Kew and Combat Reports

[Frank Olynyk]

I have further checked my database, and find very few missing reports. I have several combat reports by Norwegians, Belgians, and Dutch, as well as RAAF and Rhodisian pilots. This is based on initial references in the ORB, and in the Fighter Command Combats and Casualties reports. I have a reference from the FCCC to 2 FW-190s destroyed on May 7, 1942, between 1827 and 1955, by 64 Sqn pilot(s), with no combat report; an FW-190 prob on June 22, 1942 by Duncan-Smith with a late confirmation in FCCC; and an FW-190 dam on June 29, 1942, also with a late confirmation in FCCC.

Graves stole material from both Air 1 and Air 50, as well as Air 27 and others. I was shown three (white plastic) Post Office tubs full of recovered Air 50 reports. I know pages were cut out of ORBs from both WW1 and WW2. I was also shown at least four such tubs of Air 1 material. I believe (almost?) all the WW2 material was recovered, as I have few holes in the combat reports that I have cataloged, all from microfilm. The Air 1 story is different however. Here he had started sending the originals to others, presumably selling them. Some of these have since been recovered, but not all. My WW1 index does show holes, based on a reference to a CR in Above the Trenches, indicating that Chris, Norman and/or Russell had access to a CR.

Frank.