Tracing the Service Record of an RAF Navigator

I’d better amend my records with that new information too…not that I’ve ever managed to get any information from them as I’ve never been next of kin…will the information eventually be open to any researcher, say after 100 years does anyone know? Jack

The address has changed for service records, below is what is presently on the RAF website.

“Personnel Records
Royal Air Force personnel records are held at RAF Cranwell. If service number and details are known, please quote it in the correspondence. The personnel records department will only divulge information to the person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died, to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the person about whom they are enquiring, or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them.

A charge of £30.00 will be made for any information they provide; If cheques are submitted with queries, they should be made payable to ‘HMG Sub-Account 3627’. This applies to personnel records only. The only people exempt from charge are the person to whom the records refer to or their widow or widower.

The address is:
RAF Disclosures
Room 221B, Trenchard Hall
RAF Cranwell
SLEAFORD
Lincs NG34 8HB”

They are getting really stupid with the next of kin form at the moment, recent enquiries have been met with demands for proof of kinship via birth, marriage and death certificates. If you already have copies then straight forward but it can get expensive trying to get copies.

The speculated reason is that they have had a lot of enquiries and are too understaffed to cope so put plenty of red tape in the way to discourage all but the most determined.

Don’t let this put you off though. Once you get the service records then you’ll be able to see which ORBs you will need to look at.

Thanks for both those excellent responses.

I was hoping to make a surprise of it so I may have to have a rethink from the ‘next-of-kin’ point of view. It may be possible to tease out some more information about him without arousing suspicion given my general interest.

I’ll try the internet, you never know.

Hi there, you could try

Royal Air Force Personnel Management Agency (PMA)

Obtaining service records for those who served in the Royal Air Force during world war 2 is more or less straightforward, but Innsworth will only divulge service information to the person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain permission from the person about whom they are enquiring or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them. In some cases the PMA make a charge of £30.00 for any information they provide. Except to the person to which it refers, or the widow or widower of that person.

To obtain service records you will need to write to:

PMA(Sec)1b(RAF)
Room 5, Building 248A,
RAF Personnel Management Agency
Raf Innsworth
Gloucester GL3 1EZ

Hope this helps

Creaking Door.

In the first instance, a name might help here. If you try googling a combination of his name with RAF, or Lancaster’s it might just pick something up. It’s a long shot but worth a try.

Your best course of option is to apply for his Service Record from the RAF’s Personnel Management Agency. This was at Innsworth but may have moved. They would need his full name and any supporting information you can offer. Date of birth and home town would be very good starting points. There is a charge for this service but that would get you a copy of all his movements and postings.

When you know what Squadron he was in and the time he was with them, the next step would be the Squadron ORB from which you could determine exactly which Operations he flew.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

kev35