General Information and Guidance of the Next-of-Kin
Title
General Information and Guidance of the Next-of-Kin
Description
Printed notes regarding Airmen reported missing, deceased or prisoner of war or interned.
There is a second identical copy.
There is a second identical copy.
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Two copies of Two double sided printed sheets
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
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SEllisRHG918424v10016-0001, SEllisRHG918424v10016-0002, SEllisRHG918424v10016-0003, SEllisRHG918424v10076-0001, SEllisRHG918424v10076-0002, SEllisRHG918424v10076-0003
Transcription
Notes for the General Information and Guidance of the Next-of-Kin or other Relatives of Airmen reported Missing, Deceased, Prisoners of War or Interned.
(Where the words “Airman” or “Airmen” appear they are to be construed as including “Airwoman” and “Airwomen.”)
[underlined] PART 1. – AIRMEN REPORTED MISSING [/underlined]
1. Private Effects under R.A.F. Control. – (i) The private effects under R.A.F. control of an airman reported missing whilst serving with a unit in the United Kingdom, in Iceland, or at Gibraltar, are forwarded to the Central Depository, Colnbrook, near Slough, Buckinghamshire, for retention in safe custody. This does not apply to bulky articles, such as motor cars, cycles or large wireless sets. These are retained in safe custody by the station. Any cash found amongst the effects is handed over to the Accountant Officer and brought to credit in the airman’s non-effective account.
(ii) Those of an airman reported missing whilst serving with a unit outside the United Kingdom (except in Iceland or at Gibraltar) are retained in safe custody in the Command.
(iii) The private effects of airmen reported missing cannot normally be released unless and until death is officially presumed to have occurred, which will be done whenever absolutely conclusive evidence of death is received. In special circumstances, however, the Air Ministry may be prepared to consider application for the release of the personal effects of a missing airman, prior to death presumption, after a minimum period of two months from the date of the casualty. Any such applications should be addressed to Air Ministry (P.4.Kits), 73-77, Oxford Street, London, W.1. In all cases of early release of effects the person to whom such effects are released will be required to sign a form of undertaking indemnifying the Air Council from all future claims in respect of effects so released. When evidence of death is not received within six months of the date on which the airman was reported missing, action will be taken by the Air Ministry to presume death for official purposes. In some cases, especially overseas, circumstances may make the period longer than six months.
(iv) After death has been officially presumed the effects will be released on the instructions of the Air Ministry (Accounts 13), Whittington Road, Worcester, subject to it having been ascertained who is the person legally entitled to receive them.
(v) The foregoing applies only to effects under R.A.F. control. It will be appreciated that the R.A.F. cannot accept responsibility for articles left outside camp or quarters, e.g., at the houses of friends.
2. Family and Dependants’ Allowances and Pay. – (i) Family and Dependants’ allowances (together with qualifying and voluntary allotments) and voluntary allotments to persons within certain degrees of relationship, if in payment before the airman is reported missing, will continue to be paid, and pay credited to the airman’s account, for four weeks after the date of the notification of the casualty, or until death is established or presumed, whichever is the earlier. In other cases, pay ceases when an airman is missing.
(ii) Thereafter, temporary allowances (wholly payable from public funds) will be issuable as follows:-
[italics] (a) To families, dependants and other persons within certain degrees of relationship. [/italics] – For thirteen weeks at a rate equal either to family or dependants’ allowance (including qualifying and voluntary allotment) or to the voluntary allotment whichever was previously in issue. Ante-natal and the normal allowance payable on the birth of a child may be issued where eligibility arises during the temporary allowance period. If at the end of thirteen weeks the airman is still missing the temporary allowance will continue for a further period of nine weeks unless in the meantime the death of the airman is established or presumed, in which case the allowance will cease as from the end of the payment week in which the relatives are so notified.
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[italics] (b) Other persons outside the degree of relationship referred to above. [/italics] – For four weeks at the rate of voluntary allotment previously in issue, or at a rate not exceeding the qualifying allotment appropriate to the airman’s pay, whichever is the less.
