AHB - Air Historical Branch

[Richard T Eger]

Mention of the AHB was made on 12 O'clock High! recently and Francis Marshall was kind enough to fill me in on exactly what this is. From what I can gather from what Francis is telling me, much, if not all, material that might have information relating to the Luftwaffe, has been transferred to the PRO. The following, paraphrased by me, is information that Francis has provided.

The address of the archive as of September 1992 was:

Air Historical Branch
Ministry of Defence
3-5 Great Scotland Yard
London
SW1A 2HW
ENGLAND

It is highly likely that the AHB is still located there. The AHB is an RAF archive. It is the repository for the history of the RAF. As a part of the RAF, Francis believes they are staffed by serving RAF officers whose function is to probably answer questions within the RAF. Thus, Francis believes that they are not necessarily a fully public archive. However, they will answer your questions, as long as they are the "right" questions. In this regard, you will be directed to the PRO in Kew if the answers are available there. For instance, if you ask about Squadron activities, you will be directed to Kew. As with all such archives, they are understaffed, so expect a considerable delay in obtaining a reply.

As for visiting the archive, Francis believes it is open to the public, but you should make an appointment before going and have your specific question(s) ready.

At one time, the AHB had interrogation reports, but these have since been turned over to the PRO. As for mission reports, once again, the AHB will almost certainly refer you to the PRO where all the ORBs are kept. AI(k) reports, once at the AHB, are now at the PRO.

At one time, Francis inquired about a list of 100 RAF crew members who went missing and asked if they were made PoW's. He did receive an answer from the AHB that proved helpful.

The AHB had and perhaps still does a policy that nothing provided by them can be published without first obtaining specific approval. So, just be aware of this possible restriction.

Francis believes that, in reality, the AHB has no Luftwaffe records. Whether there is peripheral material of interest would have to be offered by other researchers familiar with the AHB. So, any of you out there who have more current knowledge of the AHB and its holdings, please speak up.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Mike Heslop
Convoy KMS 31 Attack by KG 26 Oran 11-11-1943
Tue Feb 5 21:15:15 2002
195.238.2.213

On 11-11-1943 about 40 miles from Oran in the Med, convoy KMS 31 was spotted by single aircraft at about 6 pm
this aircraft radioed back information about the convoy and subsequent attacked by about 53aircraft from K.G 26 assisted by K.G.100 followed.
four ships were sunk including the Belgium ship SS Carlier
seven aircraft were shot down including the original spotter plane.

How can I find any details of these units, where they were based.and who was involved
reply in English if possible.

Any information at all will be welcome

Regards
Mike Heslop
England

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Rabe Anton
KG 26 Attack on Convoy KMS 31
Tue Feb 5 21:59:37 2002
198.26.123.36

Mike,

Ah! A nice worthwhile query you have there.

In my opinion, as almost always with good historical methodology, you should begin with the most general sources, i.e., the literature. This means searching the official British histories of the war with especial focus on the naval war in the Mediterranean. The Air Historical Branch of the Royal Air Force has very fine semi-published volumes on the air war in the Med which will doubtless include this convoy attack. Hinsley, et al, British Intelligence in World War II, may very well comment on the intelligence dimensions of this attack.

Torpedo los! is a German-language unit history of KG 26. It is, so far as I know, the only organizational history of KG 26 available.

My file copies are not to hand, but I believe it very likely that ULTRA: Main Series of Signals Conveying Intelligence to Allied Field commands (NY: Clearwater Publishing, 1979) will provide a few signals intercepts
related to German air activities on 11 November 1943.
A librarian can assist you in locating this microfilm.
The original materials, of course, are lodged in the PRO,
and examining them there might very well be easier than
obtaining the requisite microfilm.

Good luck on your research.

