Air Ministry: Bomber Command: Registered Files

This series consists of records of Bomber Command dealing with operational and technical matters. In particular it contains reports by the Bomber Command Development Unit, Bomber Development Unit, Bomber Support Development Unit, Bombing Analysis Unit, British Bombing Research Mission, British Bombing Survey Unit, and Operational Research Section. Also included are many technical reports dealing with aircraft, aircraft losses, armaments, bombing techniques, navigational and photographic aids, and other equipment.

There are also the Air Officer Commanding in Chief's correspondence on a variety of subjects. There are many series of operational orders and reports, including Air Ministry Directives, the 'Bomber's Baedecker', damage diagrams, Day and Night Bomb Raid Sheets, Interception and Tactics Reports, interpretation reports, orders of battle, raid reports, summaries of Form E reports of bombs dropped on targets in Occupied Europe and War Albums of photographs showing German cities before and after raids. Also included are files on individual operations involving Bomber Command.

In addition there are within this series files about British Prisoners of War, Evaders and Escapers Reports, reports on dropping leaflets over occupied Europe (NICKEL operations) together with translations of these leaflets, press and broadcasting matters, the Pathfinder Force, and relations with Allied and United States Army Air Forces.

Certain records of Groups, Squadrons and RAF Stations in the Command are also to be found here. There are Group summaries of events and intelligence, reports from Groups and Squadrons on operations, and station operation room and flying control logbooks.

Associated with Bomber Command between 1944 and 1950 was the Central Bomber Establishment whose records are in AIR 63

From 1967 Ministry of Defence

Bomber Command was formed on 14 July 1936, with its headquarters at Uxbridge. In March 1940 it moved to High Wycombe, where it was to stay for the remainder of its existence. During the Second World War Bomber Command played a major part in the aerial bombardment of Germany. After the War Bomber Command became responsible for the 'V' Bomber Force. On 30 April 1968 Bomber Command was merged with Fighter Command to become the new Strike Command.