(iii) If the airman returns or is reported to be a prisoner of war or interned in a neutral country, payment of the allowances and allotments which were in issue before he was reported missing are resumed, any accrued arrears at the same time being put into payment and the airman’s pay is credited to his account.
(iv) If at the expiration of the period referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] above it has not been established that the airman is alive, the payment of a temporary allowance may be followed by a payment equal to the rate of pension (if any) which would be payable if the airman died. Such payments will be authorised by the Air Ministry until death is established or presumed, when payment of pension becomes the responsibility of the Ministry of Pensions.
3. Rates of Pension. – The rates of pension on which the allowances referred to in paragraph 2 above are based, are as follows:-
(i) [italics] Widows:- [/italics]
[italics] Widow of – Higher rate weekly. – Lower rate weekly [/italics]
Warrant Officer – 38s. 0d. – 28s. 4d.
Warrant Officer (2nd Class) – 35s. 9d. – 26s. 8d.
Flight Sergeant – 33s. 6d. – 25s. 0d.
Sergeant – 31s. 3d. – 23s. 4d.
Corporal – 29s. 0d. – 21s. 8d.
Leading Aircraftman and Aircraftman – 26s. 8d. – 20s. 0d.
The higher rate applies to a widow over 40 years of age and to a widow under that age if she has a child eligible for an allowance in her charge or is incapable of self-support by reason of physical or mental infirmity of a prolonged or permanent nature. The lower rate applies to a widow under 40 who is ineligible for the higher rate.
These rates do not normally apply where the wife is living apart from her husband for reasons other than his service in the Forces, but if she was supported by her husband a pension not exceeding 20s. 0d. a week may be granted.
In addition, a pensioned widow may be granted an allowance for each eligible child under the age of 16 (18 in the case of a Warrant Officer) maintained by her, at the following weekly rates:-
For the first child 9s. 6d.
For the second child 8s. 6d.
For each other child 7s. 6d.
A widow, with eligible children living with her, may be granted a supplement not exceeding 12s. a week if she pays a rent, including rates, of more than 8s. a week.
(ii) [italics] Motherless children [/italics] weekly rate, 12s. 0d.
(iii) [italics] Parents. [/italics] – A temporary allowance at pension rates is only admissible when the parents show that they are in pecuniary need arising from old age, or from infirmity, or other adverse condition not being merely of a temporary character.
Where pension is payable, the rate varies according to the circumstances of the case, being between 5s. and 15s. a week for one parent and 22s. 6d. a week for two parents. In exceptional cases it may be possible to increase these maxima by an amount not exceeding 7s. 6d. a week.
(iv) [italics] Other Dependants [/italics] – Dependants not within the above categories may be eligible for a grant up to 10s. a week (or 5s for a juvenile), if in need and incapable of self-support.
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4. Early Submission of Claims. – In order that claims to continue allowance at pension rate (referred to in para. 2 (iv) above) may be investigated in good time to enable the allowance (if admissible) to be paid without delay, it is important that claims should be lodged promptly.
In the case of wives of missing airmen, the appropriate forms will be despatched without application; in the case of parents and other persons within pensionable relationship of the airmen, the forms will be despatched upon request.
The address of the Department concerned is:-
The Director of Accounts,
Air Ministry (Accts., 7K.Cas.),
Whittington Road, Worcester.
[underlined] PART II. – DECEASED AIRMEN [/underlined]
5. Private Effects under R.A.F. Control. – (i) The private effects under R.A.F. Control of deceased airmen are forwarded to the Central Depository, Colnbrook, Slough, Bucks, for safe custody until release. This applies wherever the casualty occurred, but is subject to the following special provisions:-
[italics] (a) [/italics] Bulky articles such as motor cars, cycles and large wireless sets are retained by the Station pending release.
[italics] (b) [/italics] In “missing” cases in Overseas Commands the effects are retained until death is presumed and are then sent to Colnbrook.
[italics] (c) [/italics] When the effects are overseas and the next-of-kin appear to be resident in a country more easily reached direct from the Command in which the casualty occurred, e.g. South Africa or Australia from Middle East, the effects are retained in the Command pending release.