RA

[Richard T Eger]

From within a thread on 12 O'Clock High!:

Artie Bob
German Flak
Wed Jun 18 03:18:46 2003
216.80.145.255

The subject of Flak effectiveness was discussed pretty well by the Germans in the September 1944 study by the German Air Historical branch. This study indicated that at that time 7098-8.8cm, 1489-10.5 cm and 316-12.8 cm for reich defense. an 8.8 averaged 4000 rounds per a/c brought down. To significantly increase the effectiveness of Flak both additional kommandogerats and proximity fuzes were needed as well as additional guns (3000 batteries or 18,000 guns(6 gun batteries). The Germans's conclusion was that for high altitude bombers, the possibilities of increasing Flak effectiveness during 1945was not good. What might be a reason that Flak effective began to increase in late 44-early 45 was that increasing numbers of low altitude sorties were being flown by tactical a/c, based on the continent. The real point is there was no easy answer. The logistics of ammunition, kommadogerats, radar and personnel availability (slave laborers probably were not optimum as gun crews) were as daunting as the actual number of guns produced.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Marcel Hogenhuis
Fate of Wellington Z1660, 156 Sqd.RAF
Fri Dec 10, 2004 09:40
84.31.188.34


Hello,

In the night of 20/21 december 1942, Wellington Z1660 from 156 Sqd.RAF crashed somewhere in Germany. 2 crewmembers were killed and 3 taken prisoner. The 2 deceased crewmembers are resting in the Reichswald Cemetary.

Does anybody know WHERE the bomber came down (and perhaps the time of the crash as well). As I have Chorley´s books not at hand here, could somebody give me the names of those 3 prisoners?

Many thanks in advance!

Marcel Hogenhuis
Study Group Venlo Airfield in WW-2

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Chris Goss
Re: Fate of Wellington Z1660, 156 Sqd.RAF
Fri Dec 10, 2004 14:03
80.47.221.184


Marcel: The only place that you MIGHT get accurate info is from the Cas Files held by the Air Historical Branch. Unfortunately, the details contained within are not releasable except to next-of-kin or if the ac was being excavated and there was a risk of finding human remains

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Marcel Hogenhuis
Wellington POW´s
Sat Dec 11, 2004 22:19
84.31.188.34


Hello Chris,

Many thanks for this valuable answer! I did sent the POW names to a Dutch colleague air war historian who is able to check these names in German administration files of Allied POW´s.
Sometimes the POW´s answered their German interrogators on the question where they came down per parachute, thus helping us poor historians in finding the general area where the bomber must have come down...

Again many thanks! Marcel Hogenhuis

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Soren Flensted
Z1660
Fri Dec 10, 2004 16:16
62.107.207.251


According to Chorley they were S/L J.Carter DFC, Sgt H.C.Arbic RCAF and Sgt M: Southey.
Soren Flensted

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Marcel Hogenhuis
POW´s Wellington Z1660
Sat Dec 11, 2004 22:15
84.31.188.34


Hello Soren,

Many thanks! I did sent these names foreward to a Dutch colleague air war historian who is able to check these names in German administration files of Allied POW´s. Sometimes the German interrogators could write down the answers on `where did you come down´ thus giving us poor historians a valuable clue where to search for the crash location.

All the best ! Marcel Hogenhuis

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Anne Storm
storm04@globalnet.co.uk
Luftwaffe archives
Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:19
81.132.28.136


I wonder if anyone can help ?
I am researching the WW2 disappearance of my RAAF father's Liberator KH158 on 12th Oct. 1944 .He was a member of 31 sqdn SAAF in Italy & was engaged in a supply dropping mission to partisans based ENE of Genoa.There were 8 crew
I am wondering if there is a Luftwaffe Records or Archive to whom I could write to ask about German fighter activity in the Genoan/Liguria area that night.Would they record downed allied bombers or have records of allied activity in the area or allied plane wreckage ?

Thank you
Anne Storm
UK

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Chris Goss
Re: Luftwaffe archives
Tue Dec 21, 2004 14:22
80.47.223.236


Anne-The Air Historical Branch (AHB) can get access to the Casualty File referring to your father's loss. However, if there was nothing to report after the ac got airborne, that is all that the file would say

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Anne Storm
Liberator Loss
Tue Dec 21, 2004 14:34
81.132.28.136


The AHB have my address etc details, if any developments, or by some miracle the plane is found.

Anne