United Kingdom, Royal Air Force records collection not as described

Paul W

The details on the "Home" page are not correct and should be amended. The records only cover a period up to 1939 (not 1945) and no digital images are available, except through Find My Past.

The linked Wiki page (How to use this collection link) appears to give the correct date range and provides a link to the National Archives source material, as shown:

Further, the link to "View original document" from the search results does not lead to the National Archives website, but to its main partner in this project - the subscription-required Find My Past home page:

Áine Ní Donnghaile

I don't have any particular information on this collection, but I have noticed recently a change in description for some collections FamilySearch shares with FindMyPast, with credit given to TNA. I believe I made a similar comment on a recent post about the England census on FS. It's likely a contract change among the parties, with TNA wanting credit where credit is due.

If I view one of the records on FMP, I see the following copyright info:

Paul W

Thanks for for your comments, Aine.

Firstly, from the citation details (shown above) one would not realise this collection had any connection to either TNA or FMP.

The other main point I was trying to make concerned the years covered. This is really important here as we are being led to believe the records include the WW2 period of 1939-45, whereas they appear to stop as the war starts! I was looking forward to finding records relating to my father's service in the RAF, but let alone no images, his period of service in the 1940s is not covered at all - in spite of the collection title's suggestion.

I didn't think the government had yet authorised release of WW2 records, so shouldn't have been too surprised personally of my discovery they are not included.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Yes, I agree the coverage years should be checked. I didn't comment on that part of your post. I wondered to myself if it might be a collection in progress - to which more years may be added as privacy restrictions expire.