Ground instructional airframes - record cards?

[Franek Grabowski]

Gents
Were record cards kept for ground instructional airframes - M series - or were changes annotated on original donor aircraft cards? Otherwise where to find out a history of particular M aircraft?
Thanks in advance
Franek

[SteveBrooking]

Hi Franek
From my experience it was simply an entry on Form 78 for the standard RAF serial something like "21SoTT became 1234M". However I have never asked if there was a separate record series.
Steve

[COL BRUGGY]

Franek,

Bruce Robertson, in the final edition of his compilation, British Military Aircraft Serials 1878-1987, provided a listing of Instructional Airframe Numbers (510M - K3172 to 8932M - XR718. Robertson's version of events, is as follows:

Appendix C - Instructional Airframe Numbers - RAF Airframes.

In 1921 airframes and engines used for instructional purposes on the ground were re-numbered into a simple numerical series for each, with 'M' and 'E' suffix letters respectively to denote the series. The records for the early allocations have not been traced, and little photographic record exists. It is known that a Sopwith Snipe was 16?M and Bristol Fighters were 213M and 540M.
Of all the allocations the M-suffixed series are the most inconsistent, since in many cases they were re-numbered on being transferred to new locations. In not a few cases the numbers allotted were duplicated and in others the allocation was cancelled and the aircraft restored to airworthy status with its original serial number. Also some 'M' numbers were allotted to airframes disposed of as scrap before the new number was marked, but in general the 'M' number replaced the original serial. Where the 'M' number was cancelled this has been indicated by an asterisk.
Given below are the known allocations of 'M' numbers with the serial number of the aircraft to which it was allocated and in most cases applied, or civil registrations , British Gliding Association (BGA) or USAAF number as appropriate.

Listing follows.

Robertson continues:

Astute readers may notice that this listing is in some cases at variance with other published material on 'M' serials, but is based on many years patient and careful research, and deliberately avoids the inclusion of 'speculative' entries which would give credence with publication, and over the years become 'fact'. In particular, other sources record 'M' serials where the aircraft was known to be flying many years after the M number would have been allocated in sequence.The official records are now less complete than when the author first examined them in the Air Ministry archives before they passed to the AHB, and can be shown to contain an alarming number of clerical errors. Thus our cautious attitude, which we commend to readers on this subject.

See:
British Military Aircraft Serials 1878-1987.
Robertson,Bruce (Compiler).
Earl Shilton:Midland Counties Publications,1987.
pp.230-246.

Col.

[Franek Grabowski]

Thanks, Gents!
So it looks that the record keeping was not at its best with M series, and worse some paperwork was reduced to ashes.
Still, is there anything like F.78 for M series or otherwise how to verify service and ultimate fate of those aircraft? Or is it the way, nobody bothered, and the aircraft were disposed not noticing AM?
Franek