Second World War RCAF Operations Record Books

In my post "Researching Canadian Soldiers Who Died in the Second World War" I discussed how we can use the various online resources to learn more about those that made the ultimate sacrifice for Canada. However, I really only talked about the War Diaries of the Canadian Army to learn more about what was happening in the unit that the individual was in. In this post I'm going to look at the Second World War Operations Record Books for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

As with any research into the Canadian military I always head over to the Library and Archives Canada Military Heritage landing page. Since I'm looking for information about the Second World War I click on "Second World War: 1939-1945" to bring up the topic page. Reading through that page we see that there is a Research Guide for "War Diaries, Ship Logs and Operations Record Books "

However, the research guidance there is a little sparse:

Second World War (1939-1945) and Korean Conflict (1950-1953)

References to the Operations Record Books (RG24-E-7) can be identified by using the Advanced Archives Search.

• In the pull down menu, select Finding Aid Number, and enter: 24-104a
• Enter a keyword, for example, the unit name or number or date: "Royal Air Force Bomber"
• Some volumes are available on microfilm.
• Some of the microfilm reels have been digitized on our partner site Héritage.

Since I find learning is often best done by doing, let's look at an example. I'm going to look for the Operations Records Books for No. 426 Squadron. Why that unit? It was the squadron that my 1st cousin twice removed, David Douglas Dakin (J86386), served in when he was posted there in March 1944.

You might be wondering how I know that little tidbit. It might have come from his service file but he passed away in 2012 and his file is now embargoed for 20 years with limited information available to immediate family members only¹. So that option was not available for me. However, I was lucky enough to come across his name when I searched the RCAF Association "Search Awards". There I found a very lengthy write up of his service in the RCAF including being awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross. The other place I found him was in the Last Post database of the Legion Magazine.

But back to searching for the RCAF Operations Records Books.

The first step is to go to the Library and Archives Canada Collection Search page. That is not the search box on the right side of the Library and Archives Canada home page but it is found under the "Search the Collection" tab. Going there will bring up a page similar to this:

Screen capture of Library and Archives Canada Collection Search page looking for "24-104a 426 squadron"

Here I've already filled in the key details that the Research Guide told me to use:

• Finding Aid Number: 24-104a
• Squadron: 426 

I also added the word "squadron" to my search otherwise over 9,000 results were returned and the vast majority had nothing to do with the unit I was looking for. That search returned only 19 results:

Screen capture of Library and Archives Canada Collection Search results page looking for "24-104a 426 squadron"

The first result was actually the one I was looking for so I clicked on the link to display the following page:

Screen capture of Library and Archives Canada page concerning No. 426 (B) Squadron for Oct 42-Feb 45.

However, what is initially shown doesn't help me find the Operations Record Books. That is hidden under the Record Information - Details bar. If that is clicked we now see this extra information.

Screen capture of Library and Archives Canada page concerning No. 426 (B) Squadron for Oct 42-Feb 45, Record Information Details.

We learn that the Operations Record Book for No. 426 (B) Squadron is available on microfilm reel C-12298. Remember that in the Research Guide that some of the microfilms have been digitized and put on the Héritage site. So how about popping over there in the hopes that the microfilm we want has been digitized.

Screen capture of Canadian Héritage search screen looking for C-12298.

You can see that I've already typed in the microfilm number and I've used quotes around the microfilm number. The quotes are important since without them you will often get all kinds of extraneous results.

Screen capture of Canadian Héritage search results screen when looking for microfilm C-12298.

As you can see the first result is the one we are looking for. So I clicked on the link.

This is where it gets a bit challenging. There may be multiple Operations Record Books for different squadrons on the microfilm. In the case of C-12298, No. 425 Squadron was at the start and it wasn't until I got to image 1453 where No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron's book began.

Screen capture of Canadian Héritage page for No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron Operations Record Book.

So what will you find in these books?

Just like the War Diaries for the Canadian Army there are the standard entries of what was happening in the unit.

Canada, "Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books, 1936-1965," No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron, image 1877; digital images, Canadian Research Knowledge Network,  Héritage (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/ : accessed 15 Sep 2020); citing Library and Archives Canada, RG24-E-7. Volume/box number: 22686, Reel C-12298.

This is the first page for March 1944 for No. 426 Squadron. Here we learn of a crew reassignment, that on the 2nd the weather was a "beautiful clear day", and on the 5th an air accident occurred with details of what happened and who was in the aircraft.

Canada, "Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books, 1936-1965," No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron, image 1879; digital images, Canadian Research Knowledge Network,  Héritage (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/ : accessed 15 Sep 2020); citing Library and Archives Canada, RG24-E-7. Volume/box number: 22686, Reel C-12298.

Here we learn that on the 15th of March, 1944 air operations took place with 16 aircraft involved. Regrettably two aircraft never made it back home so the names of the crew are listed along with their service numbers and function in the airplane.

Canada, "Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books, 1936-1965," No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron, image 1883; digital images, Canadian Research Knowledge Network,  Héritage (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/ : accessed 15 Sep 2020); citing Library and Archives Canada, RG24-E-7. Volume/box number: 22686, Reel C-12298.

You might also come across a page, like above, where it details who is coming into or leaving the squadron. This is where Flight Sergeant D. D. Dakin first appears with the squadron as a pilot. 

Sometimes the records continue onto the next microfilm. That was the case with No. 426 Squadron, the Operations Record Book continued on microfilm C-12298. There I found F/S Dakin in a Lancaster bombing Frankfurt on 18 Mar 1944 leaving at 19h01 and arriving back to the airbase at 00h59.

Canada, "Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books, 1936-1965," No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron, image 10; digital images, Canadian Research Knowledge Network,  Héritage (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/ : accessed 15 Sep 2020); citing Library and Archives Canada, RG24-E-7. Volume/box number: 22686, Reel C-12299.

You might even come across an incident report describing an unusual event like the "collision with friendly aircraft over target area" below.

Canada, "Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books, 1936-1965," No. 426 (Bomber) Squadron, image 54; digital images, Canadian Research Knowledge Network,  Héritage (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/ : accessed 15 Sep 2020); citing Library and Archives Canada, RG24-E-7. Volume/box number: 22686, Reel C-12299.

Through these records you can often follow the career of a crew member. Events such as when they promoted or commissioned can be discovered along with the details about the various sorties they flew. When the squadron was moved to another base you might even come across entries where the non-flying personnel are mentioned and how they were to get to the new location.

Keep in mind that these are the Operation Record Books for Canadian squadrons. For the Royal Air Force Operations Record Books you need to go to TheGenealogist or pay an in person visit to The National Archives in England. In doing so you just might find a Canadian who enlisted with the RCAF serving with the RAF.

---

1. If you have a living family member that served Canada in the Second World War then I strongly recommend that they order a copy of their service file. Instructions for doing so can be found at Restricted records held by Library and Archives Canada (service files after 1919).