!) if he was wearing his watch when KIA/NKG then how come you’ve got it? I’ve got some more on this character (if he’s yr man). Send me a PM.
HTH
Resmoroh

I have my own service record from the RAF, it is nowhere complete and not in full. After 7 years of an Airmans discharge his/her Main Records are destroyed leaving just the bare essentials. I requested my own fathers service record quite recently and I being the nearest NoK still had to stump up £30 this I refused to do as I have his RAF F856 Record of Service.

I have obtained RAAF Service Records from Canberra and RCAF records from Ottawa, the latter was free, the former was some 30 foolscap pages which cost airmail equivalent to about £3. Try getting something out of the RAF it is like getting blood out of stone.

A lot of ex RAF Guys applying for their documents entitling them to medals by being in a danger zone are often so disappointed that their records do not show some postings/detachments or honours/awards entitlement.

I wish you well, if I were you The National Archives in Kew might be your best bet, it might just help if you drop them an email regarding your initial enquiry. But generally a service number is more important than a name as the former is always unique………

Yes, a trifling sum to find out about your forbears does become a pricey amount if it’s only for a watch.

Why not tell the family they can have the service record and see if they want to stump up for it?

You never know, tracing your ancestors is really popular these days.

Moggy

Thanks for the lead Moggy.

A bit of googling reveals that the records are held at Cranwell as of 2008 and the trifling fee is now 30 quid, but still only to family members.

I was only wanting to know concerning an airmans 6B/159 wrist watch that I have just purchased. The watch was originally issued to one Robert Logan. Its unusal to know the name of the first “owner”.

The RAF records were held at Innsworth, though this may have changed.

For a trifling sum they will dig out and send you a colour photocopy of the airman’s entire service record provided you are, or have the permission of, his closest surviving next of kin.

Well worth doing.

Moggy