Looking for Raf Pilot Service Number.

[Robert999]

My Partner's Grandfather was a Lancaster Bomber Pilot in WW2. His war records weredestroyedin a house fire and I would like to try and retrieve them.

His name was Alexander Archibald and the only other thing we know is that the was in Wales at some point.

Could anyone help?

[KGarrad]

Welcome to RootsChat!

You don't need his RAF Pilot Service Number in order to request his records.

Have a look at:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records

If you have his date of birth, his death certificate, and £30, that should be all you need.

[Robert999]

Called them today but they said without his service number it would be almost impossible to find anything. I only have his death certificate.

Thanks.

[KGarrad]

I am almost positive that the application form says something like
"please supply EITHER Date of Birth OR Service Number".

Have you sent off the forms?
They are downloadable from the website I gave a link to.

[IMBER]

Bit of a long shot but you could try looking here for a service number:

https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/97343434

Imber

[philipsearching]

Greetings, and a slightly belated welcome to Rootschat.

It would really help to have a little more information.

Where and when did he die, and what was his age or date of birth?
Do you know his date of birth?  If not, do you know his parents' names?

Philip

[Tickettyboo]

I was looking for an RAF service number recently.

The National Archives have an index in AIR 78 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C2132

It looks like AIR 78/2 would contain the index cards for the surname you are looking for.

You can download the .pdf for free (in my experience it takes a while to start to download) and then would have to page through and 'hope' that there aren't too many cards with the same name.

NB These just give a name and a number, there is NO other info on the cards


APOLOGIES
I had transposed his first name and surname, so the file for surname ARCHIBALD would be AIR 78/4


Boo

[IMBER]

I was looking for an RAF service number recently.

The National Archives have an index in AIR 78 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C2132

It looks like AIR 78/2 would contain the index cards for the surname you are looking for.

You can download the .pdf for free (in my experience it takes a while to start to download) and then would have to page through and 'hope' that there aren't too many cards with the same name.

NB These just give a name and a number, there is NO other info on the cards

Boo

My understanding was that AIR78 covers only Airmen and Women, not officers, and I don't think they have an equivalent list for Officers.

Imber

[Tickettyboo]

oh, sorry that doesn't look like its going to help then

Boo