RAF service records from 1920 onwards can now be ordered online from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), as it continues to face a backlog of wartime records orders.
Post-1920 military service records for the UK are currently held by the MOD, although they are now in the process of being transferred to The National Archives.
Records of deceased servicemen and women can be requested by the person’s next of kin via postal application.
The MOD piloted a scheme for allowing online orders of the records at RootsTech London in 2019, and virtually during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020.
The Ministry has now made the online ordering system available here, but only for RAF records.
However, it continues to face a substantial backlog in processing orders.
In August, Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine reported that we’d heard from 16 family historians who’d experienced delays of up to a year and more.
In an email, an MOD employee said that the ministry had had a six month backlog of ongoing enquiries before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and had accumulated an additional 10,000 applications during the 2020 lockdown.
An MOD spokesperson said: “The MOD continues to process a backlog of service record requests and we are introducing a number of measures to speed this up.
“We thank requesters for their patience at this time.
“We are working closely with The National Archives to ensure a smooth transition of records and minimise any disruption to this service.”
The spokesperson added that the MOD would bring on additional staff in early 2022 to help with genealogy requests, as well as redeploying staff from other parts of the ministry.
They also said that the process of transferring the records will take place in batches until spring 2027.
During this period, the MOD will continue to fulfil any requests for service records that it holds at the point of receipt of the request.
If the request was received before the record was transferred, MOD will recall the relevant information from TNA and honour the request, which may cause additional delay.
The MOD will still hold and process records relating to individuals whose service ended after 1964.
Rosemary Collins is the staff writer of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine