Just noticed that the National Archives have begun the digitisation of RAF Squadron Operations Record Books. The digitisation has probably been done directly from the AIR 27 microfilm copies, in which case the quality will not be great. Good news nevertheless. Details here: The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Air Ministry Squadron Operations Lee
Just did a quick search for one squadron - the result was 128 pages for £3.50 so much better value than printing off the microfilm at 20p per page. Didn't download the file so can't speak as to the quality - let's hope that they did it from the originals not the microfilm. John
I have downloaded two files and they are indeed copies of the microfilm however both are perfectly legible.
I have downloaded two files and they are indeed copies of the microfilm however both are perfectly legible. I have just downloaded two files where the original microfilm at Kew was illegible. I'm delighted to say that the copies that I downloaded are (almost) perfect so think that they must have copied these newly available files from the originals. One of the files was 100 pages and only cost £3.50 so was exceptional value. Some others I've looked at are only a few pages so for any files less than 17 pages it will be cheaper to download and print these at Kew. John
Thanks for the heads-up on this new resource. I have downloaded a few files so far, however, one problem is knowing which file to pick. So far most of the events I am interested in have at least two choices for the month & unit I need. One SQN had three choices where the third choice had the extra description that they were appendices to the ORB - they turned out to be daily returns of aircraft condition (serviceability, wastage etc). It gave me the tail number I needed but not the list of crew aboard. As the SQN only lost one aircraft that day I used the CWGC / hut6 to get the rest of the crew's details. For another couple of files, I got the daily breakdown of missions flown, which helpfully gave the aircraft details plus which ones went missing and a full crew list. Another couple of files were of the narrative type, what happened at the unit each day. No real help from those files - one gave a story of the incident I was researching but left out the aircraft's serial number etc. The other was for a ground accident I want some more info on - it didn't even rate a mention in the SQN history that the member had died let alone how. ************************************************* As I carried out the checkout process for the first three files I couldn't help but think that the last time a member of my family paid the UK government 10 quid they got a one-way ticket for all of us to Australia.
There are free downloads available from the Documents Online calling page at The National Archives in the category " Air Ministry: Squadron Operations Records" covering 101 Squadron in December 1943. The "Summary of Events" PDF is 820 KB and the "Records of Events" PDF is 4.3 MB.
Just noticed that the National Archives have begun the digitisation of RAF Squadron Operations Record Books. The digitisation has probably been done directly from the AIR 27 microfilm copies, in which case the quality will not be great. Good news nevertheless. Details here: The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Air Ministry Squadron Operations Lee Excellent resource, Lee. I found that a very useful tool. Thanks for sharing. Jan.
Excellent news! Sadly (for me and any other RAF Regiment nuts), the TNA haven't digitised the ORBs in AIR 29. Ho hum.
Hi, I was wondering is it possible to get ORB's for squadron 44 and 50 for 1945. I have orbs for 1944 about squadron 50 on disc which I asked someone to help locate. From the orbs I managed to find out about my grandfather's raids, crew mates and a crash from which he survived. The crash happened SW of RAf Benson as they attempted to land, he survived and escaped with a broken leg, he was back again on raids in December of that year. So following his movements from his service records he was initially placed with 44 squadron and then 50 squadron again. Because I only have orbs for the year 1944 it I would like to know what happened in 1945. My parents say he was in a second crash in Germany on his second tour? I have no leads yet, I am due to go to London at the end of this month, and was wondering should I go to the national archives at Kew or are these digitized so I could get them online myself, I was browsing the Air 27 and wasn't sure if its the ones I should be looking for? Can someone tell me if these are the ones I need? Thanks.
The references for 50 Sqd for 1945 are: AIR 27/489, No 50 Squadron: Operations Record Book. Item open from 1972 1945 Jan. 1946 Dec. AIR 27/490, No 50 Squadron: Operations Record Book: Appendices. Loose 1944 July 1945 Apr Both have been digitalised: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C2503126?v=r Squadron Number: 50 Appendices: Y | The National Archives Lee Hi, I was wondering is it possible to get ORB's for squadron 44 and 50 for 1945. I have orbs for 1944 about squadron 50 on disc which I asked someone to help locate. From the orbs I managed to find out about my grandfather's raids, crew mates and a crash from which he survived. The crash happened SW of RAf Benson as they attempted to land, he survived and escaped with a broken leg, he was back again on raids in December of that year. So following his movements from his service records he was initially placed with 44 squadron and then 50 squadron again. Because I only have orbs for the year 1944 it I would like to know what happened in 1945. My parents say he was in a second crash in Germany on his second tour? I have no leads yet, I am due to go to London at the end of this month, and was wondering should I go to the national archives at Kew or are these digitized so I could get them online myself, I was browsing the Air 27 and wasn't sure if its the ones I should be looking for? Can someone tell me if these are the ones I need? Thanks.
When I have a look at the 76 Squadron ORB for January 1944 (both record of events and summary of events) it mentions 1 file approximately 0MB. Does this mean this is an empty file? I don't want to order a file (and pay 3,36) which does not exist..
Hi Peter, This is indeed rather strange as the preview mentions 14 pages (+ 1 cover page). Best regards Luc
It looks like they've been upgrading their software recently and I think it's just a bug krept into the system. I noticed the same thing on Saturday but the file downloaded OK. I'll be downloading a few files when I there later this week, so if you PM the full references for the ones wanted I can grab them for free for you. Lee