Short Stirling & RAF Bomber Command Forum

Hi Pete Without an Observer/Navigator you don't get to the target or get home, at least with any certainty. The Pilot I read was often considered to be just the driver. Some people consider the Navigator to be the key crew member. I'm not an expert but weren't all RAF personnel voulenteers? Someone ...

Hi Mike Freedom of Information request? That's interesting. I'm aware that some files are publically withheld, those such as the casualty ones where the details are supposedly protected for personal reasons of the people involved, but what other files can be requested under the FOI rules? If you hav...

Hi Mike Sadly there are no particular repositries of information such as you seem to be looking for, you will have to spend a while digging and following blind alleys, perhaps finding the odd piece of good luck. You are only likely to find a picture of your man if someone took a pic and kept it - th...

Hi Iain I can't help with any names but I would ask if you know that the National Archives have a Casualty Report for N6020? That is a little odd in that they are usually for crashes on home soil. Try this link and search for N6020. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16484 You will...

Hi Ady

Is your email corrrect? I'm not able to send anything there!

Cheers
James

Hi Ady Yes, Eric Barratt was one of the crew. I've never made much headway with any of the crew except the Pilot and to an extent the Engineer. Sadly it is hard to connect to relatives who can't remember the Uncle who never came back all that time ago and others don't want to be reminded. I did ask ...

Hi Charles I didn't know that, I must buy a laptop! Would be better if they would load files onto your memory stick! What I find odd about the Kew set-up is that I have paid to have a document scanned but they haven't subsequently offered it for download on their site? Seems like a process doomed to...

Hi Go to Kew just for the experience, but you can learn what sorties he took from the ORBs and in what aircraft. For my paticular crew of interest their arrival on base was noted in the ORB so you may get some chronological data too. The ORBs were not filled out in exactly the same way on each squad...

Hi All

I now have the casualty report for Stirling N6012. As I am researching this aircraft I'd love to hear from any relatives or ground crew, etc who have any connection with the crew, aircraft or Oakington at the time.

Cheers
James

Hi All I now also have the crash report for LK517 which came down in Shildon in County Durham. If you would like a copy let me know - single page attched for info. The final resting place is now covered by a housing estate while most of the debris fell in what is still farmers fields. Bad news for a...