An update if anyone’s interested.
The thread title is a bit of a misnomer, as MoD admitted long ago it had destroyed key documents. For example, the ZD576 tasking records went in 2000, as soon as the estimable John Nichol asked for them.
More recently, and to prove again the validity of the above #135, further questions were asked.
The image below, which I hope is readable, is the first page of the reply to one question. The RAF’s Air Historical Branch, where the ZD576 records are claimed to be held, conducted three searches against key phrases – one of them ‘Mull of Kintyre’.
The reply is in ‘hit’ order. This isn’t the place to post the complete document, but I hope it gives you a flavour. The important thing is that, as predicted, the AHB doesn’t seem to hold the MoD(PE) Chinook Project Office or Boscombe Down records; and doesn’t seem to regard anything prior to 2 June 1994 as relevant, despite the MoK Review confirming the aircraft was not airworthy, only having a ground training and familiarisation clearance – something MoD admitted in 2012, although probably inadvertently.
It looks like only a small selection of Air Staff files are there. But kudos to the AHB for releasing these details. Increasingly, MoD is refusing FoI requests on the grounds it will take too long, meaning any request requiring a search of archives is unlikely to bear fruit.
Interesting top hit!
