Air Force – Service after World War II
Postwar RAAF personnel files
Records of service in the RAAF after World War II, including service in Korea, Malaya and Vietnam, are held by the Department of Defence.
The main source of information for RAAF personnel serving after World War II is the personnel file, listed in the table below.
If the service person served in the World War II period and then continued to serve after this period, the records of war service are combined in the postwar file.
Collection references
| Series title | Date range | Series number | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | RAAF personnel files – all ranks | 1949– | A12372 |
What's in a postwar RAAF personnel record?
Personnel files record general details of enrolment and service in the RAAF. The record may also include details of postings, promotions/demotions and date of separation, as well as correspondence between the individual or the individual’s relatives and the RAAF after the service person left the defence force.
Access to records
For former serving members and their next of kin
If you are a former serving member, or their next of kin, you can obtain a copy of the record of postwar RAAF service from the Department of Defence by contacting:
RAAF Personnel Records
Department of Defence
Queanbeyan Annex
Canberra ACT 2600
From the National Archives
The National Archives can provide access to postwar RAAF service records.
It is important to be aware that under our legislation, the Archives may only publicly release records which are in the open access period. This means that if you request a record of postwar service from us, you may not be able to view the whole file. In some cases an entire file may consist of documents the Archives is unable to release, so it cannot be viewed or copied at all.
If you are seeking documents relating to your own service you should approach the Department of Defence (noted above).
Postwar RAAF service records are held by the Department of Defence in Canberra. We will request records from Defence to answer your inquiry.
Records, if located, will be temporarily transferred to the National Archives’ Canberra office. This process may take up to three months.
Once the record has been received by our Canberra office, a quote for the provision of an online copy or a photocopy will be sent to you. You may also choose to the view the record in the Canberra reading room of the Archives at no cost.
To request a postwar RAAF service record through the Archives, please complete the form defence service after World War II.
Other contacts
Medals
Information about medal entitlements is available from:
Defence Honours and Awards
T-1-49, Department of Defence
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: 1800 111 321
Email: honoursandawards@defence.gov.au
Website: www.defence.gov.au/medals/
Pension information and entitlements
Veterans' Affairs Network
Tel: 1300 551 918
Further information
For more information on RAAF records see:
You can also browse our other fact sheets on defence, armed services and war.