[italics] (d) [/italics] Owing to war-time conditions the effects of a casualty overseas (other than articles of sentimental value) often have to be sold, the proceeds being credited to the airman’s account and the next-of-kin being informed.
(ii) Effects held at Colnbrook and those retained at Home Stations or in Overseas Commands are released on the instructions of the Air Ministry (Accounts 13), Whittington Road, Worcester, when it has been ascertained who is legally entitled to receive them under a will or an intestacy. Nomination of a person as “next-of-kin” does not of itself give any right to them.
(iii) Inventories of the effects are supplied to the next-of-kin.
(iv) Any cash of the airman found among the effects is handed over to the Accountant Officer and credited to the airman’s account.
(v) The foregoing applies only to effects [italics] under R.A.F. Control, [/italics] there being no responsibility for or power to deal with effects or cash left outside the camp station or Air Ministry premises.
(vi) Reference should be made to para. 1 (iii) as to presumption-of-death action in the case of missing airmen, and the position of effects before death is presumed.
6. Pay and Family and Dependants’ Allowances, etc.- (i) The issue of an airman’s pay ceases at his death.
(ii) Temporary allowances are payable as shown in paras. 2 (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] and 2 (ii) [italics] (b) [/italics] above, except that the period in para. 2 (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] will be limited to 13 weeks.
7. Claims for Pensions.- (i) In order that claims to pension may be investigated in good time to enable payment of pension (if admissible) to be made without delay on the expiry of the period of 13 weeks referred to in para. 2 (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] above, it is important that dependants who desire to lodge claims for pension on the ground that the airman’s death was due to war service should do so as soon as possible, unless they have already made claims under para. 4.
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(ii) Claims by airmen’s widows should be submitted on Form M.P.B.502, and claims by guardians of airmen’s motherless children on Form M.P.B.504. Copies of these forms are attached for use where applicable, together with an envelope in which to forward the claim to the Ministry of Pensions. Other dependants who desire to ascertain whether they are eligible for pension from the Ministry of Pensions should apply to the Regional Office of that Ministry, the address of which can be ascertained at any post office. Delay will result where application is made otherwise than to the Regional Office.
(iii) If the decision of the Ministry of Pensions is not received four weeks before the end of the period during which the temporary allowance continues to be payable, the applicant should write to the Ministry of Pensions at the following address:-
Ministry of Pensions,
(Widows’ and Dependants’ Pensions Branch),
Norcross, Blackpool, Lancs.
[underlined] PART III.- AIRMEN REPORTED PRISONERS OF WAR OR INTERNED [/underlined]
8. Private Effects under R.A.F. Control. – (i) These are dealt with as in para. 1 (i) (ii) and (v) above.
(ii) They cannot be released without the authority of the airman. Such an authority need be of an informal character only, e.g., a letter from the airman to his next-of-kin or personal representative.
9. Family and Dependants’ Allowances and Pay. – (i) See para. 2 (iii) above. Pay continues to be credited to the airman’s account. Allotments from the airman’s pay may be made or varied, and remittances may be made to Post Office Savings Bank or other bank, or nominee resident in the United Kingdom, in each case on receipt of a written request from the airman.
(ii) The airman’s pay is subject to deductions for any pay issued by the captor Government or by the Air Attaché in the country of internment.
[underlined] PART IV. – ENQUIRIES [/underlined]
10. Enquiries re Effects, Pay and Allowances. – Enquiries [italics] re [/italics] effects, pay and allowances should be addressed as follows:-
(i) [italics] Release of Effects [/italics] -
To :- The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry (Accounts 13).
Whittington Road, Worcester.
(ii) [italics] Other matters regarding Effects [/italics] -
To :- The Officer in Charge,
Central Depository,
Royal Air Force,
Colnbrook, Slough, Bucks.
(iii) [italics] Service Pay and Allowances [/italics] -
To :- The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry (Accounts 13),
Whittington Road, Worcester.
11. Enquiries re Airman Himself. – Any enquiries regarding the notification of the casualty or seeking further information regarding the airman should be addressed to:-
The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry (P.4.Cas.),
73-77, Oxford Street, London, W.1.
