Episode 10 Researching Your Bomber Command Ancestor
07/30/24 • 59 min
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We answer the question we get asked most frequently - "How do I go about researching someone who served with RAF Bomber Command?"
In this episode, we discuss how to research ancestors or family members who served with RAF Bomber Command during World War II. We provide a guide to tackling this topic and share own own experiences. We'll cover topics such as obtaining service records, using the London Gazette, exploring Squadron records, contacting Squadron Associations and utilizing genealogy websites.
Patience, persistence, and thinking outside the box when conducting research is key!
We'll explain how to access and research the service records of RAF personnel, and provide guidance on finding digitized records at the National Archives, paying for digitization services, and visiting the archives in person. We'll also be highlighting the importance of Squadron Diaries and Operational Record Books in understanding an ancestor's military service, using Commonwealth War Graves Records and the International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database, finding information on casualties, and the challenges of researching ground crew.
Finally, we answer questions from listeners about tracking complete service records and finding photographs of training units..
To make things easier for you, here's a list of links to all the resources we talk about in this episode. You can also read an article based on this episode on Jane's website, https://www.justcuriousjane.com/
Obtain UK service records
Obtain RCAF service records
Obtain RAAF service records
Obtain RNZAF service records
London Gazette
The National Archives (including Casualty files )
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database
a
Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.
Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)
You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .
You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here
Send us a message or question!
We answer the question we get asked most frequently - "How do I go about researching someone who served with RAF Bomber Command?"
In this episode, we discuss how to research ancestors or family members who served with RAF Bomber Command during World War II. We provide a guide to tackling this topic and share own own experiences. We'll cover topics such as obtaining service records, using the London Gazette, exploring Squadron records, contacting Squadron Associations and utilizing genealogy websites.
Patience, persistence, and thinking outside the box when conducting research is key!
We'll explain how to access and research the service records of RAF personnel, and provide guidance on finding digitized records at the National Archives, paying for digitization services, and visiting the archives in person. We'll also be highlighting the importance of Squadron Diaries and Operational Record Books in understanding an ancestor's military service, using Commonwealth War Graves Records and the International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database, finding information on casualties, and the challenges of researching ground crew.
Finally, we answer questions from listeners about tracking complete service records and finding photographs of training units..
To make things easier for you, here's a list of links to all the resources we talk about in this episode. You can also read an article based on this episode on Jane's website, https://www.justcuriousjane.com/
Obtain UK service records
Obtain RCAF service records
Obtain RAAF service records
Obtain RNZAF service records
London Gazette
The National Archives (including Casualty files )
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database
a
Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.
Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)
You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .
You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here
Previous Episode
Episode 9 Behind the Scenes at the RAF Museum
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Jane and James discuss their upcoming talks at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Second World War History Festival in July, and introduce their guests, Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper, from the RAF Midlands Museum.
Megan and Rab discuss the challenges of presenting the Air War to modern audiences, including the ethical questions surrounding strategic bombing in the Second World War. They also talk about the importance of engaging with younger generations and the evolving nature of memory and scholarship. The conversation covers various topics related to the RAF Museum and the memory of the air war in Britain.
The hosts and guests discuss the importance of museums in preserving history and honouring the memory of those who served. They also mention specific objects and aircraft on display at the museum, such as Wing Commander Guy Gibson's medals and the V Bombers, and even Douglas Bader's legs! The conversation touches on the emotional impact of memorials and the stories behind them. They also talk about the research projects and exhibitions at the museum.
Keywords
We Have Ways of Making You Talk, Second World War, History Festival, talks, RAF Midlands Museum, strategic bombing, ethical questions, scholarship, heritage sector, presenting the story, generational shifts, challenges, modern audiences, engagement, technology, living memory, access to objects, conservation, artificial intelligence, public history, heritage sector, bombing war, memory, air war, museums, objects, aircraft, memorials, research projects, exhibitions
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and We Have Ways of Making You Talk Festival
03:03 Guest Introduction: Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper
07:21 The Ethical Questions of Strategic Bombing
19:09 Memory, Scholarship, and Keeping Exhibitions Relevant
21:14 Challenges of Engaging with Younger Generations
25:45 The Importance of Museums in History Education
27:18 Memory of the Air War and Conceptualizing Memorials
31:51 Researching and Remembering Ancestors
36:44 Favourite Objects and Aircraft at the RAF Museum
43:18 Personal Stories and Emotional Connections
49:58 Future Plans for the Museum
51:06 Upcoming Episode: Researching Your Bomber Command Ancestor
Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.
Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)
You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .
You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here
Next Episode
Episode 11 Your Bomber Command Questions Answered!
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In this episode, Jane and James have a good old chinwag about We Have Ways Fest and their own research projects. Jane chats about her upcoming book on the Lofoten Commando raids, while James reveals his exciting news of writing a book on the Augsburg Raid.
In the second half of the show, the team answer listeners' questions about the fate of crews after completing their tours, the different bomber command groups and their roles, the techniques used to maintain separation in the bomber stream, the prevalence of mid-air accidents, and the rank structure within bomber crews.
Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams.
Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)
You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .
You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here
Never Mind The Dambusters - Episode 10 Researching Your Bomber Command Ancestor
Transcript
Hello and welcome to a special episode of Never Mind the Dambusters with me, James Jefferies and my co -host, Jane Gulliford -Lowes. Today's episode is going to be be a little bit different from the norm for two reasons. Firstly, we're joined by live by some of the supporters of the show. So it's going to be a bit like a live stream and hello everybody. Thank you for joining us. Secondly, the subject matter of the episode is something that's very close to both of our hearts.
And that's how
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