RAF and RAAF ORBs available on the Web (new version)

[dp_burke]

Most RCAF ORBs are up on Canadian National Archives site.
Follow directions in this rafcommands thread.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...ine-microfilms

OK, so be gentle as this is all pretty new to me from a research point of view, but having looked on here, there appear to be a number of links on this thread that don't now work, which is a real shame when sites go offline.

I am trying to find sources for any squadrons that have been at Manston, including full ORB for 609 Sqn, 3 and 137 but anything covering its history and finding as many photos as possible.

I guess the question is, if the ORB's aren't linked on here, is the only likelyhood to either consider going to Hendon or Kew?

Thanks

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I started this thread years ago, and yes Internet sources don't last forever and so most links won't work at some times.

This thread is for free ORBs available online. But you can also download ORB of all RAF squadrons from the National Archives website. It is expensive, but depending where you come from, could be worth it if you want only a given period (you pay for each file, covering usually a month of either Form 540 or 541).

By the way, 609 Sqn's ORB is the most interesting I know. Operations are described with many details, and squadron life is also described with a lot of humor (presenting the squadron as a bunch of drunkyards sometimes.... probably close to reality).

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by MagicNJ

I am trying to find sources for any squadrons that have been at Manston, including full ORB for 609 Sqn, 3 and 137 but anything covering its history and finding as many photos as possible.

I guess the question is, if the ORB's aren't linked on here, is the only likelyhood to either consider going to Hendon or Kew?

Thanks

From the National Archives website, you can download RAF Squadron ORB's (AIR27 file series) and pilots' combat reports (AIR50 series) but (a) it's hard to work out which are the bits you actually want and (b) you have to pay for them and the cost can quickly mount up. At Kew you can view these items onscreen and print only the pages you need and it's a bit cheaper per page (25p last time I used the system), so if you want a really large number of items a trip to Kew might work out cheaper overall.

[wwrsimon]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

From the National Archives website, you can download RAF Squadron ORB's (AIR27 file series) and pilots' combat reports (AIR50 series) but (a) it's hard to work out which are the bits you actually want and (b) you have to pay for them and the cost can quickly mount up. At Kew you can view these items onscreen and print only the pages you need and it's a bit cheaper per page (25p last time I used the system), so if you want a really large number of items a trip to Kew might work out cheaper overall.

Or if you go to Kew, take a digital camera/smartphone and take photos of the screens. Works out a bit cheaper.

Simon

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by wwrsimon

Or if you go to Kew, take a digital camera/smartphone and take photos of the screens. Works out a bit cheaper.

Simon

Depends what sort of quality you want, especially if the legibility of the originals isn't great (you get the impression that new typewriter ribbons were in short supply sometimes).

[dp_burke]

There is a new digital preview option available for RAF ORB's in AIR27 in the UK National Archives Discovery Database

(AIR27 is operational Squadrons, not OTU's, not training units, not Groups, Wings stations etc, just Squadrons)

I put together a little guide from my experience of using them.

http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/TNA_...guidelines.pdf

They have a text water mark still but I've provided a few examples of what you might find.

[Alfred.MONZAT]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

From the National Archives website, you can download RAF Squadron ORB's (AIR27 file series) and pilots' combat reports (AIR50 series) but (a) it's hard to work out which are the bits you actually want and (b) you have to pay for them and the cost can quickly mount up.

The National Archives are currently giving a free (limited to 10 documents at once and a total of 50 by month) access to their digitalized archives. If you download 49, you can order 10 more so in fact you can download 59... per mailing adress.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Alfred.MONZAT

The National Archives are currently giving a free (limited to 10 documents at once and a total of 50 by month) access to their digitalized archives. If you download 49, you can order 10 more so in fact you can download 59... per mailing adress.

And since my old post the on-site system At Kew has changed too. Now you can select the various items you want and email to yourself in a batch rather than printing them out, all free of charge. (Not that this matters while TNA is shut down!)

[Smith]

Originally Posted by Alfred.MONZAT

The National Archives are currently giving a free (limited to 10 documents at once and a total of 50 by month) access to their digitalized archives. If you download 49, you can order 10 more so in fact you can download 59... per mailing adress.

Hope this doesn’t interrupt the thread. I’m trying to pull together a full record of my Uncle’s service in 619 Squadron RAF (Bomber Command) in 1943.

I’ve got the AIR27’s from the National Archives (via the download quoted above) but they don’t tell you a hell of a lot - they’re short-form notes about how the attack went from each aircraft’s POV. “Bombed the Green TIs, lots of smoke” etc.

It’s as though they are one desk of many in the post-op interrogation. Are there more detailed (or other) notes somewhere? I know from my Uncle’s diaries and letters they experienced fighter attacks etc. none of which is in the AIR27s.

Many thanks, Don