Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy Saunders
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!
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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