Ancestry has a transcription of the Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour 1939-1945. Searching for info about my uncle who was a Sergeant Air Gunner I found him on the list. Under "Role or Trade" it states "Agent" -- presumably a mis-transcription which should be "AG-ent" or something similar indicating his gunnery position? Does anyone know what "ent" would be; something something turret possibly? Also did aircrew in addition to pilots maintain flying logs. If so what would have happened to them when a crewman was killed.
Ag is air gunner - the Agent is just computer generated rubbish in an attempt by the site to add value. If this is a true representation of his trade then he was most likely Rear Gunner, If his trade description was WOp/AG then as a dual trained wireless operator/air gunner he could either man guns or the wireless set during flight and and swap between these roles as required for rest or casualty replacement. Yes all aircrew maintained flying log books. When posted missing the log books would be catalogued along with service and personal belongings. When and if NoK claimed belongings during war the log books were not handed over. Post War there was a sizeable attempt through press to encourage relatives to claim the logbooks. Those not claimed were sifted for historic significance and given to TNA - the remaining were destroyed on the instructions of the parliament of the day, Aircrew logbooks | Collections | Research | RAF Museum Ross
Further to Ross's useful post & link: 6500 feet of shelfspace equates to near 104,000 RAF Flying Log Books - a large number, though far less than aircrew no's WW2. In the past there's sometimes been harsh criticism about post-war destruction of remaining Log Books. A good record of the repeated, extensive efforts at return may assist. From RAF World War II Operational and Flying Accident Casualty Files in the National Archives: Exploring the Contents, Mary Hudson (Air World/Pen & Sword 2020) here is chapter and verse from Ch17, on Flying Log Book retention/return policy, and on action to return Log Books to surviving ex-aircrew and casualties families, pre-war to post-war. "Among the official documents issued to the casualty which were set aside by the Effects Officer to be retained by the RAF were Flying Log Books (RAF Forms 414 and 1767). Before the Second World War flying log books of deceased officers and airmen were forwarded to next of kin when no longer required for official purposes such as investigations into aircraft accidents. However, when the war started this practice was discontinued for the 'duration of hostilities'. The flying log books of missing or deceased aircrew were instead to be sent from home units to the RAF Central Depository at Colnbrook where they were recorded and kept in safe custody. Overseas units sent the flying log book to their command headquarters for safe-keeping. A similar practice was observed for the flying log books of personnel who were declared to be prisoners of war. In January 1946 authority was given by the Air Ministry for the release of the Flying Log Books of air crew who had either been discharged or released from the service, who had died, or who [had] been withdrawn from air crew duties. Next of kin of deceased air crew were invited to apply for the Flying Log Book through newspaper advertisements and by radio announcements. Following this some next of kin wrote to the Casualty Branch about the Flying Log Books of their relatives and these letters, and the responses to them, were placed on the on the relevant Casualty Files. Unclaimed Flying Log Books were kept at the RAF Central Depository until 1960 when it was again publically [sic] advertised that Flying Log Books still held by the RAF could be claimed by air crew or, where deceased, their next-of-kin. Of those still left unclaimed after this second announcement a small number were preserved as examples and are now held at the National Archives in the AIR 4 Series. The remainder were destroyed in late 1960." Ms Hudson's book is a comprehensive guide to the RAF & MRES etc practices and recording of RAF casualties. Available in print and ebook form via eg www.Booktopia.com.au also listed new & used at www.bookfinder.com - or check national libraries/interlibrary loan in your country.
I've brought this 'agent' issue to their notice on ancestry so hopefully they can fix the 16000+ instances that are likely in error. Sobering figure however.
Glad to report the 16000 agents on that database now only number..... 17! The error has been fixed. Also I got them to fix 'Rm' to read Runnymede Memorial, Surrey for some 18,000 names
