Forms, Lettered

[Ross_McNeill]

Lettered forms seem to have been created by a formation (HQ, Group, or Wing) for internal use.

A typed master was circulated to all concerned then subsequent use was by teleprinter or message form.

A group of text relating to a particular space in the master form was given a line letter e.g. A, B, C etc. and listed on the teleprinter/message form. Where no text was entered a Nil was recorded against the line letter.

Bomber Groups seem to have used the same lettered forms

Form A - Command Operational Order
Form B - Group Operational Order
Form D - Unit Operational Report
Form E - Group Operational Report
Form F - Report of enemy attack on aerodrome?
Form G - Return of Airframes and crews
Form J - Return of Group Operational Effort?
Form P - Propaganda
Form Y - Unit Operational Intel Debrief Report
Form Z - Group Operational Intel Debrief Report

Edit
Just to confuse things even further I have picked up references to Forms A, B, C, D, F, G, M, Q, R and S in Kings Regulations.

They are all in The Manual of Air Force Law AP803 and relate to Arrest and Custody (before Sentence), Disposal of prisoners etc.
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?12710-Lettered-Forms-of-Commitment&p=74703#post74703

So Letter series forms vary from Command to Command and Branch to Branch.

[Ross_McNeill]

Form P was used by No.3 Group to record the details of Nickeling or Leaflet dropping tasks.

The Master Copy is shown here

http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormP/DSCF9801.JPG

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

I do not have a copy of the master form for No.3 Group.

Each Order was given a sequential number (in the example it is A.14 eg Form A, Order No 14)

http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormA/DSCF9817.JPG

Form A was the tasking of a particular group from Bomber Command Headquarters

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of the teleprinter message from No.3 Group to RAF Station Mildenhall.

http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormB/DSCF9818.JPG

This was the Order from Group to an individual RAF Station Headquarters, tasking them with an operation.

The Form B messages were sequentially numbered eg Form B.39 being the 39th order given using Form B.

A pencil copy of the original Form B in No.1 Group ORB Appendices is shown below:

http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormB/DSCF3103.JPG

The lines are
A - Form and Serial Number
B - Date
C - Information
D - Intention
E - Period covered by this order
F - Intensity of Operational Effort
G - Targets and Target Numbers
H - Alternative Targets
J - Special Recce Task
K - Route Out
L - Route Home
M - Timing
N - Special Instructions
O - To be acknowleged
P - Time of Origin

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of the Original Form and a teleprinter message from No.1 Group relating to bombing attacks on Channel ports by Battles in Sept 1940.

Original Message Form
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormE/DSCF3126.JPG

Example of teleprinter flimsy
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormE/DSCF3129.JPG

The lines are
A - Form and Serial Number
B - Date
C - MSI's (Movement Serial Indicators) of aircraft
D - Targets attacked and Target Numbers
E - Sqns, type and No of aircraft covered by report
F - Times between which attacks were made
G - Height of attack
H - Number and type of bomb
J - Bombing results seen
K - Casualties to own a/c
L - Casualties to enemy a/c
M - Remarks
N - Short note of any failure of equipment
O - Time of Origin

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of a teleprinter message from No.1 Group to HQ reporting the daily state of Squadrons on 26 Oct 1940.

Example of teleprinter flimsy
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormG/DSCF3296.JPG

Guidance on use of Form G and Form Q
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormG/DSCF3372.JPG

The lines are
A - Squadron Number
B - Type
C - Number of aircraft available for Full operations
D - Number of crews available for Full operations
E - Aircraft in the air on operations
F - Time of report

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of a teleprinter message from No.1 Group to HQ reporting an enemy attack on Swinderby on 13 Oct 1940.

Not too much known about this form initially, but I'll dig for more on the lines and fill them in when I confirm the content.

Example of teleprinter flimsy
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormF/DSCF3317.JPG

The lines are
A - Form
B - Date of attack
C - Place of attack
D - Time of attack
E - Damage from attack?
F - Casualties from attack?
G - ?
H - ?
J - ?
K - Time of Origin

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of a teleprinter message from No.1 Group to HQ reporting events during operations on 9 Oct 1940.

Again not to much on what this form contained but it seems to contain details of weather, flak and notable events over the target for that night. The report was sent next morning at 10.00 hrs and collated from individual unit Form Y returns.

Example of teleprinter report on a Message Form (RAF Form 96A)
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormZ/DSCF3345.JPG

The lines are
A - Form
B - Date and time of events
C - Place of attack
D - ?
E - ?
F - ?
G - ?
H - ?
J - ?
K - ?

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of a hand written master message from No.1 Group to HQ reporting events during an exercise.

http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormJ/DSCF3156.JPG

The Group was charged with sending a copy prior to operations then a subsequent copy confirming aircraft just after take off.

Shown below is a photograph of the No.1 Group Ops Board taken 10:12 hrs on the 19th Sept 1940. The left hand side shows detail of available aircraft crews (Form G) for the 19th along with readiness eg 3 hrs, 5 hrs. The righthand side shows the aircraft on Channel Port Bombing raid from the previous night 18th Sept 1940 (Form J).

CC.29 was target code for Boulogne
Hucknall A (X) were Ansons
Hucknall B (Z) were Battles

http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormJ/DSCF3134.JPG

The lines on Form J are:
A - Originators Number
B - Date
C - M.S.I. (Movement Serial Indicator)
D1 - Type of aircraft
D2 - Quantity
E1 - Place of Departure
E2 - Time of Departure
F - Destination if not base
G1 - Point of exit from UK
G2 - Time of exit
H - Estimated time crossing enemy coast on return
J1 - Call Sign
J2 - ETA Base
J3 - Time of origin

Regards
Ross

[Ross_McNeill]

An example of a teleprinter message from No.27 OTU to HQ No.6 Group reporting events during a Nickel operation.

Again not to much on what this form contained but it seems to contain details of weather, flak and notable events over the target for that night.

Example of teleprinter flimsy
http://www.rafcommands.com/Images/Lettered/FormY/DSCF1793.JPG

The lines are
A - Form
B - Date and time of events
C - Place of attack
D - ?
E - ?
F - ?
G - ?
H - ?
J - ?
K - ?
L - Route
M - Origin

Regards
Ross