NA ORB Exchange and Request Thread

**Steve Brew** · 28th March 2020, 14:15

Dear all,

I have listed below all the scanned TNA and some other documents that I have on file.

In the spirit of the assistance we all provide each other, and particularly in the light of the current shutdowns of many resources during this COVID-19 crisis, I am happy to provide look-ups, screen-shots, individual pages, or bulk uploads (via Dropbox, etc.) to anyone on the board who is interested in copies.

Some pages are missing, though I have generally indicated where this is the case. In regard to the Army, Navy and Air Force lists, I realise that these are available online, but figure that an upload via Dropbox may be faster/easier than downloading directly from the internet.

I can be contacted via a reply to this post, via pm, or via e-mail, but if you opt for the first two please provide me an e-mail address or invite me to a Dropbox/WeTransfer folder so I can provide copies of any relevant files (Caveat: While I consider myself one of the fortunate ones who will remain employed throughout this crisis, it does mean that I may not be able to get to your requests immediately, so bear with me and I will get to them asap).

I have received significant assistance from many people on the forum over the years, so this is just my way of helping and looking out for fellow researchers unable to access the usual resources online or in person.

Kind regards
Steve

GROUPS

9 Grp ORB 14 Aug-31 Oct 42, 25 Feb-14 Apr 43, & 01-07 Jun 43
10 Grp ORB 24 Apr-21 Jun 44
10 Grp ORB Appendix Apr-Jun 44 (some pages only)
11 Grp ORB 20 May 26-28 Jan 36, 28 May-07 Jun 40, 25 Jul-15 Aug 40, 03 Sep 40-23 Feb 41, 27 Jul 41-04 Aug 42, 13 Apr 43-31 Mar 44, & 19 Jun-31 Dec 44
11 Grp ORB Appendix 26 Jul-08 Aug 40 (some pages only)
11 Grp ORB Appendix Sep-Dec 40, 01 Jan-23 Feb 41, 28 Jul 41-30 Jun 42, 13 Apr-31 Dec 43, Jan-Apr 44, & Aug-Nov 44 (all periods partially incomplete)
13 Grp ORB 15-17 Oct 39, 25 May 40, 20 Jun 40, 08 Jul 40, 12 Aug 40, 15 Aug 40, 21 Aug 40, & 28 Feb-28 Jul 41
83 Grp ORB Dec 44-May 45 (some pages only)
83 Grp ORB Appendix Dec 44-May 45 (incomplete)

STATIONS

Biggin Hill ORB 01-31 May 43
Bolt Head ORB 26 Apr-19 Jun 44 (missing 18-23 May 44)
Brussels-Evere ORB 01 Dec 44-09 Jan 45
Catterick ORB 05 Aug 36-31 May 40, 08 Jun-03 Sep 40 (missing 31 Jul-06 Aug 40), & 20 Feb-31 Jul 41
Debden ORB 16 Jun-04 Aug 42
Eglinton ORB 14-30 Sep 42
Fairwood Common ORB 15-27 May 42
Friston ORB 01 Apr-30 Apr 44, 25 May-22 Jun 44, & 01-31 Jul 44
Hawkinge ORB 30 Jun-31 Jul 42, & 13 Apr-22 May 43
High Ercall ORB 15 Feb-26 Apr 43
Hornchurch ORB 28 May-09 Jun 40, 26 Jul-09 Aug 40, & 03 Sep 40-28 Feb 41
Llanbedr ORB 01 Aug 42-28 Feb 43
Lympne ORB 11 Jul-31 Dec 44
Martlesham Heath ORB 01 Jun-31 Jul 42
Northolt ORB 10 Jun 24-23 May 36
Southend ORB 01-29 Feb 44
Tangmere ORB 01 Jul 41-30 Jun 42, 16-28 Aug 42, 01-14 Oct 42, 01 Jun 43-31 Mar 44, 25 Jun-03 Jul 44
Thornaby ORB 21 Feb-02 Mar 40
Valley ORB 01 Sep 43-31 Feb 43
West Malling ORB 18-29 Jun 44
Warmwell ORB 01-23 Mar 45, 20 Aug-20 Sep 45
Wick ORB 15-24 Oct 39

