The Museum holds the Archive for The Parachute Regiment and elements of other Airborne Forces. It consists of operational documentation, maps, plans, parachute course records and war diaries, but also includes information on experimental trials, equipment and, of course, a large amount of imagery. We also maintain an extensive library of Airborne related books.

We receive a large number of enquiries on a daily basis, and are reliant on our small curatorial and volunteer team to answer them. This means there can be a delay in receiving a full response, and we would ask that you be patient. If after a search of our archives, we find that we cannot help, we will offer advice on other research options - if available.

In order to help us in our research for you, please provide as much information as possible about the regiment and battalion, the full names of persons and places, and dates you are interested in.

In terms of research about individuals we do not hold large amounts of data, but we may be able to find some information relating to an individual, such as parachute course records, as long as we have a service number and details of the units served with.

We do not hold individual Service Records as these are held by the Ministry of Defence and can be obtained from them. We would recommend obtaining the Service Record from the MoD prior to submitting an enquiry to ourselves:

• > The Army Personnel Centre Historical Disclosures Section has access to Army records dating back to the 1920s and can supply information to the next of kin of deceased former soldiers and officers who have served since 1920, and to other enquirers, provided that 25 years have passed since the death of the subject.

• > If less than 25 years have passed the only information that will be provided to a general enquirer is the date of joining and the date of leaving service.

• > If further information is required you must obtain the consent of the next of kin.
• > Second World War Home Guard service records are also available.

Please note that there is a charge for this service.

APC MS Support
Disclosures 4
MP 555, Kentigern House,
Brown Street,
Glasgow G2 8EX
Tel: 0845 600 9663
Fax: 0141 224 3172
Email: disc4@apc.army.mod.uk

To submit an enquiry to the Museum Archive please use the email address below:
airborne.enquiries@btconnect.com

To help us maintain and develop the Museum and Archive please consider a donation of £10 for your enquiry. You can donate online from the button on our Supporters page here

Admission to the Archive for researchers costs £25 and includes access to IWM Duxford and Airborne Assault. Visits should be booked in advance and are accepted only on Tues, Weds, Thurs from 1000-1400.