Aircraft Board of Inquiry reports

[Observer1940]

Although I failed recently to get a Court of Inquiry and also the RAF Balloon Command accident report dated 16 Aug 1940, under FOI.

I thought you might find the attachment from 2004 referring to Aircraft Board of Inquiry Reports interesting?

The National Archives, Kew have refused to answer my written questions under FOI.

I am aware that the Squadron Association must have had complaints from other families (as I have not mentioned anything to them), because the Squadron Association have referred in their last magazine to the sheer frustration that families are still having with the MoD 65 to 70 years after the event to get information from the MoD as to what actually occurred and events leading up to the crash and loss, which is being made available by Air Forces of other countries.

Mark

[Andy Saunders]

Just curious.

Do you know why TNA refused to answer you written questions under FOI?

It seems to me that the Freedom of Information Act is increasingly a mis-nomer, since it is being used more and more as a reason not to provide any freedom of access to information. We are increasingly hearing about cases where information that includes names of casualties are being witheld.

There seems to be a degree of apathy, if I may say so, amongst researchers (particularly the UK based ones) who need to be beating on official doors and lobbying MPs etc to get this material released - especially the material that has long been promised for release to TNA but where an "excuse" has now been found to hold up and possibly prevent that release.

Anyone who has tried recently to get anything from the AHB will know that there is almost a paranoia about releasing anything anymore. This is a paranoia that borders on a deep suspicion, it seems, of anyone who asks for such information.

The whole situation is distasteful and wholly unsatisfactory.

[Observer1940]

Andy

Regarding my letter under the FOI Act about the Policy of Court of Inquiry accident documents and questions about their retention, the NA, Kew response letter (1st page attached) dated 2nd February 2010 basically states:-

"These rights may only be overridden if the information you are looking for is covered by an exemption in the Act."

Some of my questions were unanswered and therefore I assume exempt!

The TNA failed to answer my questions regarding Policy surrounding RAF Courts of Inquiry and accident paperwork.

One file did not cover the August 1940 period and I had seen the other three files which TNA, Kew suggested.

Mark

[Observer1940]

The Information Rights Tribunal

Attached is a record of the Information Rights Tribunal, I have been informed by the Tribunal that the document was also to be posted on the Information Rights Tribunal website.

It is not too long and despite the outcome, I feel some interesting points are made.

Regarding the reference to beating on the door of officialdom, I have been informed by the AHB (rather abruptly which upset me) not to contact them again regarding P5044 as my letter would be unanswered and also not to contact the AHB for any other information, if it is likely to be at TNA, Kew or the RAF Museum.

So my last AHB enquiry was referred to TNA, Kew who could not find the relevant file on their catalogue for a Bomber Op Research Section Report relating to the Whitley, so the AHB (RAF) did assist me with a photocopy of the ORS Report off their microfilm copy of the file in the end.