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Series

Air Ministry: British Air Forces in France: Registered Files

Catalogue reference: AIR 35

What's it about?

AIR 35

This series consists of the few surviving records of the British Air Forces in France between September 1939 and May 1940. These files deal mainly with administrative and strategic matters.

Full description and record details

Reference

AIR 35

Title
Air Ministry: British Air Forces in France: Registered Files
Date

1937-1943

Description

This series consists of the few surviving records of the British Air Forces in France between September 1939 and May 1940. These files deal mainly with administrative and strategic matters.

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Physical description

354 file(s)

Access conditions

Subject to 30 year closure

Administrative / biographical background

On the outbreak of war two groups of Squadrons were dispatched to France. One was the Advanced Air Strike Force consisting of ten Squadrons of Fairey Battles and two of Hurricanes. The second was the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force with five Squadrons of Lysanders for army co-operation and four of Hurricanes. With the German offensive from 10 May 1940 many airfields were destroyed and Squadrons withdrew often in great confusion to Britain. The last units left France on 25 June 1940.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C2090/

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

724,929 records

Within the department: AIR

Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related...

You are currently looking at the series: AIR 35

Air Ministry: British Air Forces in France: Registered Files