UK National Archives AIR/27 RAF 161 SD Squadron ORB's RAF Tempsford 1943.

[Roger Freeman]

Anyone know why there are so few NA 161 SD Squadron ORB's (Detail of Work) for 1943 as compared with ORB's (Summary Information) which are available ?. Particularly looking for mission details 'Blunderbus' using Lockheed Hudson Serial N7221 'MA-P' and flights flown in this aircraft by Hugh Verity ('We Landed by Moonlight'). NA currently showing (April 2026) some AIR/27 ORB's files 'under re-vision' and not available ?.

 

[Sabrejet]

Not all ORBs are available, and content varies considerably depending on who compiled the daily returns. In addition, some TNA files are being digitised and though they show as 'unavailable' they can often be viewed on-site but you need to go to the information desk in the reading room and request in-person. On these occasions viewing/photographing has been by admission to a side room separate from the main reading area, and only upon availability of a file.

If you aren't able to attend in-person I'd make an enquiry to TNA first and then maybe engage a researcher to copy the files for you.

I do note that AIR 27 1068/1 covers the period Feb42 to Sep43 while subsequent files are monthly reports so possibly there's also a change in format for some files?