RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

I have today heard again from the MOD regarding the possible release to Kew of RAF Casualty Records. The following e-mail refers:

Further to my e-mail below, approval to proceed with the limited public consultation has been received, and a description of the records and the sensitivity issues arising from them been issued to a range of ex service and RAF associations. We have asked for a response by mid November and would therefore anticipate (allowing for a consideration of the responses and further approval) to know an outcome by early 2013.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Andy,

This is great news. I fully understand the sensitivity of these records but they truly are a goldmine of information for historians and genealogists, and often contain information that is not available from other Air Ministry records. I presume there would be a cut-off date that would increment forward each year (eg records must be at least, say, 70 or 75 years old before they'd be considered for release).

KR
Mark

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Buffnut - I am not sure this is such "great news". Not yet, anyway.

They had been 'scheduled' for release to Kew, but a block was then put on their release pending consideration as to sensitivity issues. That has now progressed to a "limited public consultation" which seems to be very limited indeed.

It looks as if this is limited to RAF and ex-service associations, and I think the sub-text here is that those invited to participate in the 'consultation' have been briefed as to the 'sensitivity issues'. The cynic in me is rather inclined to the view that a very definite steer will be given to those responding to the consultation, and will probably set out the desired response. Thus, some phoney legitimacy will be given to the inevitable decision to keep these records 'Closed'.

Isn't it time all interested parties got writing to their MPs?

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Does anybody know what those 'sensitivity issues' are, according to MoD at least?

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Andy

I have seen the more extended thread on the Flypast board but I am not registered there.

It seems to me the key issue is to try to lobby the ex-service associations to give the "right" answer and I am not sure why they would want to support the entrenched position of the AHB.

With regard to some of the points made on Flypast in my view the issue is not about "cost" in the sense expressed there. I am not a lawyer but I find it hard to believe that the provisions of the DPAct in the UK are significantly different from the legislation in Australia, Canada and NZ however I acknowledge that the Human Rights Act in the UK may have an additional unknown (to me) implication.

In my view the key issue in handing over this information to Kew is the implications for the structure of AHB within MoD. Even though AHB is generally unhelpful in responding to the public enquiries about the Casualty Records all of that postal traffic supports a level of staffing that has a knock on into the establishment of the Branch and which, I believe, supports an Air Commodore desk job? In my view that is almost certainly the key issue in "giving away" these records.

Sorry to be so cynical

Steve

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

I am afraid that as a serving senior officer (soon to be retired) I too share Andy & Steve's cynicism

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

... Next stop the House of Lords?

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

AFAIK the "Air Commodore" desk job is actually a civilian and all RAF records remain under the "ownership" of AHB even though Kew looks after them. Given that these casualty records are, in reality, index cards, I do wonder how (assuming access is granted to the general public) Kew will make them accessible...unless they digitize the contents and turn it into an on-line database.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

No such chance Nick. Director of Business Development for an airfield support services company!

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

According to the RAF website (http://www.raf.mod.uk/ahb/) the 5th bullet point of the "What we do" section states:

•We have the responsibility within the RAF to respond to historical RAF casualty enquiries made by members of the public.

The AHB do respond to enquiries on casualties but sadly they seldom provide the information the enquirer is after. The Data Protection Act (and perversely the Freedom of Information Act) are used as an excuse not to answer the questions asked.

So unfortunately cynicism is totally warranted.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

I am not sure if it will do us any good, but I have requested further details from the MOD relating the consultation exercise. Namely:


The names/details of the organisations to be consulted
How any decision as to the compostion of the consultees was reached, and by whom
The full terms of reference for the consultation
Details of the description of records and the sensitivity issues
How the consultation results will be reviewed, and by whom
How any decisions arising will be made, and by whom
How information relating to the outcome will be placed in the public domain

It remains to be seen if the MOD supply the information requested. If not, then I will consider making a more formal request using a different approach.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

You ought to be able to get all that under an FoI request and they would have trouble invoking the "excessive cost" escape clause since everything you've asked should have been documented as part of the consultation excercise anyway.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Yes, exactly Nick!

A formal FOI request is my next approach if this draws a blank.

We will see.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Andy (S)

I'm going to a BAAC meeting on Sunday, do you want me to try and get some sort of action from them? It is an issue that does have an effect on the remaining members so it should be in our collective interests to try something.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Alan - I think that would be a good idea.

Meanwhile, I have had a speedy response from the MOD!

The organisations consulted are:

Battle of Britain Fighter Association
Bomber Command Association
Coastal Command and Maritime Air Association
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Royal British Legion
War Widows Association
Royal Air Force Association.

The body of the terms of reference is a bit wordy, but here it is:

SECOND WORLD WAR ROYAL AIR FORCE CASUALTY PACKS (1939-1945): TRANSFER TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

I am writing to you to seek your views and those of other stakeholders on whether the RAF Casualty Packs from the Second World War should be transferred “open” (available for the public to view) to The National Archives. Army casualty packs for the period have been available at The National Archives since 2007 and Royal Navy packs will be available by autumn this year.

There is no administrative reason for the MOD to retain these records and, under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958, The National Archives has agreed to take those records related to RAF battle losses for permanent preservation. These records amount to approximately 20,500 in total. Those records not related to battle losses – approximately 35,500 - will be kept by the MOD for further review in advance of any disposal decision.

