These are from the Docs Online (The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Welcome) site describing the new records...
Air Ministry Combat Reports (1939 - 1945)
Monthly Summary of Encounters, April 1944, front page (Cat ref: AIR 50/299)
This collection held in the series AIR 50 comprises Second World War combat reports of squadrons, wings and groups in Fighter, Bomber, Coastal Commands and Fleet Air Arm squadrons. The records cover Commonwealth and Allied units based in the United Kingdom including the United States Army Air Force.
You can now search and download documents which contain the names of around 20,000 men. Until now these records have only been available on microfiche in the Reading Room at The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
Monthly Summary of Encounters, April 1944, front page (Cat ref: AIR 50/299)
This collection held in the series AIR 50 comprises Second World War combat reports of squadrons, wings and groups in Fighter, Bomber, Coastal Commands and Fleet Air Arm squadrons. The records cover Commonwealth and Allied units based in the United Kingdom including the United States Army Air Force.
You can now search and download documents which contain the names of around 20,000 men. Until now these records have only been available on microfiche in the Reading Room at The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
You can search details from all the surviving records by entering any or all of the following:
* Forename(s)
* Surname
* Rank
* Flight/Squadron
* Date of combat
The records mainly consist of either a printed Personal Combat Report or a Fighter Command Combat Report. There might also be correspondence and/or notes included with a report. the section below explores the records in more detail, using sample images
* Forename(s)
* Surname
* Rank
* Flight/Squadron
* Date of combat
The records mainly consist of either a printed Personal Combat Report or a Fighter Command Combat Report. There might also be correspondence and/or notes included with a report. the section below explores the records in more detail, using sample images
A Pilot or air gunner returning from an operational flight where they had encountered enemy aircraft had to complete RAF Form "F". These forms recorded details such as:
* date and time of the combat
* squadron of the individual submitting the information
* type and number of enemy aircraft
* height and general location of where the encounter took place
* whether the enemy aircraft was considered as a casualty
* whether there were Allied aircraft losses and if so, type
They would also give a detailed narrative of what actually happened. The pilot or air gunner would describe how many rounds they used, what hits they achieved and if the aircraft was destroyed, damaged or considered as probably destroyed.
* date and time of the combat
* squadron of the individual submitting the information
* type and number of enemy aircraft
* height and general location of where the encounter took place
* whether the enemy aircraft was considered as a casualty
* whether there were Allied aircraft losses and if so, type
They would also give a detailed narrative of what actually happened. The pilot or air gunner would describe how many rounds they used, what hits they achieved and if the aircraft was destroyed, damaged or considered as probably destroyed.
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