NA ORB Exchange and Request Thread

[WATUWATU]

Hi New to this site and, obviously, this thread. Apologies as this request is half off topic. I am interested in various TNA Air & AVIA files which cannot be accessed from the TNA currently. Does anyone know of a file-sharing option for general files as opposed to the Orbat files please? Happy to share the files I do have. Thanks.

[Don Clark]

Orbat files: Perhaps a misunderstanding of TNA RAF Operations Record Books (ORBs) - not Order of Battle but the war diaries which, for Squadrons, are already digitised in TNA (AIR 27).
No sharing of them needed under COVID19 conditions, as all TNA-held digitised files are free to view and download until further notice.

The only exceptions are those previously farmed out to commercial agencies.
A complete list of all digitised records, incl those with fee-for-access external agencies:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...ategory=online

See also coronavirus update https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...avirus-update/

Members may be able to help from their own imaged collections, no general facility as far as I'm aware

Best wishes for your project.

[Steve Brew]

Hi 'Watuwatu'

Welcome to the Forum. Members of the forum are generally happy to share or do look-ups, but as AVIA files are not amongst those freely accessible on the NA website at the moment, it is best to identify what you're looking for. Can you list the files you're seeking, in case others have copies?

I would also be interested in the files you have, if you're happy to share. My list is the first post in this thread, which I started early in the closure/lockdown period.

Happy hunting
Steve

[WATUWATU]

Hi 'Watuwatu'

Welcome to the Forum. Members of the forum are generally happy to share or do look-ups, but as AVIA files are not amongst those freely accessible on the NA website at the moment, it is best to identify what you're looking for. Can you list the files you're seeking, in case others have copies?

I would also be interested in the files you have, if you're happy to share. My list is the first post in this thread, which I started early in the closure/lockdown period.

Happy hunting
Steve

Hi Steve Thanks. I will list below the files I have which are quite niche. They were all obtained during TNA visits. Generally I am rarely interested in ORBAT files so the online options are very limited for me. I have a much longer list of files I would like that you would have to visit TNA to obtain. I can put something together and add it as a second post later. With the ongoing closure of TNA I am exploring all options.

AIR files

2/12711		Sonobuoys and other kit - Sunderland installations (engineering detail of fitting)
2/8580		SHIPS AND SHIPPING: General (Code B, 73/1): Detection of U-boats: Magnetic Anomaly Detector
15/116		Magnetic Airborne Detector: Conference
15/278		Sonobuoy training (incl FIDO?)
15/294		Coastal Command Manual on the U-boat war 5/44 Art 1
15/295		CC Manual Anti-U-Bt Ops 5/44. Incl sonobuoy reports.
15/426		High Tea sonobuoy tests
15/427		High Tea Long life harbour defence sonobuoy 1-4/45
15/428		Sonobuoy c'tee mtgs 2/45-11/45
15/584		Use of sonobuoy CC training instruction 28 9/6/44
15/747		Battle of the Atlantic Direction-finding Sub-Committee. Refers to CB4002(N)(5) 7/1/42
15/855		Manual of anti U-Boat warfare Coastal Command 1944
15/1649		MAD for submarine detection in Catalina flying boats: Trials
20/1101		Mark 24 mine trials FIDO 42-43
20/1102		Mark 24 mine use FIDO 43
20/1276		M.A.D. (Magnetic Airborne Detection) equipment: operational use
20/1532		History of Post Design Services - draft. Helped RAF/CC adopt new tech. Part of TRE Malvern
20/3639		A/C anti-U-Boat c'tee minutes on sonobuoys
41/79		RAF in Maritime war - statistics
52/156		MAD NDRC part copied 15/2/20
65/115		Sonobuoy range tests
65/133		Dictaphone & electro-magnetic recorders for sonobuoys
65/154		Analysis of attacks with the Mark 24 mine on U-boats 1943 FIDO
65/175		Range tests fast sub 25/5/45. Sonobuoys. Type XXI
65/176		Performance of experimental homing device for sonobuoys
65/281		Sonobuoy defences of convoy report 101/47

