First thing to think about, is applying for a copy of his service record from the MOD. I don't have the address to hand, but i'm sure someone here will come up with it soon. The next, is to have a look in the 90sqdn ORB (Operations Record Book) for information on any ops carried out by him and his crew. I have a copy of the ORB from 1941 to December 1943, and will look thorough it to check if he's there, but he may have been with squadron later than 1943. If i cannot find him within the time span covered by my copy, i will let you know, and will tell you how to how to get later dates, from Jan 44 onwards. Would you happen to know what time period he was with 90sqdn.
Alan.
ps, i'm not thinking straight..... if you go to the following forum, of which i'm a member, there is a 3 Group specialist on there, (90sqdn were in 3 Group) who can help out. Just become a member, and post in the "General" section of the forum. sas.raf38group.org/forum
-- Edited by AW on Sunday 24th of November 2013 01:57:00 PM
Hello there I am looking for my late fathers history and records in Bomber Command in the second world war . he was in 90 squadron and a navigator his name was Henry Reginald Cowley , mum was also in bomber command . Could someone help me through the searching jungle , is there a method ? Thank you Harry Cowley
Hi Yes you need details of his service record RAF will still hold them, you need to download the application forms and prove one or two things but it is quite simple, it will cost you £30 and seems to take forever (at least 12 weeks) next is his flying exploits !! these are available from National Archives at Kew, each download is £3.36 it now starts to get expensive - might be worth going to Kew where you can view them for free but visit the Nat.Arch. website first to get ideas on what you want - I downloaded all my dads (31 sorties over 4 months). then you might be interested in Combat reports if any of his crew made any (fighter attacks ect. again £3.36 each !! his medal awards can be applied for but you will need his service record first the RAF will give you the address to apply to.
Alan You seem to be a man in the know - from my dads operation records - what doe sthe term GH Leader stand for - I presumed it was an aircraft that highlighted a target other bombers bombed on JACK
G H was a "Blind Bombing" radar device, and as Paul has stated, G H Leader would have been exactly that. I would strongly advise going down the route of buying individual months of ORB's from the N/A. A years worth, Jan - Dec, requested from Record Copying and put on disc, will cost approx £12 with postage. If you bought that years worth via the online download site, taking into account that you will need both sections, 540 and 541, this is 24 units at £3.36. So always the far cheaper option, is going through Record Copying.
