Agree fully on the ‘caution’ approach. I’ve visited Kew many, many times researching WW1, WW2 and Cold War subjects. I often get side-tracked onto totally unrelated things because when you order a box of documents it often contains material that’s unrelated to your search. I always think I’ve finished looking but then need another trip because I’ve found something else. Plus it is pretty incredible when you find that you’re handling a document signed by Churchill, or Dowding or Beamont.
My approach with these things is usually to look at Kew for the ORB etc (I’ve also done a lot of personnel research there pertaining to WW1), then see what that says. Next take a trip to the RAF Museum and see what the aircraft record cards say; I have also done a lot of flying log book research at Hendon: they have an amazing collection. Then that usually ties it all in – official record/aircraft/people. Hendon’s cataloguing system is incredible: if you get the staff to search for “Hampstead Norris” you will likely find they can locate photographs too, as well as personal items related to the airfield. And the staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They too are OK with you taking photos. Back in the day (pre-digital) I’d be scribbling away for hours, just making notes as much as I could: technology has made a world of difference there.
I have to say I don’t know much about O&RTU – the parts I have were merely background info for a crash I was researching in Wiltshire. Luckily I keep copies of everything I photograph at Kew (thank goodness for digital cameras), so sometimes I can help others with a bit of primary-source data. Sadly on this occasion I’m missing the bits that would tell the full story, but hopefully others will be able to start where I finished.
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