AVIA files

6/12607		U.S. MAD Mk IVB2 for submarine detection 1943
6/12640		Magnetic airborne detector Mk X equipment: trials 1943
15/428		AI radar 40-42
15/1649		Magnetic anomaly equipment for sub detection in Catalina flying boats; trials 1941-46
19/1026		M.A.D. Mk X installation in Catalina flying boat 1943
22/901		Direction finding equipment army/mobile
22/907		Direction finding equipment mostly mobile
46/38		Admiralty Signal Establishment: reports and papers HF/DF mention?
54/1473		Magnetic airborne detector (AN/ASQ-1) for applied geophysical survey: policy

[WATUWATU]

Further to previous posts here is my list of TNA AIR & AVIA files I would like but which are not downloadable. They essentially relate to Coastal Command and ASW in WW2. I have previously posted the list of files I have. Happy to supply copies.

AIR

2/3010		Coastal Command plans, recce, asw, convoys
2/3101		CC plans for recce, convoy escort and A/S 19/12/38
2/3150		Convoy protection policy 39-42
2/5950		Protection (Code B, 73/2): Fighter defence of H.M. ships and convoys 46-49
8/1397		Anti U-Boat Warfare Committee: supply of very long range aircraft 11/42-3/43
10/3269		Focus of Leigh Light Projector-Wellington Modifications
10/5208		Joubert CC despatch 14/6/42
14/279		Anti-submarine tactics: information and data 1939-42
14/1328		Bomber Cmd, servicing HF/DF stations
14/3592		Radio Direction Finding Stations RAF
15		Coastal Command
15-Apr		Role of CC & Combined Ops 1937-1940
15/9		Trade protection - No. 16 Group convoy orders 5/39-7/41
15/13		Air aspect of visit and search: tactical instructions 5/39-7/41
15/14		Air aspect of visit and search: tactical instruction 7/41-5/43
15/16		Active operations. Reports on aircraft attacks on submarines. Includes 7 photos 1941
15/29		Anti-submarine bombing and air tactics. Report of the trials
15/30		Anti-submarine bombing and air tactics 1941
15/31		Anti-submarine tactics. Attacks on U/Boats. Includes 1 photograph depicting: Weapons 1942
15/32		Anti-submarine tactics. Attacks on U/Boats May-Aug 1943
15/34		Trade protection and Convoy organisation 2/39-4/40
15/35		Trade protection and Convoy organisation minutes of meetings 1-8 6/40-12/40
15/36		Trade protection and convoy organisation: minutes of the meetings 9-25 1/41-9/41
15/37		Trade protection and convoy organisation: minutes of the meetings 26-49 11/41-9/43
15/38		Air tactics and anti-submarine operations 8/37-9/41. U-boat visibility
15/39		Air tactics and anti-submarine operations 1/41-1/44
15/40		Tactical instructions 10/39-8/43
15/43		Operational strength of squadrons: policy 11/38-9/42
15/45		Naval War Plans: policy 1/39-6/43
15/46		Aircraft operational requirements: policy Jul 39-Jun 41
15/57		Coastal Command Naval Staff anti-U-boat file 9/39-12/44
15/58		Reports on U-boat sighting and attacks by aircraft. Incl schnorkel 39-45
15/60		Radio Direction Finding and Air to Surface Vessels equipment: requirements
15/63		Anti-submarine operations: policy 8-9 40
15/92		Measures against enemy detection of A.S.V. 10/42-7/43
15/93		Enemy interference with A.S.V. 2/42-1/43
15/94		U-Boat radar 7/43-12/44
15/96		Radar counter-measures: Balloon and buoy decoys Aphrodite 6/43-1/45
15/100		Radar counter-measures against the enemy: Policy 10/43-1/46
15/120		"Wire Basket": Trials
15/121		Radio marker buoys
15/126		Disappearing contacts with A.S.V. Mk II
15/127		Operational evidence suggesting use of R.D.F. equipment in U-Boats
15/128		Disappearing contacts in Bay of Biscay
15/129		Anti U-Boat operations mathematical calculations of effect of deviations from a planned frequency of flooding.
15/131		Operational Research against the U-Boat" by C.H. Waddington: galleys
15/132		Operational Research against the U-Boat" by C.H. Waddington
15/133		S-Band radar - review vs U-Bts 2/11/44
15/134		Adm assessment 439
15/135-138		U-Boat attack assessment forms
15/139-143		U-Sight reports
15/144		Aircraft Anti U-Boat Committee
15/146		Re-equipment of 500 and 608 Squadrons with Aircraft Rocket Weapons
