The Office Of Air Force History
- About Us
- The goals of the Office of Air Force History
- A guide to material held by the Office of Air Force History
- Access to RAAF Historical Records
- Contact
About Us
The
Office of Air Force History counts its origins from the creation of the
RAAF War History Section (WHS) in March 1944. This was a small organisation
responsible for the custody of Forms A50, which were unit diaries that
RAAF units had been required to compile and submit since the early 1920s.
Previously, this task had been performed by Mr Charles Finchett, who is
described simply as “the forerunner of the War History Section staff”.
The new Section’s principal task was to collect and collate information for the three air volumes (ultimately increased to four) in the official history series covering Australia’s part in World War II which the War Cabinet had decided early in 1943 should be prepared. In addition to gathering data and documents related to policy and operations, the WHS interviewed RAAF members about operations. Perhaps its most important task was the drafting of issues briefs and campaign narratives that became the basis for the official history volumes.
Under
successive ex-RAAF officers-in-charge, Mr John Jillett and Mr Ken Ready,
a team of researchers and narrators laboured away for the next fifteen
years. One of those who joined the WHS in 1945 was Mr George Odgers, a
journalist with a history M.A. from Melbourne University who had served
with the AIF in New Guinea, Bougainville and Borneo. In 1954 he was selected
as the author of Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, published in 1957.
By
1960, with the last of the air volumes of the official history series
written and in production, the WHS had been renamed the RAAF Historical
Section and its staff reduced to a single civilian responsible to the
Director of Public Relations, Department of Air (who, from 1965 until
1975, was actually George Odgers). Later, the section gained another position
and came under the Office of the Chief of the Air Staff. From the early
1970s the RAAF Historical Officer was Mr R.K. Piper, who remained in the
position, with only a short break, until 1993. In 1992 the RAAF Historical
Section absorbed the Archives Section and soon afterwards had grown to
a staff of four.
In
December 1997 the Section became part of the Air Power Studies Centre,
and its Executive Officer, Mr David Wilson, became the nominal assistant
to the newly-created position of RAAF Historian, held by Dr Alan Stephens.
In 2004 the Office of Air Force History (OAFH) was formed within what
was now called the Air Power Development Centre, working directly under
the current RAAF Historian. The OAFH retains a range of records related
to all aspects of RAAF (and some Australian Flying Corps) history; these
are being added to continually. A guide to the material held is listed
below.
The goals of the Office of Air Force History
- maintain the historical records of the RAAF and monitors the timeliness and quality of unit operational records submitted to the section for retention;
- give accurate and timely responses to historical enquiries from within the Air Force, Department of Defence, Department of Veteran's Affairs, Australian War Memorial and other government and private institutions;
- provide accurate information to individual ex-members, ex-member organisations, media and members of the general public on historical matters, and
- be the source of authoritative information on RAAF history.
A guide to material held by the Office of Air Force History
- RAAF unit histories from pre-World War II until 2000 - on 16mm microfilm and CD
- Operational Flying Squadrons on CD
- Unit histories of current RAAF units from 1988 to present day in A4 hard copy and microfilm
- Reports by commanding officers of RAAF units from World War II until 1988 - on microfilm
- RAAF unit narrative reports - World War II - on microfilm
- Reports and critiques on aircraft accidents to RAAF aircraft, World War II and later years - on microfilm
- Casualty registers and grave registration cards of RAAF personnel - on microfilm
- Various historical interest documents on microfilm, including information on air raids, operations, squadrons and units, statistical bulletins, tactical reconnaissance reports, RAF and US squadrons, WAAAF, and medical
- Hard copy historical information on RAAF squadrons and units, aircraft, operations, famous RAAF personnel, awards, also more recent topics such as peacekeeping and future RAAF plans
- Access to listings of RAAF material held in the National Archives of Australia
- Copies of Air Force Lists hard copies and CD
- History of the Australian Flying Corps - on microfilm
- Some personal log books and flying log books - on microfilm
- RAAF aircraft status cards - on microfilm and CD
- RAAF Personnel Occurrence Reports (1940's to 1970's) - on microfilm
- Microfilm & CD record of RAAF units in Vietnam, including unit diaries, commanding officers reports, nominal rolls, detail of operations, monthly report of activities
- Copies of RAAF News issues from 1960 to present day
Access to RAAF Historical Records
The OAFH is not a public research facility, however, we do have the discretion to allow bona fide researchers access to our holdings. Please note that it is necessary to contact the section prior to visiting to arrange a suitable date and time. Charges are in place for photocopying and reproduction of microfilm and CD records. To protect the privacy of others, the release of records for viewing or duplicating is in line with current RAAF policy, the Archives and Privacy Acts and at the discretion of OAFH staff.
Contact us
All enquires should be addressed to:
Office of Air Force History
Level 3, 205 Anketell Street
TUGGERANONG ACT 2900
Ph: (02) 6266 1447
Fax: (02) 6266 1041
E-mail: airpower@defence.gov.au