All very good news - most (but not all) of which I was aware of. It may
be timely to start thinking about an updated version of the crash sites
guidance note, some aspects of which have now clearly been overtaken by
the developments you and Robin refer to. Would this be helpful, do
members think?

J

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hammond, Niall
Sent: 30 January 2006 16:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: WWII aircraft crash sites (was New listings of WW1 and WW2
airfield buildings)

John,
 
Robin has been very helpful in supplying details of known crash sites to
the
MOD so that we in the Historic Environment Team can advise the RAF
appropriately.
 
This is particularly important as all such sites are protected under the
1986 PMRA (Protection of Military Remains Act), which requires any
individual or group who are going to excavate, move or damage a crash
site
to gain prior approval from the RAF. This was primarily intended to
safeguard what are in many cases war graves from interference. We now
have
an internal system of consultation and advice within MOD whereby we
advise
the RAF on any applications they receive and are gradually ensuring that
in
addition to the protection of the human remains still contained within
many
crash sites, that we safeguard the cultural heritage element also, which
in
addition to the plane itself, may involve multi-period deposits
depending on
where the crash occurred. As a part of this we would normally include an
HER
consultation.
 
If any list members have concerns over specific proposed excavations of
military air crash sites, please get in touch.

Niall 

Niall Hammond 
Senior Historic Buildings Advisor 

Environment Support Team 
Defence Estates 
Gough Road 
Catterick Garrison                   Tel               01748 875058 
North Yorkshire                       Mobile         07734854668 
DL9 3EJ                                 Facsimile     01748 875097 

DE Environmental Support Team 
Integrating the Environment with Defence Needs 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: SCHOFIELD, John [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 January 2006 15:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: WWII aircraft crash sites (was New listings of WW1 and WW2
airfield buildings)



Dear Robin

 

I don't know about others, but I'm increasingly being asked for
locational
details for specific crash sites. It's useful therefore to know that NMR
is
becoming a major source for such information. Are you the main point of
contact for information about these sites in future? 

 

Also, it would be useful to know:

 

1 To what extent the 1,970 records represent a comprehensive list of
those
crash sites from WWII for which an accurate location is known. Are the
remainder less well documented for example?

 

2 What were the key sources used to reach the current figure, and 

 

3 Are there are any key sources that haven't yet been trawled?

 

4 Assuming from 'current' that you're not yet finished, what is the
timescale for completion?

 

It would be useful I think to advertise the fact that a fifth of these
sites
have been recorded on the NMR. Does the Air Historical Branch know for
example, and RAF Museum Hendon? A word with the EH Press Office perhaps?

 

John

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of PAGE, Robin
Sent: 30 January 2006 14:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: WWII aircraft crash sites (was New listings of WW1 and WW2
airfield
buildings)

 

Dear List members

 

Further to my recent posting forwarded to the list about military
aviation
data in the National Monuments Record, I have to own up to a statistical
error in my aside about the military aircraft crash sites we have
recorded.
The actual current figure should have been over 1,970 records not 19,700
which was a typographical error of mine. The current total thus
represents
about a fifth of the estimated total of some 10,000 aircraft lost over
this
country in WWII. I hope list members will accept my apologies for that
mistake.

Kind regards

Robin Page

 

Robin Page

English Heritage

Projects Team Officer

Datasets Development

Heritage Data Management

National Monuments Record Centre