Operational Record Books at Group Level

[en830]

Does anyone have any experience of Group Operation record books and the details that they contain. I particularly interested in 10 Groups ORB between June 1943 and Dec 1943, when Sqn Ldr Geoffrey B Warnes was posted away from 263 Sqn for a rest as a staff officer with 10 Group.

Also what records are held at the national archives on Barrage Balloon Units ?

[kjetilk]

I have some of 18. Group Coastal Command ORBs (monthly). These ORBs are very extensive, and contain approx 1000 pages per month. All operations carried out are summarized day by day. This include details on aircraft (i.e. Liberator H/547 + crew), TO and landing times, operational areas (positions) and result of sorties. VERY useful to get the big picture (operations only)....

If you compare these ORBs (AIR25) with those from squadrons (AIR27), stations (AIR28), combat reports (AIR50) and interpretation reports (AIR34), you get loads of details. AIR27 and AIR50 are available as microfilm.

Consider the discussion elsewhere on this board regarding individual statements from former pilots (facts or fairytales), these should be consistent with info found in the various ORBs.

The websites of TNA are probably the best in the world of archives, and you should be able to perform a search in the catalogue on Barrage Balloon Units (i.e. check out AVIA15/360).

Kjetil

[Chris Goss]

Gp ORBs would have little mention of what Warnes did whilst a Staff Officer; the Gp ORBs tended to detail what the Gp did from an operational viewpoint. However, the Appendices might make mention of postings in/out. If you are interested in Warnes and his time with 263, I have the unofficial 263 diary

[Mikkel Plannthin]

May I pose another question regarding ORBs, namely the content of the wing ORBs?

I am among other units interested in the Norwegian squadrons since a number of Danish pilots was attached to RNoAF during the war. Two of these were attached to the same wing: 132 airfield (later wing) - AIR 26/193.

Therefore, I would be interested in the amount of information that could be extracted from Wing ORB in addition to the sqn ORBs.

TIA,
Mikkel

[Andy Long]

ORB's depend on what was written up at the time. Some squadron ORB's are excellent, while others are vague.

I'm doing a visit to the NA this week. Want me to check out this wing ORB for you and report back?

Regards

Andy

[Dave Clark]

As with squadron ORBs, wing ORBs are sometimes excellent, sometimes pretty sketchy. My specialty is 127 Wing of 2ndTAF and it is very complete, very well written and very accurate.

Good Luck
Dave Clark