Obtaining RAF Personnel Information
The 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Association does maintain a list of current members and associate members; however, it does not have a digitised database of all personnel who have previously served on the Squadron. Information on members or associate members cannot be disclosed without their consent.
RAF personnel records are held at RAF Cranwell. If service numbers and other details are known, they should be included in the correspondence. The personnel records department will only divulge information to the subject, or, if the subject is deceased, to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the subject of the enquiry, or from the subject’s next of kin, before any information can be released. This address can also be used for records of decorations and citations:
RAF Disclosures Section
Room 221b Trenchard Hall
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 8HB
A charge of £30.00 is made for any information provided. If cheques are submitted with queries they should be made payable to HMG sub-account 3267. This applies to personnel records only. The only exemptions from charges are persons to whom the records refer, or their widows or widowers.
Get a copy of military service records - https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records
Records for precursors of the RAF (RFC, RNAS) are held at The National Archives, as are records for the RAF during the First World War.
You can apply to the Medal Office for a medal or veterans’ badge if you have served in the UK armed forces and are eligible. The applicant must be an entitled veteran or the next of kin of a deceased veteran.
Service Personnel & Veterans Agency
MOD Medal Office, Imjin Barracks
Innsworth
Gloucester
GL3 1HW
Casualty Enquiries from Year 2000 to the Present Day
Information is deemed personal and only enquiries from or on behalf of next of kin can normally be considered.
Enquiries concerning personnel from year 200 to the present day should be directed to the Air Historical Branch
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre
Room G35, Innsworth House
Imjin Barracks
Gloucester
GL3 1HW
Group and Command records are available for public reference from The National Archives (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) or the Air Historical Branch.
The National Archives
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU
Air Document Groups with content relating to Bomber Command are:
- Air 14 - Reports on Operations and Night Raids
- Air 24 - Command ORBs
- Air 24/214-325 - Intelligence Reports
- Air 25 - Group ORBs
- Air 27 - Station ORBs
- Air 28 - Squadron ORBs
- Air 42 - Combined Ops Planning Committee