WINGS

122 Wing ORB 26 Jan-09 Mar 45
125 Wing ORB 25 Oct 44-13 Jul 45

SQUADRONS

32 Sqn ORB F540 15-20 Nov 44 & 30 Nov 44
33 Sqn ORB F540 24-26 Apr 1945
41 Sqn ORB F540 & F541 01 Apr 23-31 Mar 46
54 Sqn ORB F540 01-13 Aug 40
114 Sqn ORB F540 07-14 Jan 41
114 Sqn ORB F541 08-09 Jan 41
130 Sqn ORB F540 & F541 01 Jun 44-30 Nov 45
175 Sqn ORB F540 & F541 17-19 Aug 42
412 Sqn ORB F540 10-20 Aug 42
504 Sqn ORB F540 01-07 Oct 41
603 Sqn ORB F540 01-30 Sep 40
610 Sqn ORB F540 & F541 01 Oct 44-03 Mar 45

COMBAT REPORTS

41 Sqn AIR 50/18 1939-1945

MISCELLANEOUS

4 ITW ORB, Bexhill, 27 Sep-23 Dec 1939
6 MFPS (AIR 29/543), 24 Mar-14 Apr 1945
17 Armament Practice Camp ORB, Southend, Feb 1944
57 OTU ORB, Hawarden 01 Jul-31 Dec 41 (plus chronological list of all course nos & dates)
Report on Air Exercises 1932 held by ADGB Command 18-21 July 1932, AIR 10/1523
Air Ministry: Fighter Command: Registered Files. Home defence exercises, Sep 37-Aug 38, TNA AIR 16/68 (Some pages only)
Accidents, Aircraft (Code B, 1/2): Accidents involving friendly aircraft and balloon cables, 1939-1941, TNA AIR 2/3173 (some pages only)
Evacuation of B.E.F. France; plan “Dynamo”, 1 May 40-31 May 41, TNA WO 106/1618 (some pages only)
Summary of Sorties, Aug 40-Sep 42, TNA AIR 16/1037 (some pages only, mainly BoB)
Air protection for convoys to North Russia: plans, Jul-Aug 42, TNA AIR 8/933 (some pages only)
Murmansk: despatch of Fighter Squadrons, Jun-Jul 42, TNA AIR 8/938 (some pages only)
Ill-Treatment of Allied Nationals and Prisoners of War at Gestapo Headquarters, Avenue Foch, Paris, in 1943 and 1944, TNA WO 311/933 (some pages only)
Ministry of Defence Senior Posts, 2011 (but full list of historical postings)
RAF Senior Appointments, 2011 (but full list of historical postings)

AIR FORCE LISTS

Feb, Jul & Dec 1919,
Apr, Aug, Nov 1920
Jul & Dec 1921
Jun & Dec 1922
Jan, Apr, Jun & Aug 1938
Jan, Mar, Apr, Jul & Oct 1939
Jun 1940, Jul 1941, Jan & Mar 1942, Mar 1943, May 1944, Jul 1945

ARMY LISTS

Jan 1913, Jan 1914, Jul 1915, Dec 1916 & Jan 1918
Nov 1938, Mar 1939, Sep 1940 (Vols 1 & 2), Dec 1943 (Vols 1 & 2), Sep 1944 (Vols 1 & 2), & Dec 1945 (Vols 1 & 2)

NAVY LISTS

Jul 1917, Apr 1918, Jan 1921, & Oct 1943

**CZ_RAF** · 28th March 2020, 15:21

Dear Steve, thank you for your valuable offer.

May I ask you if there is anything about landing of 312 Sq Spitfire in the Friston ORB on 7.7.44?

Thx

Pavel

**dennis_burke** · 28th March 2020, 23:45

Hi Steve

I'll try list what I have below, could you see if Limavady ORB mentions the landing of Wellington R1021 of 7OTU in Ireland on September 26 1942? I do have the 7 OTU ORB kindly shared to me some time back.

AIR29-802-7 11 RSU

AIR29-1064 226 MU from 42

AIR-27-978-0-14 143 Sqn Dec 1941 thru to Aug 1942.

