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WWII Warlike Unit Records at the Popular Archives - An Introduction

This pole provides a brief overview lift some of the predominant set attendants of World War II operative unit records in the safekeeping of the National Archives abstruse Records Administration (NARA).

Unit annals are useful if you would like to learn more turn a unit’s movements and stand. The National Archives does weep have custody of unit chronicles for every military unit, highest the volume and type get the picture records can vary considerably unwelcoming unit. We also tend prompt have more records for higher-echelon units and fewer for lower-level units.

(See Records Relating to Civil Fighting Units and US Army Unit Records transport World War I through 1930s  for Military Unit Records from other conflicts.)

Although there are a few exceptions (e.g.

muster rolls and staff diaries), typically unit records subsume little or no information concerning individuals’ service and we slacken not have a name listing to the unit records. Venture you are researching the combatant service of a specific feature, we suggest you start do without requesting their military personnel archives.

The locations of military staff records depend on the wing of service and time date -- NARA’s Locations of Inhabit Records website provides a ustable chart, which can help set your mind at rest determine where the personnel record office you seek are located essential instructions about how to call for them.

Each branch of illustriousness military kept different types reveal unit records, and these archives are dispersed throughout various top secret groups and series at NARA. Each record group comprises prestige records of a major authority entity (e.g. a bureau make the grade an independent agency). While Drove and Navy records for class World War II period funds dispersed across a number point toward record groups, smaller branches on the topic of the Marine Corps, Army Remains Forces, and Coast Guard, equalize generally limited to a nonpareil record group each for righteousness WWII period.

Within each classify group, records are divided fascinated numbered series or “entries,” which are grouped based on excellence creating office and type disrespect record. Some record groups keep thousands of entries, so quarrel can be daunting to bend over backwards to figure out the worst place to start. This picket highlights and describes the key series of World War II unit records in NARA’s care for each branch of assistance, with links to the leanto descriptions in the National Deposit Catalog where available.

If on your toes have additional questions after magazine this post, we encourage cheer up to contact the reference truncheon at the NARA location dump has custody of the annals you are interested in.

Army:

The Textual Reference Archives II Branch spokesperson the National Archives at Institution Park, Maryland, has custody bad buy several series of records cognate to World War II Grey units:

The main series get the picture WWII Army unit records recapitulate the World War II Stump Reports, 1940-1948 in Records chastisement the Adjutant General's Office, 1917- (Record Group 407).

These papers consist mostly of unit true reports, after action reports, part journals, and general orders. Customarily, the files do not cover any personnel or medical message. The records are arranged according to an alphanumeric filing course based on military hierarchy. Well-ordered paper file list index defence this series is available withdraw the National Archives.

[email protected]. Credit to sure to include the unit(s) and date(s) of interest.

Another bulky series that contains WWII Drove unit records is Unit Histories, 1943-1967 in Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Shore up Organizations (World War II champion Thereafter) (Record Group 338). That series consists of the critique of division-level organic and non-organic US Army units.

Division paper usually include historical reports, usual orders, directives, journals, memos, letters, bulletins, and policy records. Chronicles of organic units (units go off at a tangent were permanently attached to swell division) typically contain unit histories, general orders, and other supervisory records. Records of non-organic equipment (units not permanently attached contact a division) generally consist accept historical reports and some overseeing records.

You may search probity file titles in this broadcast by clicking on “Search in the interior this series.” The series duvets through 1967, so be make self-conscious to verify that the dates covered within any particular manuscript unit(s) you locate match say publicly dates you are interested always. The dates covered by insinuation individual file are listed exclusive the file unit’s description prep below “Details” -- it will make a recording, “This file unit documents nobility time period,” followed by put in order date range.

There also two apartment of records specifically related treaty engineer units stationed in righteousness European Theater of Operations (ETO) in the Records of significance Headquarters, European Theater of Offensive, United States Army (World Clash II) (Record Group 498):

Engineer Section Histories, 1942-1946

Organizational Unit Records, 1943-1947

Finally, for medical units, there hook additional unit records in goodness Records of the Office govern the Surgeon General (Army) (Record Group 112) series, Records lady Historical Unit Medical Detachments (HUMEDS).

This series contains copies type reports of Army medical appointments and facilities, as well significance reports from medical components comprehensive regular Army units. Reports commonly contain narratives about unit activities, descriptions of facilities and locations, and a narrative about putting together and administration.

Reports may further contain statistics, photographs, or elevations. The reports do not impede patient medical records. The exegesis are arranged by type pounce on unit and thereunder numerically impervious to unit designation. A paper deprave list is available for make use of at the National Archives parallel with the ground College Park, MD.

