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Status (As at Dec 2019)
The closed status is the best to my knowledge
Trance 1 Open Date: 10/01/2014 AIR 81/1 to AIR 81/316 Inclusive 316 Files 316 Unique References No Closed Files
Trance 2 Open Date: 23/07/2014 AIR 81/317 to AIR 81/1488 Inclusive 1176 Files 1172 Unique References 2 Closed Files
Trance 3 Open Date: 01/03/2017 AIR 81/1489 to AIR 81/1741 Inclusive 257 Files 253 Unique References 143 Closed Files
Trance 4 Open Date: 30/06/2017 AIR 81/1742 to AIR 81/3329 Inclusive 1604 Files 1588 Unique References 191 Closed File
Trance 5 Open Date: 25/04/2018 AIR 81/3330 to AIR 81/5746 Inclusive 2417 Files 2417 Unique References 1 Closed Files
Trance 6 Open Date: 01/08/2018 AIR 81/5747 to AIR 81/8295 Inclusive 2563 Files 2549 Unique References No Closed Files
Trance 7 Open Date: 21/03/2019 AIR 81/826 to AIR 81/9145 Inclusive 852 Files 850 Unique References No Closed Files
Trance 8 Open Date: 23/07/2019 AIR 81/9146 to AIR 81/10477 Inclusive 1337 Files 1332 Unique References 1 Closed File
Trance 9 Open Date: 03/12//2019 AIR 81/10478 to AIR 81/11673 Inclusive 1196 Files 1196 Unique References 2 Closed Files
Closure Code Closure Text Note How Many Files
0 Not Closed Opened From Release 11335
Temporarily Retained by Department Temporarily Retained by Department 1
42 Closed For 42 Years From Last Date End Of File 1
45 Closed For 45 Years From Last Date End Of File 1
75 Closed For 75 Years From Last Date End Of File 2
77 Closed For 77 Years From Last Date End Of File 3
78 Closed For 78 Years From Last Date End Of File 1
82 Closed For 82 Years From Last Date End Of File 326
84 Closed For 84 Years From Last Date End Of File 1
85 Closed For 85 Years From Last Date End Of File 1
87 Closed For 87 Years From Last Date End Of File 1
2016 Year Opened 2016 Opened In Year 1
2017 Year Opened 2017 Opened In Year 19
2018 Year Opened 2018 Opened In Year 11
2019 Year Opened 2019 Opened In Year 18
Total Files 11722
Total Open Files 11384
Total Closed Files 338
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I wonder what is the reason to keep particular files closed for so long, especially if subjects were killed.
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I have asked about getting some opening and I think this is a lot to do with the release process. If someone wrote to the AHB in say 1980 asking about a death - say wife or child then the open date got re-set to another say 80 years in future
There is a better process for releasing files now and so they are read and maybe redacted for < 80 years worth of data- This is why you see a lot of then closed in Trances 3 and 4 and less after this
It was easier to say no than review and redact
If you make a FOI request nicely they may re-consider and then either 1) release, 2) redact, or 3) move some stuff to a enw file OR 4)refuse. I have had 1,2 and 3) and never 4) but I think at least one person has had a 4)
A lot of the early closed files SHOULD be reopened automatically in 2021/2022/2023 if the process works
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Ah, I have wondered what a sort of conspiracy this could be. That said, I must say I am quite disappointed with the records that I have seen. I expected accounts/narratives like in MACRs, exact location of crashes, photos. Or I am unlucky.
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Could anyone tell me what would be the rough cost of getting Kew to copy the whole of one file? Obviously they are all different in size, but I was wondering if anyone has already gone through this process. Or is it cheaper to get a researcher to do it? Any advice gratefully received.
Best wishes
James
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Cheaper to get a researcher to do it
I think I saved in travel cost 1 file
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For copying I recommend Lee Richards ARCRE who professionally photographs files for 10p per page - minimum charge five pounds (i.e. up to 50 copies). Details on his website at https://www.arcre.com/
Errol
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Ditto
There are others though
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Dear Paul and Errol
Thank you for you fast and helpful advice. Very much appreciated. I have used an excellent researcher at the Bundesarchiv before, and it has been so helpful.
Best wishes and thanks
James
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I know our own brucedennis does the copying http://www.filephotoservice.co.uk/
Then there is andynewson from ww2talk https://www.facebook.com/British-Arm...9324246138228/
Also its blind chance on whats in the file. I have a few AIR81s which are only 9 pages in them, then there is an MIA, later found and buried IAF casuality in Europe that has 235 pages in them!
