Sad news

[Delmenhorst]

I have just come home from a visit to the PRO in Kew. Somebody have been removing a lot of aerial photos of Berlin (and to a lesser degree of Frankfurt). I don't think that there is any photos of Berlin left in the K-reports. That means that all the after the raid immediate reports from the Battle of Berlin in 1943/44 is missing.
I hope that they will find this 'joker'. Please drop the PRO a line if any of the photos is showing up on ebay or other sites. As far as I can figure out the photos went missing within the last two years (that means after it was allowed to use a digetal camera in the archive). I guess that it is a collector, who want original photos.

[David Ransome]

Hi,

Are the PRO aware of this? I believe that this has happened previously with records kept at other institutions. They should have a log of people accessing particular files which may help them.

I'll certainly watch eBay etc but as it appears to have happened over two years they have probably gone by now - they could have been stolen to order too.

Thanks

David

[Ruy Horta]

These people are worse than ordinary thieves, since they steal from coming generations as well.

Simple despicable...

[Smudger Smith]

I have had first hand experience of copies of the Air 50 Combat Reports going ‘missing’ likewise Escape and Evasion Reports. While on a recent trip to the NA I was asked by a friend in Australia to view four Escape & Evasion reports, I made detailed notes of the reference & file numbers, a follow-up trip to the NA three weeks latter (to have them copied) resulted in these reports ‘disappearing’ from the relevant folder. I asked an assistant if they had been removed for a reason, (pre-booked, copied etc) she assured me they were not in reprographics or being copied or had been pre-ordered. I informed her that they were in the folder three week previous; I am saddened to report this individual’s response was not what I had expected.If these irreplaceable documents are being stolen, which I am sure they are, I feel we should all be on our guard and report these thieves to the relevant authorities. Moan over. Steve

[David Ransome]

Hi,

I've literally just got off the phone after speaking to a senior person at the PRO about these possible thefts. They will be getting back to me tomorrow, possibly with Police involvement, and what I need now are some specific details relating to possible stolen records.

So, if Smudger can let me have the Record nos, privately or via this board, and if everyone else can do likewise, and advise as to what appears to be definitely missing (and an idea as to when the items were last seen) I will collate the info and liaise with the PRO and hopefully get things moving to a positive conclusion.

Maybe we can be a 'force for change'!

Fingers crossed,

David

[Chris Going]

This is terrible news. The electronic history of each piece can be traced, however, and the TNA/PRO card holder identified, but someone trying to steal is likely to be one jump ahead, and to have an alias. Basically no-one should have any business with original images with K glosses on them. They just did not get out into the Service community. The distribution lists on the K reports show just how few were run off, and most of them will have been destroyed at the end of the war. Very few organisations preserved them. Any K Rep imagery is suspect, I feel.

What an outrage.

Incidentally Essex record Office used a neat system -weighing the piece issued out to you using a sensitive machine. You did not get the information on the weight, and if there was a discrepancy they knew you had been up to no good. It seemed to work.

Delmenhorst -I think I can guide you to another set oif K Reps with imagery (in official hands). Talk to me next time you are going to UK.




Chris Going

[Delmenhorst]

I have been reporting it to the PRO. I had a chat with several people in the archive, but I think that it is people like us, who should keep our eyes open, if the pictures surfaces.
Thanks Chris, I will take you up on your offer

[David Ransome]

Hi,

Can I just say that due to the nature of my 'work' I have some extremely good links with people who could make a difference to this affair, notwithstanding that anyone has already spoken to their people at the PRO.

I have stuck my neck out on this one due to the serious nature of National Records going missing, and have pulled in a couple of favours owed in order to get a real stab at resolving the problem.

Therefore I would again respectfully ask for any info that anyone can let me have which identifies specific areas of alleged or obvious theft that my contacts can kick off an investigation with. This will be of benefit to all NA researchers in all fields, not just our Luftwaffe area.

I have suffered myself from having to rebuild / replace stolen records and know that it doesn't often work keeping an eye on a marketplace, especially if things have been 'stolen' to order!

Thanks again,

David

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Delmenhorst

I have just come home from a visit to the PRO in Kew. Somebody have been removing a lot of aerial photos of Berlin

By any chance, aren't the following aerial photos of Berlin, currently listed on eBay, part of the mentioned missing lot?
http://cgi.ebay.de/13-Stueck-Fotos-S...QQcmdZViewItem

[Chris Going]

Dear Denes

I think I'd better knock this one down straight away -the aerial imagery advertised on this particular site comprises SA material -ie photography taken during daylight attacks, from the bombing aircraft themselves. It is not the kind of aerial imagery that one sees, really, in K Reports (unless for some reason a post-attack cover was not requested). SA (that is, Strike Attack) imagery while not common, seems to float around more promiscuously than K Rep imagery, and may have got out into the community legitimately in the effects of veterans etc.

best

ChrisG