ParaData

At the core of Airborne Assault is ParaData - the living history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.

At the Airborne Assault museum, visitors have touch screen access to this database, which aims in time to be a lasting digital record of all who have served.

ParaData includes searchable information on units, military decorations, and engagements such as Bruneval, Arnhem, Normandy, Suez, Falklands, Kosovo and Afghanistan with a guide to all campaigns. But above all it provides a definitive history of the men who go to war from the air - a continually updated document for serving and retired men, their families and descendants.

Service records, decorations, photographs, letters, original documents and citations are appended to each individual record and cross-referenced by campaign. Film and audio interviews are also available in some cases. Comrades can also leave reminiscences and personal memories.

This 21st Century archive will preserve for posterity in digital form this precious material from veterans and serving soldiers. Through its innovative use of multimedia ParaData will seek to engage a younger audience, whether researching family history or for school education.

So far we have been able to add basic details of those killed in service or decorated, as they are already in the public domain. Now we need your help.

We are now inviting your contributions of material to make ParaData as comprehensive archive as possible. Please visit the site at www.paradata.org.uk and find out how you can contribute to your airborne community history by including your details, photographs and memories.

You can contact ParaData at curator@paradata.org.uk

ParaData is a tribute In Memoriam to those members of Airborne Forces Killed in Service and to Lt Col David Dobie DSO (1912-1971) CO 1 Para Bn 1944-5 who fought at Arnhem.

Developed by specialists Cogapp, ParaData has won the Outstanding Achievement Award in the 'Military' category of the 2008 Interactive Media Awards (IMA).

The IMA competition was created to "recognise the highest standards of excellence in web design and development and honour individuals and organisations for their outstanding achievement". All entries are judged by members of the Interactive Media Council made up of leaders in web design, advertising, public relations and other industries.

We are delighted that the ParaData website, which launched in December 2008, has already been recognised as an exceptional contribution to the Internet at an international level.