RNAS

15 February 2001, 11:33 AM

Hello.

Currently I am writing teh history of the German Naval Corps in Flanders. In the it is my aim to publisch a complete history of that unit. One of the book is about the allied bombing missions on the Belgian coast and naval and military installations.

I have some the RNAS Forthnightly communiques (AIR 1/5/19/9/46) of the months 1 of July 1917 up to 31 September 1917 and January 18 up to 31st of March 1918.
Can anyone help me with the PRO numbers of the other months., eventually of the other units who took part.

In those communiques there is talk about photographical reconnaisance. Anybody know where those are kept in depot, if they still exists.
Inquirereis at the IWM led to nothing; However I might have ask the wrong questions.

It took me a lot of years to find the German documents and I would aprreciate some short cuts into the britisch documents. Especially as the pound is rather high and a visit to England expensive. All help is welcome.
I do know a lot of the German side, but the allied side is a bit more obscure.
Thanks.

Graeme · 15 February 2001, 11:48 AM

Alain

The PRO catalogue is available on-line at

http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/listint/...&subclass=%2d1

Graeme

Graeme · 15 February 2001, 11:52 AM

Another good source of information regarding the bomber elements of the RNAS on the Western Front is Wise's book Canadian Airmen and The First World War. It suffers from providing information on only those units that included Canadian personnel but is worth a look.

Graeme

15 February 2001, 07:28 PM

What type of German documents do you have? War diaries?

16 February 2001, 03:20 AM

Yes, I have the KTB and about 19 pictures so far.
I translated it in Dutch and put wrote a book on the unit. I also put the history of the unit whitin the global context of the Marinekorps.

The next few weeks will be used to chch out some détails, such as names of the victims of the unit etz.. n, if extra pictures can be found.
Then in 3 weeks it goes to the printer.

If anyone is intrested in having it publisched in Englisch. I am willing to translate it from Dutch into Englisch. However considering that it is not my maternal language It would need te be corrected thouroughly.
But any suggestions are welcome.
It it the first in a complete history of the Marinekorps Flandern.

A book on SEE II is also in the making.
SEE I wil take a bit longer but I have started.
The Landfliegers will be for next year hopefully

again all help is welcome and the credits of pictures or new information will not be stolen from the original owner.

2 March 2001, 12:05 AM

Three sources of possible information immediately come to mind. The first is the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon, which does have an archive, though how extensive I'm not sure. The next is the Public Record Office at Kew, where the Air Historical Branch is also located (as well as RNAS records). Then there is the Naval Air Museum at Yeovilton. All have websites, though I don't have the web addresses to hand. A quick "search" should give you the answers you need - and the webtime is certainly much less expensive than a physical visit, though you will almost certainly have to do that in the final stage of your search, if you want pictures and actual documentation. You'll also need to make firm appointments to see people and you'll need a reader card for the PRO. Good luck.