Archive Department & Research Centre
Services and facilities from July 2014
Fleet Air Arm Museum RNAS Yeovilton Ilchester Somerset BA22 8HT Tel: 01935 842608 Fax: 01935 842630 Website: www.fleetairarm.com Email: [email protected]
Fleet Air Arm Museum CLG Ltd, Registered Charity No. 1143023 ARCHIVE RESEARCH SERVICES
Please note that records for personnel serving after 1927 are held by the MOD.
Each year, the Archive Department of the Fleet Air Arm Museum assists hundreds of enquirers from all parts of the globe. Regular assistance is provided to genealogists, veterans, local historians, historians, modellers, aircraft restoration projects, the press and other commercial organisations.
The archive includes a range of documents related to the Royal Naval Air Service and the Fleet Air Arm, from official and private sources. It covers naval aircraft, personnel, air stations, operations, ships and equipment. Among the most regularly consulted documents are Squadron Line Books and Record Books, Air Publications and aircraft accident records. The archive holds some Royal Navy and Royal Marines service documents (see below), and personal papers of important figures in aviation. The extensive photograph collection covers all areas within the Museum’s remit and is widely used by researchers and authors. It comprises material from both official and private sources.
Service Related Records (mainly First World War): The Museum holds some sets of documents relating to service before and during the First World War. They cover Royal Naval Air Service/Royal Air Force officers, Royal Marines, Royal Navy and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (including Royal Naval Division) ratings and some officers. There are also Royal Naval Reserve ratings records dating from 1908.
POST AND EMAIL ENQUIRIES Requests for copies of service related documents in the archive will be answered by post and charged at our standard rate. Simple enquires can be answered by telephone or email. If your enquiry requires any research, you will be invited to make an appointment to visit in person.
Photograph research by the Museum is an extremely limited service. Charges apply. Requests for copies of photographs should be phrased as precisely as possible. Those requiring large numbers of photographs MUST make an appointment to do their own research.
Copyright and Data Protection legislation apply to many of our images. Copyright clearances are the responsibility of the user.
PERSONAL RESEARCH - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
Please contact the staff in advance to discuss your area of research. Due to the small size of the Search Room, a limited number of appointments are available and prior booking is essential.
Charges: Half Day £20.00; Full Day £30.00
For an appointment, telephone 01935 842608 or email [email protected] RESEARCH DEPARTMENT CHARGES
Personal research: Half Day £20.00; Full Day £30.00
Photocopying charges for visiting researchers: Per A4 sheet: black & white 15p colour 50p Per A3 sheet: black & white 30p colour £1.00
Service related document provision by Fleet Air Arm Museum £20.00 This charge includes photocopying, packing and UK postage for up to 10 A4 or 5 A3 sheets. Additional copying and postage will be subject to extra charges.
COPY PHOTOGRAPHS
Copies of most of the images in the collection are available to order. Not all of the Museum’s photographs are digitised, so please allow ample time for the order to be processed. You may visit as a researcher to select photographs. Please be aware that in most cases your selected images will be sent to you after your visit.
Copies of items in the Museum's collection may NOT be used in the public domain without prior permission in writing. For reproduction fees, see below.
PHOTOGRAPH COPY CHARGES, inclusive of VAT:
Print: A5 (b/w or colour) £10.00 Print: A4 (b/w or colour) £14.00 Print: A3 (b/w or colour) £18.00 Digital image, per scan on disc £10.00 Post and Packing UK £5.00 Overseas at cost
REPRODUCTION FEES for still images, charged per image used:
Academic Lecture or Thesis – not for publication £5.00 Not-for-profit publication £10.00 Profit-generating/commercial publication £25.00 Website use from £100.00 Commercial Exhibition (Stills) £100.00 Commercial – other from £100.00 Film / Documentary from £150.00 TV News Report £30.00
Reproduction fee discounts: 1-9 images charged at flat rate 10-24 images 10% discount 25+ images 25% discount
PAYMENT MUST BE MADE IN STERLING Payment may be made by cash, cheque, debit or credit card. Cheques should be payable to ‘Fleet Air Arm Museum CLG Ltd’. Please note that the Fleet Air Arm Museum does not hold records for personnel serving during World War 2 and later. These are still held by the MOD. Next of kin can apply to get service details from: RN Disclosure Cell Room 48 West Battery Whale Island Portsmouth PO2 8DX The simplest route is via Veterans UK www.veterans-uk.info which has information and guidance for finding service records and medal entitlements.
Other resources available to researchers include:
The National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Online collections – useful for WW1 records
The Royal Navy’s website www.royalnavy.mod.uk
Commonwealth War Graves Commission www.cwgc.org Details of men and women of commonwealth forces who died in WW1 and WW2
Armed Forces Memorial www.forcesmemorial.org.uk For members of the armed forces who have died on active service since 1948
The London Gazette www.gazettes-online.co.uk Officers’ appointments, promotions, awards for valour
Books: See the Air Britain series by Ray Sturtivant (& others) for information on individual RNAS and FAA aircraft, and references to RNAS and FAA personnel. These should be available through your local library service.
Titles include: Royal Navy Aircraft, Serial and Units, 1911 to 1919 Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, Units and Ships, 1920 to 1939 Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, 1939 to 1945 Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946 Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943 The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm