RAF service records

Hello, sorry this is totally off topic but I don't know where to start and thought some of you might be able to tell me how to find relatives' war records. All I now about my grandfather is that he was a pilot in the RAF and was shot down and killed over the Bay of Biscay around 1943. Are there any records online where I could find out any details?

Thank you.

Hello aparatchik. First port of call would probably be the Commonwealth War Graves Commission: www.cwgc.org/ . They have an on-line searchable database.

Chris

Have a look at this thread from the RAF Commands Forum , it should have everything you need to know ;

www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php...ice+records+cranwell

Also have a look on here ; www.veterans-uk.info/

Good luck !

David, took the words out of my mouth, but just to add that in general service records are not available on line, but you should be able to request a copy for which a fee is payable.

Good luck with your search too

I'd recommend getting his service number from the CWG's excellent site, then write to the RAF records which used to be at Innsworth but I think is now at Cranwell as per the previous post from David Thomson. For your money, you get ( or at least did when I applied for my uncles records) a superb colour photocopy of his service record. From that you'll see his squadron allocations and if you want more info, then you need to go to the national archives in London to research the necessary Operational record Books(ORBs) and squadron documentation, or if you live far away you can pay for a researcher..... some of the squadrons have excellent websites run by fellow enthusiasts who may be able to pt you in touch with some of the surviving comrades.

You don't get much for your money [if you are next of kin and paying for the privilege!]

I got my records from Innsworth about 15 years ago(I was still serving), I discovered that Id had an assessment as an LAC. Wouldnt have minded but I was never debriefed!

canberra;70718 wrote:

I got my records from Innsworth about 15 years ago(I was still serving), I discovered that Id had an assessment as an LAC. Wouldnt have minded but I was never debriefed!

It was probably just a conduct assessment and not a full-blown F6442.

Im not sure, on my record it does (or should I say did as Ive long lost it) show two numbers. And Im positive I was never debriefed so Im suprised PMC didnt send it back, and I was under the impression that LACs didnt have assessments.