15/154/206?		U-boat freqs Microfiche 154 is PFPM
15/155		Submarine and Anti-Submarine' General Guide to air aspect of ASW 10/42
15/158		Manual of Naval co-operation by shore-based aircraft 1942
15/162		Coastal Command's War Record 1939-1945
15/179		Convoy protection in Western Approaches 40-41
15/181		Visibility of merchant ships at sea
15/191-2		Royal Canadian Air Force Eastern Air Command Monthly anti-Submarine reports
15/193		Anti-Submarine tactics 4/42-5/42
15/194		Convoy Air cover: Reports on U-Boats
15/196-197		American anti-submarine warfare
15/198		U-Boats: Intelligence and interrogation reports 7/42-10/43
15/199		U-Boat Bases in Occupied France
15/201		Air cover for convoys on Southern route: Planning
15/210		Rocket Projectiles: Tactical use
15/213		Coastal Command expansion plans Jul 40-Jun 42
15/214		Re-equipment of squadrons 7/42-9/43
15/279		Analyses of reports on A/S Ops 10/42-8/43
15/281		Air escort for American convoy procedures 11/43-12/43
15/282		Conferences on A/C situation in CC 12/43-3/45
15/284		TBOTA white paper jun-Sept 1945
15/285		A/C camouflage 1/42-11/43
15/286		CC's A/S c'tee 5/42-3/43
15/287		No 18 Group Area A/S Ops
15/305		Coastal Command tactical instructions (1939?)
15/345		Letter Douglas - Johnson What about???
15/423		Radio Direction finding plots. Coastal Command
15/432		Radio Direction finding plots - most Air?
15/459		Leigh light searchlights
15/460		Leigh light searchlights
15/685		CC statistics
15/732		U-Bts transit. ORS/CC Report 245 15/11/43
15/733		CC ORS S-band radar
15/786	Type XXI	Sea/Air Warfare Committee, Tactical and Training Sub-Committee: 1st-13th meetings 46-48
15/853		Manual of Coastal Command operational control 1943
15/854		Manual of Coastal Command operational control: part 2; communications 1944
15/856		U-Boat recognition and reporting procedure 1945
16/933		Air Fighting Development Unit Reports
19/148		Appt Blackett Scientic Advisor to CC Jan-Feb 41
20/236		A/S work. 1938-43
20/657		Coastal Command synthetic training manual Feb 43
20/1077		Leigh lights on Coastal Command aircraft
20/1237		x/p 04895 Forecast of U-Bt campaign in 1945
20/1270		Leigh lights on aircraft
20/1504		Anti-Schnorkel measures 40-45
20/3095		Convoy air cover, Greenland base.
20/4069		Harris to Eaker 15/4/43
20/4569		Leigh Lights, searchlights: for aircraft
20/4638		Helicopter theory 1943-49
20/5305		Battle of the Atlantic: various minutes, signals and corresp. Draft memo Graf Zepp. 4/4/43
20/5455		Anti-U-boat Warfare Committee: papers 1942 Dec.-1944 Feb
20/6507		CC Synthetic training
20/6842	Type XXI	Joint sea/air warfare c'tee 2nd meeting 27/8/46 plus more
24/42		Orbat CC 6/12/44
26/580		Operations record book. With appendices. Erskine - to do with int jigsaw
27/1174		201 sqn 1/44-5/45
40/1120		Strategic bombing of Axis Europe 1/43-9/44
40/1821		Anti-convoy activity by Topp 1942
40/1822		Glossary of German torpedo and mining terms
41/48		AHB Narrative The RAF in Maritime War Vol4 The offensive phase Feb 43-May 44
41/74:1	Type XXI	Schnorkel smoke myth. App V RAF in the Maritime War vol V
51/154/206		U-boat disposition and frequencies Med?
52/29		depth of explosion of aerial depth bombs with some data
52/44	To 52/53	Bi-monthly summary report, 15 Nov 1942 - 15 Jan 1943
52/153		Search & screening OEG56
52/155		ASW Operations in WW2 V3 Summary Tech Rpt Div 6 NDRC OSRD
65/55		Green bottle installation in Liberator and Leigh Light Wellington aircraft Report No:.. 9/43
65/68		Use of Mark III Low Level Bombsight in conjunction with Leigh Light Report No: 44/1
65/84		7/3/44 Illumination U-boat attacks Launcher Mk V and 1.7 in flares
65/94		15/4/44 Illumination of low level night attacks on U-boats (first report)
65/109		2/7/44 Auto photography of low level night attacks with 1.5in photo-flash cartridges in Leigh Light Wellingtons
65/112		Night R.P. attacks on submarines by aircraft with the aid of a Leigh Light and Mk III ASV
75/52		Slessor bomber strategy

