BRITISH AVIATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL COUNCILResearch sources and links
In the following lists of books, a unit or airfield may appear in chapters or sections rather than the whole book.
Many of these books are out of print. These books are NOT available from BAAC, but the best place to start tracking a title down is
through the various online booksellers. Please email us if you know of any books with chapters about specific squadrons,
other units or airfields - particularly biographical ones! If you've read any books listed under unknown RAF units, please email which units are mentioned.
Page continually updated...
Useful research links
- Aerial photo library of England and Wales (part of the National Monuments Record)
- Includes RAF ordnance survey photographs 1945-1946.
- Aerial photograph library for Scotland and Aerial Reconnaissance Archives (TARA)
- TARA was formerly at Keele University and includes Luftwaffe reconnaissance photographs of the UK.
- Australian WW2 nominal roll
- Contains service information of Australian service personnel who served during the Second World War, searchable by name and number.
- Australian War Memorial
- Collection of papers relating to Australians who served in numerous conflicts, includes a number of searchable databases
- Bomber Command unofficial web site
- Lots of background information & links.
- British & Commonwealth Air Unit Register
- Lists squadron and other unit associations.
- British and other cockpit parts and equipment
- New Zealand virtual museum with thumbnail pictures.
- Canadian Virtual War Museum
- Searchable records and photographs.
- Canadian aircraft serials
- Lists RCAF, RAF, USAAF etc. aircraft flown in Canada.
- Canadian aircrew memorial site
- Includes portraits of the men.
- Canadian casualty records
- Searchable database of records in Canada.
- Canadians in the RAF
- Award citations.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Searchable database of Commonwealth casualties and http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search39-47.php
- Flight Magazine
- Searchable on-line issues 1909-2004.
- German instrument and equipment numbers
- Identifies instruments and some of the aircraft they were fitted to.
- Imperial War Museum Photograph catalogue
- IWM photograph catalogue
- Imperial War Museum
- Searchable on-line catalogue
- Libraries and Archives Canada
- The Canadian national archives
- London Gazette on-line
- Searchable announcements of RAF aircrew promotions and awards.
- Luftwaffe archives and records
- Directories of archives in various countries which relate to the German Air Force.
- Luftwaffe pilots archive
- Potted biographies.
- Met Office UK Weather Archive
- Downloadable daily weather reports for 1914-1918 and 1939-1945
- National Archives (UK) - formerly Public Record Office
- Searchable on-line catalogue, includes diaries of RAF units & airfields.
- National Archives A2A Scheme
- Access to Archives, central catalogue of participating regional archive holdings
- National Archives ARCHON directory
- Contact details for archives throughout the UK.
- National Archives of Australia
- Searchable on-line catalogue, service files and casualty files can be found by name or service number
- National Archives of Scotland
- Not much relating to the RAF, most of this is held by the UK National Archives (see above)
- National Archives on-line records
- Now part of the main Discovery search engine, combat reports, also available - MI9 Prisoner of War / Escape and Evasion Reports (incomplete set), Index of RAF Airmen and Airwomen 1918-1975
- National Library of Scotland
- Wartime Air Force Lists are available through the NLS online.
- National Library of Wales
- National Register of Archives
- Night Fighter database
- Anders Naslund's searchable database of claims.
- Northern Ireland Record Office
- RAF Air Gunners memorial
- Notes on what gunners did, turrets etc.
- RAF Commands
- Details of squadrons, research information and a forum to place requests for information.
- RAF Losses in Denmark
- Lists individual aircraft.
- RAF Prisoner of War index
- Compiled by Ross McNeill from AIR20/2336 at T.N.A. - includes RAF/RAAF/RCAF/RNZAF/SAAF and Occupied Countries aircrew.
- RAF Web
- Unofficial site with biographies, unit histories, airfields and personnel.
- RAF muster rolls
- On formation in 1918
- Royal Air Force Air Historical Branch
- Official histories, individual casualty records.
- Royal Air Force Museum Collections Search
- Database of RAF Museum holding (incomplete)
- Royal Air Force Museum
- Department of Research and Information Services.
- Royal Air Force Service Records
- National Archives advice on tracing personnel
- Royal Air Force Service records
- Further information - RAF.
- Royal Air Force Service records
- Available to family members.
- US aircraft part prefix numbers and inspection stamps
- AAIR resource page.
- US aircrew memorial site
- Includes some photographs.
- US losses database
- AAIR lists of accident reports and missing aircrew reports.
- US military records
- Includes WW1, WW2 and missing crew reports.
- Unofficial RAF message board
- Useful for tracing former RAF personnel.
- WW2 unofficial RAF noticeboard
- Useful for tracing former RAF personnel.
Family History Links
- FreeBMD
- Free database of the England & Wales Birth Marriage Death Indexes
- General Register Office (England & Wales)
- Facility for ordering copies of life event certificates for England & Wales.
- Manx BMD
- Isle of Man index of Births / Marriages / Deaths
- Scotland's People
- General Register Office of Scotland genealogical research site