The records were produced following an incident involving the loss of an aircraft or personnel, and include: report of initial loss, correspondence to the next kin, any further information received on the incident and any subsequent correspondence with the next of kin. After the war, the Missing Research Enquiry Service (MRES) was established to locate and identify all RAF missing personnel, and it is estimated that in approximately one third of the 20,500 cases selected for transfer, the records contain further information from MRES, including, where applicable, an exhumation report.

Army and Naval Casualty Records differ from the RAF records in respect of the amount, completeness and detailed nature of the information contained. After the war, copies of the RAF records were transferred to the Canadian and Australian Governments and parts of these are available to the public through the National Archives of those countries. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also holds some copies of the RAF records.

In deciding when to transfer the records, the MOD and The National Archives must assess their remaining sensitivities. The MOD judges these to be:

· contemporaneous correspondence between the next of kin and the Department where it contains details of an individuals financial and marital circumstances, release of which some survivors and next of kin may see as a breach of confidence; and
· details of circumstances of loss, injury and remains that some people may find distressing

The volume of records make it impractical to undertake file-by-file sensitivity review and extraction of sensitive data prior to transfer to TNA and mitigation of sensitivity risks needs to be achieved by other means. MOD intends to take the following steps to achieve this:

a. making it clear on files transferred to The National Archives that the record may contain material that some readers may find distressing.

b. Removing most material dated after 1948 from the record to ensure any personal data made available reasonably falls into the historical exemption provision under the Data Protection Act.

c. Working with The National Archives to remove from public view any records identified by members of the public (and accepted by MOD and TNA) as being sensitive.

MOD judges that with these mitigations in place only the issue of potential breach of confidence arising from the release of next of kin correspondence remains. MOD would therefore welcome your views on whether it should accept this remaining risk and make these records publicly available in 2013 or, if not, which of the following two dates would be most appropriate to open the records to the public:

· in 2020, when most of the survivors and immediate next of kin will be deceased;
· in 2028, when we can be reasonably certain that survivors and immediate next of kin will be deceased.

I would like to thank you in advance for assisting the MOD in this way and I will be happy to answer any queries you might have. You can reply to this consultation by e-mailing CIO-CorporateMemory@mod.uk or writing to MOD RAF Casualty Packs Public Consultation, PP34 20 Store, First Floor Bldg 2/003, Gloucester Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3NH. I would be grateful for your response by [twelve weeks from issue]. If the MOD has not heard from you by this date it will assume you judge no sensitivities remain.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Definitely speedy, and fairly comprehensive. I'll take a copy of the reply that you've received with me on Sunday.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

What I find surprising is the number of casualty packs involved; 20,500.

That seems remarkably few, and even allowing for the fact that non-combat losses are not included there are about that number of casualties on the Runnymede Memorial alone!

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

Yes, that number was a surprise and the statement that non-combat records account for 35,500 yet searching for UK, Air Force, WW2 on CWGC gives 84,792 records. As 35,500 & 20,500 only gets you to 56,000 i'd like to know what happened to the remaining 28,000 records.

Re: RAF Casualty Records - Consultation on Public Release
 

I anticipate that these "Casualty Packs" are going to be similar to what SPVA, Innsworth (Imjim Barracks), Gloucester referred to me in 2010 and the "PLG Directive 73/07 Administration Guide", as the 20,000 "Multiple Accident Files" where the ONE file (or 'pack') will include the whole crew and any passengers found at the time (such as non-RAF).

The file contained the initial Teleprinted Casualty Signals, it should contain a Form 551 confirming death (but not always), at least a brief letter confirming the Casualty Signal and the winding up of the financial Estates of the crew and correspondence regarding the financial administration of the airman's Will, possessions and any moneys owing e.g. his Mess bill. It will not include all the questions from next of kin, where the next of kin were told to write to the RAF Station direct. The RAF Station files could be destroyed, starting from 3 years (Kings Regs) after the last file enclosure piece relating to the occurrence, but that copies should be in the RAF Record Office. The AIB (the most important investigation, more important than the RAF findings) could also be missing (according to a 1950 Retention Schedule for AIB Air Accident Reports)?

If my Grandfather's crew Casualty file, a 'P' numbered file is anything to go by, you are going to be the most disappointed people on this earth!! The 'A' numbered Air Ministry Accident files were claimed to have been destroyed in the 1990s and the Courts of Inquiry were apparently separated from the files before they went from Hayes to TNT Swadlincote, according to Parliamentary questions raised about the transfer of the Military Records Office recorded in Hansard in 2004.

However, what really caused the crash, the 10,000 feet loss of height, the wireless contact beforehand, the turns that the aircraft was making for 16 miles and the SOS distress signals were all omitted (not even mentioned) and that the details were still unknown. I could not believe how skimpy the so called investigation was. The AAIB still hold a "U" Index card, but the RAF Casualty Signal said AIB not required, whether the AIB were involved or not, is an absolute mystery.

The file just quickly wanted to blame someone based upon an incomplete investigation and a presumption without even knowledge of all the facts or even the exact crash time. According to the Cause codings on the AM 1180 the crew were never tarnished whatsover.

Mark

UK Gov Military Records Office
 

It makes me wonder what old documents are still actually withheld in the UK Gov "Military Records Office"?

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo041020/halltext/41020h02.htm

Regarding my reference to "U" numbered Index Cards of RAF crashes and accidents, they are not AIB I have discovered from an official document, but some other branch that appeared to look into crashes and accidents back in 1940.