Added to cart
This can be through the Government Website:
www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service
This can be a lengthy process but will give you (probably) unredacted files.
Through the National Archives Website, get their guide to RAF Service records:
This has a section that you can enter details on.
Details of promotions for Officers and details of gallantry awards are found in the London Gazette
Newspapers may be a good source of information. The British Newspaper Archive has been absorbed into Find My Past
If your relative died in service, check the Commonwealth Wargraves Commission
As in all search engines you may need to try different search terms. A simple example may be using the Name Tom Smith may show no results, but Smith Tom may bring up lots of results including what you are looking for.
If you know the squadron that the person you are researching was in you can find the Squadron Operational Record Books. While most military records concentrate on commissioned officers, aircrew are usually listed.
Operational books (ORBs) usually come in 2 forms.
One is called a Summary of Events. This is a narrative record and will tell of postings in and out of the squadron and other information of the squadron.
The second is called a record of events. This is a list of the operational missions that the squadron flew. It will include aircraft details, crew details, time of take off and (hopefully) time of return. It will also include the type of operation flow.
For each month there will be both records as separate files.
The National Archives have published a research guide on tracing squadrons:
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-air-force-squadron/
Each file costs £3.50 to download. So, each month would cost £7. But there is a way to avoid this……
If you register with the TNA website and log in when you want to download files, they are free!
Spend time looking through the whole TNA website, there is so much information there.
Casualty files are in a series AIR 81/….. These files are accruing so if the incident you want is not there yet, return later as it may have been download by TNA from the MOD. These files have not been digitised but you can request a quote from TNA for them to copy them or visit TNA and photograph for free.
Combat reports are an interesting source for individual combat and can be found on TNA’s website.
Web searches may give information but beware there is false and badly researched information. Evaluate the site and consider who it is by and why it was written. There is good valuable information available but be aware!
Wikipedia can be variable so use judgement. The references at the end of the page can be useful stepping stones.
Books, take the same care with books, asking yourself questions such as who wrote it and why. Have you heard of the author, and do you know how they are qualified to write the book. A good academic book will have references to the sources they have used and a Bibliography.
Research campaigns as well as individuals. RAF Bradwell Bay was involved in the Dieppe Raid, the invasion of Normandy including D Day, Arnhem and the fight against V1 and V2 weapons. A good understanding of why and how your relative was involved makes research much more interesting.
Museums are a source of information, links for the major museums are:
IWM
RAF Museum
Air Historical Branch
Enjoy your research and don’t be afraid to ask The RAF Bradwell Bay Preservation Group for help and advice.