Accessing Air Accident Report for Liberator crash

[david56]

Hi

Probably familiar to established WWII historians but in case of use to others like myself unfamiliar with National Archives, Kew, UK, I add a few notes below on accessing the Air Accident Report for AL523 Liberator where General Sikorski was killed.

Current reference number in National Archives, Kew: AIR 2/9234

Online record page: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.u ... i=C6335166

Report map record page: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.u ... ri=C360894

'Related papers' record page - not sure what these are: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.u ... i=C2642981

1) National Archives, Kew - free public inspection as visitor using their document ordering procedures.

2) A copy can be ordered online via the above page (options for paper/digital via email). I was quoted £240 for a copy of the 86 page document (A3 scan). I asked if this could be ordered indirectly as a member of a UK local public library through the interlibrary copying scheme where fees are nominal but told that it didn't come under that scheme. I didn't order a copy!

They do put a number of documents into the public domain on their website and asked them if a document on an event that is still topical merited being put online. They said they currently had no plans to.

3) Complete transcript of report in the book; 'Sikorski. Soldier and Statesman' edited by Keith Sword, 1990. Pages 167-209 inclusive including scans of the original header forms of court, witnesses etc.
Maybe it is common knowledge, but since obtaining a copy, I didn't realise that the entire report transcript was included and since the book is readily available secondhand at ca $25 eg on http://www.abe.com or currently ca. £5 on Amazon UK Marketplace, it seems the most cost effective route for folk like myself with no ready access to Kew or copies that maybe circulating.

The official Report map isn't included but David Irving has a copy of this in his 'Accident' book.

regards
David