AIR-27-708-0-69 86 Sqn

AIR-27-560-0-2- 59 SQN

**Steve Brew** · 28th March 2020, 23:53

Hi Pavel

Unfortunately, no. In fact, there is no entry at all for that date.

The (summarised) entries for the whole month of July 1944 are as follows:

01 Jul 44 - 2882 RAF Regt moved to Folkestone
02 Jul 44 - 350 & 501 Sqns moved to Westhampnett, 41 & 610 Sqns moved to Friston
10 Jul 44 - First show by the Station dramatic society
11 Jul 44 - 41 Sqn moved to Lympne, 316 Sqn moved to Friston
14 Jul 44 - 2768 RAF Regt moved to St Leonards
18 Jul 44 - Diver Defence Area formed
25 Jul 44 - 91 & 322 Sqns moved to Deanlands
28 Jul 44 - 2805 RAF Regt moved to Southend

However, there is a one-line entry after 28 Jul 44, which is undated and states, "A large number of emergency landings were carried out during the month at Friston." I appreciate that this is not overly helpful.

Regards
Steve

**Steve Brew** · 29th March 2020, 00:05

Hi Dennis

Unfortunately, no. The entry for 26 Sep 42 is simply (verbatim): "W/Com Lang arrived in Dominie and left again later for York."

27 Sep 42 - "Uneventful"
28 Sep 42 - "Weather non-operational".

Sorry!

Does your copy of AIR 27/978 list the earlier OCs? I understand that Frederick Sowrey was OC, 143 Sqn from 14 Feb 18, but are you able to say when his tenure ended, please? The next posting I have for him is to RAF Depot, Uxbridge, on 01 Apr 20.

Separately, do you have any visibility/knowledge of the 11 (Irish) Wing ORB at Baldonnell in 1920?

Thanks
Steve

**dennis_burke** · 29th March 2020, 00:11

Thanks very much Steve

I added the dates of that section of the 143 ORB above, so I fear I have nought to offer.

Nothing too offer on the pre WW2 side of things.

**Steve Brew** · 29th March 2020, 00:21

Hi Dennis

No worries; many thanks.

Steve

**CZ_RAF** · 29th March 2020, 07:28

Hi Steve, thank you a lot. Yes my case go down to the general note you have found:-)

Pavel

**jonny** · 29th March 2020, 14:06

Like many on here I have a fairly good smattering of RAF Sqn ORBs (mainly WW2 Bomber Command), albeit rather patchy in terms of date coverage. In addition I have the full ORBs for the following:

17 OTU
18 OTU
105 OTU
108 OTU

216 MU (RAF Sutton Coldfield)

5132 Bomb Disposal Sqn
6225 Bomb Disposal Flt

5 Balloon Centre (RAF Sutton Coldfield)
911 Barrage Balloon Sqn
913 Barrage Balloon Sqn

24 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
26 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
27 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
28 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
29 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
30 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
31 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
32 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
33 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
36 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit
207 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit

**PNK** · 30th March 2020, 15:06

I have listed below the files I copied that have more than just a few pages copied. However I should point out that they are NOT complete and some will be missing many sheets in the sequence.

AIR 25/150 7 Group Appendices 1940-1942
AIR 25/149 & Group ORB 1940-1942
AIR 25/134 6 Group Appendices 1941-1942
AIR 25/133 6 Group Appendices 1940
AIR 28/845 Thorney Island 1942- 1943
AIR 29/443 23 MCU Wells 1943-1944
AIR 29/561 12 SFTS ORB & Appendices 1939-1945 (Mainly Spittlegate defences)
AIR 29/588 Air Armament Schools 1922-1940
AIR 29/696 131 & 132 OTU 1941-1945
AIR 29/702 1TTU

Please PM me with your request and I will reply with a link to the relevant Dropbox folder - assuming I don't run out of space!

All of Air 27 is now available on "The Genealogist" website without TNA logos but requires a subscription and a bit work to figure out how to get to the particular unit.

All the best

Peter Kirk - Bombing range researcher and lazy blighter