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.

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

Tel: (02) 6266 5965
Fax: (02) 6266 5851

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 National Archives may only publicly release records which are over 30 years of age. 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 less than 30 years of age, so it cannot be viewed or copied at all.

Postwar RAAF service records are held by the Department of Defence in Canberra. We 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 National Archives at no cost.

To request a postwar RAAF service record, please complete the online form – defence service after World War II

The cost for an online copy is:

• AU$38.50 (including GST) for purchases within Australia
• AU$35 (GST-free) for purchases made outside Australia

The cost for a photocopy is:

• AU$48 (including GST) for purchases within Australia
• AU$50 (GST-free) for purchases made outside Australia

Medals

Information about medal entitlements is available from:

Defence Honours and Awards
T-1-49, Department of Defence
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 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

For more information on RAAF records see:

• Fact sheet 32 – RAAF service records
• Fact sheet 177 – Defence service records for WWI and WWII

You can also browse our other fact sheets on defence, armed services and war.