United Kingdom, Royal Air Force Service Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Great Britain

What Is in This Collection?
This collection contains service records of airmen in the Royal Air Force from 1912-1939. Officers are not included in this collection. These records are part of AIR 79, Air Ministry: Air Member for Personnel and predecessors: Airmen's Records at the National Archives of the United Kingdom. Despite the title of this collection, it does include records of airmen from Ireland.

Some files may contain information from the Second World War but service records for the Second World War are still with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Service numbers between 313001 and 316000 indicate that the airmen previously served with the Royal Navy and then subsequently the Royal Naval Air Service, before transferring to the RAF. If the airman’s service number falls within this range there may be further records of his military service in Royal Naval Air Service records or Royal Navy records (The National Archives, How to look for records of... Royal Air Force personnel).

What Can these Records Tell Me?
These records may contain the following information: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the United Kingdom.
 * Guided Research: England,  Ireland,  Scotland, Wales
 * Record Finder: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
 * Research Tips and Strategies: *England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.