Nice pics. Didn’t realise we had an airworthy Rapide down here.

Thanks D C Page – that completes the operational lifespan of R5552. That’s a really good little video, and interesting to see that pieces still survive.

R5552 replaced the previous 97 squadron aircraft coded P, R5513 which (piloted by W/O Mycroft) had been lost during the Augsburg raid.

R5559 was with 97 Squadron in 1942, and lettered W. However the serial in the photo could be R5552, which was also with 97 Squadron in 1942 and was coded P, as per this photo. However this aircraft was continually on operations during 1942, the last one with 97 squadron being 23 March 1943 (see http://www.97squadronassociation.co.uk/operations.html). Then apparently it went to 20 MU and finally on to 166 Squadron – if it is this aircraft it would seem more likely that it was displayed in Glasgow in mid 1943, sometime after March, when allotted to 20 MU.

I don’t have a problem with Hendon – it’s a national museum and as such is in the National ‘hub’ within London (though maybe a section of Hyde Park could be obtained to give a more central location in the ‘museum quarter’?). As an infrequent UK visitor these days Cosford (or some of the other suggested sites above) are significantly more of a pain to get to than Hendon!

I also think it was time for a grand reshuffle – so am not too alarmed at the break up of the ‘Battle of Britain’ display – had always (since first visiting in around 1982) thought the collection of German aircraft there was misleading, and several could have been better used to tell the Bomber Command story than pretending to be representative of Battle of Britain types. And if you were going to have a collection of German aircraft, then stick them all together… However now, if you look at what the RAFM has in stock, there is huge opportunity to revolve displays through London to pair off RAF and ‘enemy’ aircraft to tell stories of various operational theaters and conflicts. Overall the collection is unparalleled anywhere and the scope to rotate exhibits and keep the museum changing and interesting to the public has to be enormous. Good luck to them!

Tony

I believe they are in the AIR 4 series at the National Archive. Using the Discovery search engine you can see a list of the records held.

Echo India

Thanks Echo India, had not realised it was that easy!

A brief return, to add that as well as UK National Archives holdings, RAF Flying Log Books are also held as follows in the UK…

And thanks DonClark, have emailed the RAF Museum – pity they don’t have a searchable system!

I think I am right in saying that, during WW2, the logbook of any airman that was lost was retained by the MOD. After the war these logbooks were offered back to next of kin. At some stage in the 50’s or 60’s the miles of shelf space that the remaining logbooks took up in storage was deemed excessive and after again being offered back to next of kin the majority were dumped, with a selection being retained for the NA. Does anyone know if there is a list anywhere of the retained logbooks?