Advice re info available from USAF

[CaroleW]

Hi

Can somebody advise if the USAF would release any personal info to enable contact with living relatives in the following circumstances.

In 1945, a married US serviceman fathered a child with a married English woman whilst stationed at RAF Manston.

He made contact with the child some years later and there was an exchange of phone calls and letters which then stopped for personal reasons.  His wife was aware of the child's existence.

It’s quite likely the serviceman is now deceased but he had several children (names known) and the child born in England would like to make contact with their half siblings.

[Erato]

If the names of the children are known, why do you need the intervention of the Air Force?  Search for those people online - White Pages or some such.

[CaroleW]

Obviously that was one of the first things we did without success hence this post.  The children were born in the 1940's and 1950's.  The surname is a common one with numerous possible matches and unfortunately - the state where they were born is unknown to help narrow it down.   The male children all have common christian names and although the only female has a more unusual christian name - it has not helped to find her. 

Realistically - even knowing the state in which they were born does not necessarily help as they would not appear on the 1940 census and may have moved to live outside their birth state as adults. 

[Erato]

There are at least a few birth records online for that time period for a few states  -  e.g., California, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas  .....   Most of them are not complete indices of births but you might get lucky.

[CaroleW]

Thank you.  It would help if the surname was less common or if the 1950 US census was online as several of the children would be included which would be a considerable help.

Knowing his name and the time frame he served at Manston is the only positive info hence a possible approach to the USAF 

[shellyesq]

Maybe an obituary for the serviceman or his wife would be helpful with more recent locations of his children or names of any grandchildren or a married name if the daughter married.

Only 4 more years until the 1950 census.   

[polarbear]

A couple more suggestions....

Ancestry has The US social security death index. You might find the man on it, and his wife if her name is known. That might help you find an obit. More difficult with a common name but you never know.

You might also try looking for a family tree on ancestry.

PB

[*Sandra*]

If you would like to send me a personal message with a few details Carol would love to try and help.

Regards
Sandra.

[CaroleW]

Hi

The person I am trying to help had a major breakthrough last night when her husband found an obit from 2010 which mentions the names of children matching those known.  Some other info about the deceased also ties in.  Further enquiries are now in progress as the children appear to be on Facebook

It looks as though an approach to the USAF may not be necessary