[Andy Saunders]

Mark

I have read all of this with great interest as I have been talking to the MOD since 2008 with regards to the transfer of RAF Casualty Reports to TNA Kew. (They have already been allocated to AIR 81 in the Kew indexes)

In February 2008 the MOD stated that they expected to turn their attention "within the next couple of years" to the transfer of these records to Kew. Since just over three years have passed and nothing has arrived at Kew I took the matter up again with the MOD. Here, in part, is what they have said:

"Work on the transfer of the RAF Casualty Reports to The National Archive did commence in 2008. This has now been suspended, however, following the identification of some material within the Reports which may continue residual sensitivity. To resolve this issue, we currently plan, subject to the necessary approvals, to conduct a limited public consultation in the Autumn of 2011. Assuming this led to a decision to proceed with transfer, then those files that have already been prepared for transfer would be transferred to Kew shortly thereafter."


It seems to me that these records are likely to be an invaluable and fascinating research tool and I believe we should be placing pressure on the authorities to release them - if needs be by writing to our various elected representatives!

I know for a fact that these files must either be indexed, or at least filed in alphabetical order, because they are regularly "pulled" when the VA or AHB are dealing with historic casualty cases.