We are pleased to announce a new collection of military records from the United Kingdom. The UK, British Air Force Lists, 1919-1945 contains a list of people who served in the British Royal Air Force between the end of the First and Second World Wars.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) was established on April 1, 1918, when the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service merged during the final year of WWI. The Royal Air Force lists in this collection were published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in London and could be purchased there or at bookstores. The lists were initially produced monthly in pamphlet form beginning in February 1919. The publications were later changed to bi-monthly and then quarterly. The pamphlets contained lists of those serving in the Royal Air Force and were arranged according to role and rank.
You will find lists of officers in order of seniority, retired officers lists, and alphabetized indexes. The lists may also contain information about medical staff, nurses, chaplains, decorations and awards, and holders of the Victoria Cross. An explanation of abbreviations used in the lists can be found here for earlier WWI records and here for later WWII records.
Each name that appears on the lists has been indexed and is searchable, but in many cases, the lists contain initials and last names. When searching for a specific person, try different variations of their name in your search.
Records in this collection may include the following information:
- Name
- Rank
- Date the individual joined the Royal Air Force
- Military unit or organization
- Military occupation
If you have an ancestor that served in the Royal Air Force, these lists allow you to trace their military career across time and identify changes in rank or title.
Explore this new collection of RAF records today on Fold3®!
[…] New British Royal Air Force Records! . “We are pleased to announce a new collection of military records from the United Kingdom. […]
[…] New British Royal Air Force Records! . “We are pleased to announce a new collection of military records from the United Kingdom. […]
I am looking for details for my father lieutenant Leonard Dew who served in the Royal Airforce during the Second World War. He had PTSD afterwords but no one knew about it so we lived with it for the rest of his life. I would like to know what he did during the war which could have caused this mental condition. He was hospitalised in Cornwall for a while in 1944 and it would be interesting to know why.
If he is deceased, you can apply for his RAF service record: https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records . We did this for our father’s service record – it is a simple process and there is only a small fee.
Do the records contain American who came over to serve?
Unless the person was a member of the RAF the likelihood is no.
Have you tried the records available for the branch of service that the person served under initially—if there was one? Failing this, how did they get to the European Front? Research where they arrived and look at archived data (news clippings, reports, historical references, photos, etc. to discover what was happening nearby at that time. Think creatively, try to recreate their situation, their feelings and life at the time.
These and other strategies helped me out on a couple of occasions.
Searching for people by name, age, time period, place of service, etc. are the best ways to find out.
I’ve hit many brick walls, patience and persistence pays off. Don’t grasp at the first straw like I did! Use the worksheets available in Ancestry and other locations to document the information and then when connections are firmly established then create the tree(s).
Good luck on your genealogical journey.
William Meager, Flight Engineer, shot down over Germany, world War 2 ?
William Meager, Flight Engineer, shot down over Germany, world War 2.
Details of his Royal Air Force career ?
Like everyone else, I too am looking for any information on my father who served in WW II with the Royal Air Force. His name was Stephen J. Nelson. For years I have tried to find him in various places but never got anywhere. I never knew him but was given some information from my mother. So any hints are very welcome.
Thank you
Sheila N Dwyer
If he is deceased, you can apply for his RAF service record: https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records . We did this for our father’s service record – it is a simple process and there is only a small fee.