AVIA files

13/739		Proximity fuse for A/S bombs
13/794		Submarine detection: MAD towed bird, Pt I 1943
13/1104		HF/DF homing equipment for Coastal Command aircraft 1941-45
15/95		BOMBS AND BOMBING: Mines, torpedoes and depth charges (Code 12/4): Anti-submarine 1939-41
15/116		Magnetic Airborne Detector: Conference ?? 1939-40
15/774		RECONNAISSANCE AND OBSERVATION (Code 43): Anti-submarine searchlight Leigh Light for Wellington
15/775		RECONNAISSANCE AND OBSERVATION (Code 43): Anti-submarine searchlight Leigh Light for Wellington
15/1728		Anti-submarine rocket armaments dev 1942-45
15/2235		Sono-buoy underwater listening 1945-50
26/580		Operations record book. With appendices. Erskine - to do with int jigsaw
26/789		Sea returns and detection of schnorkel 1945
26/907		Radar camouflage: research and development by the Germans. TRE Report T1905 1945
26/1008		Investigation of echo from schnorkel on centimetre wave-lengths. TRE Report T2006 J M Dickson
32/33	Type XXI	Homing torpedos (`Dealer', `Bidder', `Joker') - part I
32/34	Type XXI	Homing torpedos (`Dealer', `Bidder', `Joker') - part II
32/35	Type XXI	Homing torpedos (`Dealer', `Bidder', `Joker') - part III
32/36	Type XXI	Homing torpedos (`Dealer', `Bidder', `Joker') - part IV
32/37	Type XXI	Homing torpedos (`Dealer', `Bidder', `Joker') - part V
46/136		A/C design and production FAA 25/6/43

[anglin.mj]

Hello,

Does anyone have AIR 28/1 ORB for RAF Acaster Malbis for May to Jul 44?

Thanks

[jonny]

Dear all,

Can any kind person furnish me with a copy of the above ORB for Mar - Jun 1944, please? I'm researching a Flt Engr who sadly lost his life while serving at the unit.

Many thanks

Jonny

[Hans Nauta]

Dear all,

Does anyone perhaps have a copy of TNA AIR40/1675 Noball Targets? Usually I would have photographed this at my frequent visits to TNA, but well...we all know the situation right now!

I would be happy to offer any other document in exchange!

Thanks in advance,
Hans

(p.s. I do have AIR40/1674, another earlier volume regarding Noball Targets)

[jonny]

I am researching an officer who was an instructor at the above OTU in 1943 - 1944. Is anyone in a position to furnish me with a copy of the ORB, please?

I have a large number of Bomber Sqn ORBs that I can part-exchange.

Many thanks

Jonny

[jossleclercq]

Hello Hans,

I have copied AIR 40/1675. 273 pictures, 167 Mo.

I'm in the same situation as you are.

I only have 5 pictures from AIR40/1674, I probably only sampled that volume, so a copy would be nice.

E-mail me your adress and I'll send AIR 40/1675 via wetransfer. My e-mail adress is in my profile.

Joss