Some of my more arcane lines of research have led me to a number of pre-war flying clubs, that did not re-emerge post war, and a desire to study their records (memberships lists, aircraft service records, movements books, minute books, club diaries, etc.). However in each case I’ve been unable to ascertain:
– whether any of those records are extant;
– and, if so, where they now might be;
– and, if not, when and in what circumstances these were lost.
In each case my first point of call has been the National Archives at Kew and the county archives for the counties in which the flying clubs were situated. But none of these institutions appear to hold any significant records of the flying clubs in question. I’ve also made enquiries of Companies house, in the hope that the flying clubs may have been limited companies and, if so, of there being official documents. But it tells me that it destroys all documentation twenty years after creation, lodging copies of only a small proportion of such documents at Kew. I’ve even sought to identify the clubs’ then legal advisers and auditors, and the successor practices to those solicitors’ and accountants’ firms, in the remote hope that they may, nearly eighty years on, still have an old tin box gathering dust in their files’ and deeds’ stores. But that too has been a hope in vain. I suspect that the reality of the situation is that such records as there were amongst the many victims of war. Perhaps destroyed in bombing. More likely thrown away or recycled as having no perceived value. And thus lost to posterity But if anyone else has trodden a similar path and has been successful in locating pre-war flying club records of a nature similar to those which I have sought, I’d be very grateful if they’d share their experience with me as it might suggest avenues that I’ve not yet thought to pursue. And, more generally, if anyone reading this has constructive suggestions to make as to whether such flying club records might be extant and, if so, where they might be, I’ll be most grateful for their input. Please feel free to send a PM to me if that’s a preferable route.
With my thanks in hope and in advance.
AA
By: avion ancien - 8th June 2017 at 20:40
Thank you, Don. I’ll ask my genealogical wizard to see what she can come up with based on these names!
By: avion ancien - 7th June 2017 at 22:28
That’s not a problem, Ex Brat. Oh, AEROFOIL, I’ve sent you another PM. I’ll be glad to hear from you.
By: avion ancien - 6th June 2017 at 21:18
Thank you, Schneiderman. Your offer is much appreciated. As to Flight magazine, Ex Brat, I dealt with this in post #4 (albeit that this was in September of last year!). But thank you for the suggestion, nonetheless.
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th June 2017 at 19:51
I would be staggered if any of the clubs ever maintained a systematic record of such things, but who knows. I work in the RAeC archive every two weeks so will keep my eyes open and let you know if I locate anything
By: avion ancien - 6th June 2017 at 18:24
Thank you, Ex Brat & Schneiderman
The unfortunate thing is that what I am seeking from the club records is likely to be at a level more detailed than minute books and, in consequence, the probability of me not finding that is proportionately higher! I suspect that it’s more likely to have been recorded in club membership records, club aircraft useage records, movements books, club newsletters and the like. It would not surprise me to find that as pre-war flying clubs closed for the duration and many failed to re-emerge thereafter, their records have long since been lost or destroyed. Thus my enquiry was made in the hope that someone might have knowledge to contradict that suspicion.
I am most grateful to you, Schneiderman, for drawing to my attention that the minute books of the RAeC are accessible online. I was not aware of this. I will now study those for the years relevant to my research. Nor was I aware that the RAeC had divested itself of its library. That shows how long it is since I last had cause to ask for facilities to use that library. I do remember having correspondence with the RAeC librarian/archivist, a very pleasant and helpful gentleman, but as I cannot now find that correspondence, such suggests that was of some vintage!
I hadn’t thought, Ex Brat, to identify the club secretaries and then subject their names to a genealogical trace, in order to identify their descendants and enquire whether they might have or know of the whereabouts of the club records (or that they’ve been lost or destroyed). I will first try to identify the relevant secretaries and then crave the help of a friend who is better equipped than me to dabble in the dark art of genealogy!
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th June 2017 at 16:54
AA, mostly negative information I’m afraid.
Firstly, the RAeC do not hold a set of The Aeroplane, in fact they have no library of books and magazines. However, and I know this is not much use to you, their archive is housed at Hendon and the RAF Museum library does hold a set their.
I assume that all of these clubs would have been affiliated to the RAeC so a search through the clubs scanned minute books may throw up something (although I doubt it). They can be searched/viewed/downloaded here.
http://raec.daisy.websds.net/search.aspx
It isn’t clear what information you are seeking but, judging from what I have seen for the RAeC itself, the records of these clubs are likely to have been sparse. Probably limited to routine committee meetings and any official correspondence.
By: avion ancien - 6th June 2017 at 15:34
I’m still plugging away on this project and as I have narrowed the scope somewhat, I thought I’d raise the topic again. Specifically I’m interested in the records of the following flying clubs in and about the years mentioned:
– Cinque Ports Flying Club (1935)
– London Aeroplane Club (1934)
– London Air Park Flying Club (1935/36)
– Air Service Training (1936)
If anyone knows whether any of these records are extant and, if so, where they are now held, I’ll be most grateful for their input.
With my thanks both in hope and anticipation.
AA
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September 16, 2016 at 10:51 am