In this connection attention is invited to the fact that any further information received regarding an airman who has been reported a casualty is invariably passed on without delay to the next-of-kin and any other person who has been officially informed of the casualty.
(Where the words “Airman” or “Airmen” appear they are to be construed as including “Airwoman” and “Airwomen.”)
[underlined] PART 1. – AIRMEN REPORTED MISSING [/underlined]
1. Private Effects under R.A.F. Control. – (i) The private effects under R.A.F. control of an airman reported missing whilst serving with a unit in the United Kingdom, in Iceland, or at Gibraltar, are forwarded to the Central Depository, Colnbrook, near Slough, Buckinghamshire, for retention in safe custody. This does not apply to bulky articles, such as motor cars, cycles or large wireless sets. These are retained in safe custody by the station. Any cash found amongst the effects is handed over to the Accountant Officer and brought to credit in the airman’s non-effective account.
(ii) Those of an airman reported missing whilst serving with a unit outside the United Kingdom (except in Iceland or at Gibraltar) are retained in safe custody in the Command.
(iii) The private effects of airmen reported missing cannot normally be released unless and until death is officially presumed to have occurred, which will be done whenever absolutely conclusive evidence of death is received. In special circumstances, however, the Air Ministry may be prepared to consider application for the release of the personal effects of a missing airman, prior to death presumption, after a minimum period of two months from the date of the casualty. Any such applications should be addressed to Air Ministry (P.4.Kits), 73-77, Oxford Street, London, W.1. In all cases of early release of effects the person to whom such effects are released will be required to sign a form of undertaking indemnifying the Air Council from all future claims in respect of effects so released. When evidence of death is not received within six months of the date on which the airman was reported missing, action will be taken by the Air Ministry to presume death for official purposes. In some cases, especially overseas, circumstances may make the period longer than six months.
(iv) After death has been officially presumed the effects will be released on the instructions of the Air Ministry (Accounts 13), Whittington Road, Worcester, subject to it having been ascertained who is the person legally entitled to receive them.
(v) The foregoing applies only to effects under R.A.F. control. It will be appreciated that the R.A.F. cannot accept responsibility for articles left outside camp or quarters, e.g., at the houses of friends.
2. Family and Dependants’ Allowances and Pay. – (i) Family and Dependants’ allowances (together with qualifying and voluntary allotments) and voluntary allotments to persons within certain degrees of relationship, if in payment before the airman is reported missing, will continue to be paid, and pay credited to the airman’s account, for four weeks after the date of the notification of the casualty, or until death is established or presumed, whichever is the earlier. In other cases, pay ceases when an airman is missing.
(ii) Thereafter, temporary allowances (wholly payable from public funds) will be issuable as follows:-
[italics] (a) To families, dependants and other persons within certain degrees of relationship. [/italics] – For thirteen weeks at a rate equal either to family or dependants’ allowance (including qualifying and voluntary allotment) or to the voluntary allotment whichever was previously in issue. Ante-natal and the normal allowance payable on the birth of a child may be issued where eligibility arises during the temporary allowance period. If at the end of thirteen weeks the airman is still missing the temporary allowance will continue for a further period of nine weeks unless in the meantime the death of the airman is established or presumed, in which case the allowance will cease as from the end of the payment week in which the relatives are so notified.
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[italics] (b) Other persons outside the degree of relationship referred to above. [/italics] – For four weeks at the rate of voluntary allotment previously in issue, or at a rate not exceeding the qualifying allotment appropriate to the airman’s pay, whichever is the less.
(iii) If the airman returns or is reported to be a prisoner of war or interned in a neutral country, payment of the allowances and allotments which were in issue before he was reported missing are resumed, any accrued arrears at the same time being put into payment and the airman’s pay is credited to his account.
(iv) If at the expiration of the period referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] above it has not been established that the airman is alive, the payment of a temporary allowance may be followed by a payment equal to the rate of pension (if any) which would be payable if the airman died. Such payments will be authorised by the Air Ministry until death is established or presumed, when payment of pension becomes the responsibility of the Ministry of Pensions.
