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Hi all, first post here and i'm starting with a few questions if anyone can help.

I am researching my family tree and I have come accross a relative who was said to have been in the RAF but as with a lot of family stories I am finding they can be very far from the truth so I thought I would come on here to check it out.

He is said to have joined the RAF in 1968 at the age of 23 until the age of 26, in this time he is said to have flown spitfires and have been offered a post to train pilots.

So firstly can you tell me if he would have flown spitfires in the years between 1968 and 1971 and would it be possible to be able to train other pilots after only 3 years service?

He is said to have left due to a medical condition (although he is had the condition when he joined) he was offered a desk job but didn't want it and I am told that due to the nature of his post/contract/length of contract (not sure what) the RAF was able to tear up his records as if he was never there!

Are there really any circumstances where the RAF just rip up your service records?

Any help would be great thanks.

Well I'm no expert on the RAF but there is no way he flew spitfires in 1968!!

They were obsolete by the time of the Korean War in the 1950's.

I think the RAF were flying Lightnings, Phantoms and Harriers at that time but definately not Spitfires

Harriers came in to service in the Raf in 1969 so I dont think they would have advanced from a spitfire to a Harrier in one year!

Thanks for that, I had a look round online and I thought the Spitfire was long gone by then but I wanted to be sure!

Does anyone have any thoughts on the question of the RAF deleting service records?