Early WW2 RAF Accident Investigations - Adequate or Not?

[Observer1940]

AIR 2/11702 Accidents Investigation in War Air Ministry and MCA Responsibilities.
File No. C50513/52 Opened 12/9/52

“By August 1942”
“The reception of accident reports from Command etc., was transferred from P.4 (Cas) to C.I.A. who was responsible for satisfying himself as to the adequacy of the Inquiry into each accident.”
[C.I.A. being Chief Inspector Accidents]

“1943/44 as a result of the Ludlow-Hewitt Enquiry, the investigation of RAF accidents was placed squarely on the shoulders of Group Commanders and an organisation called the Deputy Directorate for the Prevention of Accidents was brought into being to ensure remedial action was taken in every case.”

“A.I.B. now a part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and entirely separate from the Air Ministry.”

I’m interested in what other additional general information has been discovered by you into early WW 2 RAF accidents, from other official records and other official local sources, besides the Flying Accident Card summary and perhaps a brief reference / no reference in the various Squadron; Station; Group or Command ORBs?

Mark

[edwest]

I don't know if this will help but here it is:

8. Crashes and casualties (1939-1965)

Information on operational accidents may be recorded in the operations record books (AIR 27). The majority of these can be searched online for this period.
A few records of Courts of Enquiry into the loss of aircraft survive in The National Archives. Brief descriptions of some military (and civil) accidents are in AVIA 5. Identify a full document reference by using our catalogue. Search by aircraft or location of crash and AVIA 5, separating your search terms with AND.
For records elsewhere, read the section Records in other archives.



Perhaps contacting the National Archives directly would be a good way to get references to post-war information.




Best,
Ed

[Observer1940]

Hello Ed

Thanks, but searched all those Station, Squadron, Group, Command, nearby Units, including Policy files & A.P. Tech pubs, files relating to the a/c type, in AIR 2, AIR 8, AIR 9, AIR 10, AIR 14, AIR 16, AIR 20, AVIA files and other official records outside The National Archives, such as Civil, Fire; Police; War Committee; ARP; Local Incident Log Books; Local Charts; Coastguard Logs in private hands; RNLI records; undertakers and Observer Corps Logs.

However, I'm just wondering what other information or additional information researchers have discovered and how it compares with the official summary on Accident Cards and RAF files and what conclusions you came to?

Mark