3. Rates of Pension. – The rates of pension on which the allowances referred to in paragraph 2 above are based, are as follows:-
(i) [italics] Widows:- [/italics]
[italics] Widow of – Higher rate weekly. – Lower rate weekly [/italics]
Warrant Officer – 38s. 0d. – 28s. 4d.
Warrant Officer (2nd Class) – 35s. 9d. – 26s. 8d.
Flight Sergeant – 33s. 6d. – 25s. 0d.
Sergeant – 31s. 3d. – 23s. 4d.
Corporal – 29s. 0d. – 21s. 8d.
Leading Aircraftman and Aircraftman – 26s. 8d. – 20s. 0d.
The higher rate applies to a widow over 40 years of age and to a widow under that age if she has a child eligible for an allowance in her charge or is incapable of self-support by reason of physical or mental infirmity of a prolonged or permanent nature. The lower rate applies to a widow under 40 who is ineligible for the higher rate.
These rates do not normally apply where the wife is living apart from her husband for reasons other than his service in the Forces, but if she was supported by her husband a pension not exceeding 20s. 0d. a week may be granted.
In addition, a pensioned widow may be granted an allowance for each eligible child under the age of 16 (18 in the case of a Warrant Officer) maintained by her, at the following weekly rates:-
For the first child 9s. 6d.
For the second child 8s. 6d.
For each other child 7s. 6d.
A widow, with eligible children living with her, may be granted a supplement not exceeding 12s. a week if she pays a rent, including rates, of more than 8s. a week.
(ii) [italics] Motherless children [/italics] weekly rate, 12s. 0d.
(iii) [italics] Parents. [/italics] – A temporary allowance at pension rates is only admissible when the parents show that they are in pecuniary need arising from old age, or from infirmity, or other adverse condition not being merely of a temporary character.
Where pension is payable, the rate varies according to the circumstances of the case, being between 5s. and 15s. a week for one parent and 22s. 6d. a week for two parents. In exceptional cases it may be possible to increase these maxima by an amount not exceeding 7s. 6d. a week.
(iv) [italics] Other Dependants [/italics] – Dependants not within the above categories may be eligible for a grant up to 10s. a week (or 5s for a juvenile), if in need and incapable of self-support.
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4. Early Submission of Claims. – In order that claims to continue allowance at pension rate (referred to in para. 2 (iv) above) may be investigated in good time to enable the allowance (if admissible) to be paid without delay, it is important that claims should be lodged promptly.
In the case of wives of missing airmen, the appropriate forms will be despatched without application; in the case of parents and other persons within pensionable relationship of the airmen, the forms will be despatched upon request.
The address of the Department concerned is:-
The Director of Accounts,
Air Ministry (Accts., 7K.Cas.),
Whittington Road, Worcester.
[underlined] PART II. – DECEASED AIRMEN [/underlined]
5. Private Effects under R.A.F. Control. – (i) The private effects under R.A.F. Control of deceased airmen are forwarded to the Central Depository, Colnbrook, Slough, Bucks, for safe custody until release. This applies wherever the casualty occurred, but is subject to the following special provisions:-
[italics] (a) [/italics] Bulky articles such as motor cars, cycles and large wireless sets are retained by the Station pending release.
[italics] (b) [/italics] In “missing” cases in Overseas Commands the effects are retained until death is presumed and are then sent to Colnbrook.
[italics] (c) [/italics] When the effects are overseas and the next-of-kin appear to be resident in a country more easily reached direct from the Command in which the casualty occurred, e.g. South Africa or Australia from Middle East, the effects are retained in the Command pending release.
[italics] (d) [/italics] Owing to war-time conditions the effects of a casualty overseas (other than articles of sentimental value) often have to be sold, the proceeds being credited to the airman’s account and the next-of-kin being informed.
(ii) Effects held at Colnbrook and those retained at Home Stations or in Overseas Commands are released on the instructions of the Air Ministry (Accounts 13), Whittington Road, Worcester, when it has been ascertained who is legally entitled to receive them under a will or an intestacy. Nomination of a person as “next-of-kin” does not of itself give any right to them.
(iii) Inventories of the effects are supplied to the next-of-kin.
(iv) Any cash of the airman found among the effects is handed over to the Accountant Officer and credited to the airman’s account.
(v) The foregoing applies only to effects [italics] under R.A.F. Control, [/italics] there being no responsibility for or power to deal with effects or cash left outside the camp station or Air Ministry premises.
(vi) Reference should be made to para. 1 (iii) as to presumption-of-death action in the case of missing airmen, and the position of effects before death is presumed.
6. Pay and Family and Dependants’ Allowances, etc.- (i) The issue of an airman’s pay ceases at his death.
(ii) Temporary allowances are payable as shown in paras. 2 (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] and 2 (ii) [italics] (b) [/italics] above, except that the period in para. 2 (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] will be limited to 13 weeks.
7. Claims for Pensions.- (i) In order that claims to pension may be investigated in good time to enable payment of pension (if admissible) to be made without delay on the expiry of the period of 13 weeks referred to in para. 2 (ii) [italics] (a) [/italics] above, it is important that dependants who desire to lodge claims for pension on the ground that the airman’s death was due to war service should do so as soon as possible, unless they have already made claims under para. 4.
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4.
(ii) Claims by airmen’s widows should be submitted on Form M.P.B.502, and claims by guardians of airmen’s motherless children on Form M.P.B.504. Copies of these forms are attached for use where applicable, together with an envelope in which to forward the claim to the Ministry of Pensions. Other dependants who desire to ascertain whether they are eligible for pension from the Ministry of Pensions should apply to the Regional Office of that Ministry, the address of which can be ascertained at any post office. Delay will result where application is made otherwise than to the Regional Office.
(iii) If the decision of the Ministry of Pensions is not received four weeks before the end of the period during which the temporary allowance continues to be payable, the applicant should write to the Ministry of Pensions at the following address:-
Ministry of Pensions,
(Widows’ and Dependants’ Pensions Branch),
Norcross, Blackpool, Lancs.
[underlined] PART III.- AIRMEN REPORTED PRISONERS OF WAR OR INTERNED [/underlined]
8. Private Effects under R.A.F. Control. – (i) These are dealt with as in para. 1 (i) (ii) and (v) above.
(ii) They cannot be released without the authority of the airman. Such an authority need be of an informal character only, e.g., a letter from the airman to his next-of-kin or personal representative.
9. Family and Dependants’ Allowances and Pay. – (i) See para. 2 (iii) above. Pay continues to be credited to the airman’s account. Allotments from the airman’s pay may be made or varied, and remittances may be made to Post Office Savings Bank or other bank, or nominee resident in the United Kingdom, in each case on receipt of a written request from the airman.
(ii) The airman’s pay is subject to deductions for any pay issued by the captor Government or by the Air Attaché in the country of internment.
[underlined] PART IV. – ENQUIRIES [/underlined]
10. Enquiries re Effects, Pay and Allowances. – Enquiries [italics] re [/italics] effects, pay and allowances should be addressed as follows:-
(i) [italics] Release of Effects [/italics] -
To :- The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry (Accounts 13).
Whittington Road, Worcester.
(ii) [italics] Other matters regarding Effects [/italics] -
To :- The Officer in Charge,
Central Depository,
Royal Air Force,
Colnbrook, Slough, Bucks.
(iii) [italics] Service Pay and Allowances [/italics] -
To :- The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry (Accounts 13),
Whittington Road, Worcester.
11. Enquiries re Airman Himself. – Any enquiries regarding the notification of the casualty or seeking further information regarding the airman should be addressed to:-
The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry (P.4.Cas.),
73-77, Oxford Street, London, W.1.
In this connection attention is invited to the fact that any further information received regarding an airman who has been reported a casualty is invariably passed on without delay to the next-of-kin and any other person who has been officially informed of the casualty.
Collection
Citation
Great Britain. Royal Air Force, “General Information and Guidance of the Next-of-Kin,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 24, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/28600.
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