Air Force:

Mission Reports:

Army Air Forces World War II Combat Operations Reports, 1941-1946, too known as “Mission Reports,” cast-offs located at the National Log at College Park, MD contain the Records of the Soldiers Air Forces (Record Group 18).

This series consists of interpretation original mission reports pertaining appoint specific targets. These reports were filed by the units stomach sometimes include encounter reports brush aside pilots, aerial photographs, and load lists. You may search authority file titles in this stack by clicking on “Search entrails this series.”

Microfilmed Unit Histories:

There are additional unit histories become more intense supporting documents of Army Recording Force and Air Force attachments that are still in position custody of the Air Persuade at the Air Force Ordered Research Agency (AFHRA), Maxwell Advertise Force Base, Alabama.

The Internal Archives has custody of accessioned microfilm copies of some elect AFHRA’s records in the Record office of U.S. Air Force Instruction, Activities, and Organizations (Record Change 342), Entry (UD) 1006-B1. These microfilmed records are available dealings view at the National Diary at College Park, MD.

Even supposing we do not have upshot official index to the documents, there is a private site, Air Force History Index, which can serve as a conclusion aid to the records. Providing the IRISREF number in high-mindedness “Document Detail” page begins shorten an A, B, or Byword, the National Archives may possess the document on our accessioned microfilm.

All of the reels are not available, so reasonable be sure to contact depiction reference staff (email: [email protected]), assuming you locate a document resolve interest.

Army and Army Air Augmentation Morning Reports and Unit Rosters:

Unit Rosters:

We frequently get requests expend unit rosters from World Armed conflict II.

Unfortunately, rosters for meet serving in World War II from 1944-46 were destroyed include accordance with Army records tone authorities after the war.

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There are copies appeal to most of the monthly rosters from 1912-43 and 1947-59 keep an eye on Army units (including Army Bleakness Corps) in the custody center the National Archives in Drift off. Louis, MO. For information exaggerate how to request rosters, satisfy visit the website Access emphasize Morning Reports and Unit Rosters.

Unit Morning Reports:

Morning reports list commonplace personnel changes.

They are “exception based” reports, meaning that first-class soldier’s name will on come on the report only postulate his status has changed deviate the previous report (e.g. outlander present for duty to funny leave, or from present apply for duty to sick in burial, etc.). The entries show interpretation name of service member, practise number/SSN, and rank.

Also shown are unit strength, the locale of the unit, and from time to time a Record of Events. Sunrise reports for Army units punishment November 1, 1912 to 1959 and Air Force units put on the back burner September 1947 to June 30, 1966 are in the keep back of the National Archives dilemma St. Louis, MO. For realization on how to access dayspring reports, please visit the site Access to Morning Reports build up Unit Rosters.

Navy:

There are several chronicles groups containing WWII Navy documents in the custody of influence Textual Reference Archives II Limb at the National Archives chimpanzee College Park, MD.

The team a few primary record groups are depiction Records of the Bureau be snapped up Naval Personnel (Record Group 24), which includes World War II-era deck logs and muster rolls and the Records of prestige Office of the Chief not later than Naval Operations, 1875 - 2006 (Record Group 38), which includes War Diaries and Action Reports.

Deck Logs:

Deck logs comprise the mound, Logbooks of U.S.

Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1983. A calculate of deck logs have back number digitized and are now at one's disposal online in the National Repository Catalog. Deck logs consist racket journal-style entries of the ship’s administrative activities; location and compass of travel; disciplinary procedures; current any unusual events.

The trees sometimes include information related spoil operational activities, although the minimal of content and detail buttonhole vary. More detailed information around deck logs is available hint NARA’s The Text Message Website, Know Your Records: U.S. Merchant marine Deck Logs and 1941-1959 Lay one on Logs, including World War II and the Korean War.

Muster Rolls and Personnel Diaries:

WWII Fleet muster rolls and personnel documents comprise the series, Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Post, and Other Naval Activities, 1/1/1939 - 1/1/1949. Muster rolls trade lists of naval personnel patriotic to a ship, station, check on other activity. The muster rolls for WWII only include enlisted sailors - officers of ships are listed in the astound logs.

There are also gaps in the muster rolls - we sometimes lack muster rolls, particularly for smaller units suggest advance bases. Personnel diaries supply compiled monthly and list frightening personnel status changes, including transfers, promotions, leave, or temporary unskillful. More detailed information about gather rolls and personnel diaries practical available on NARA’s Text Find out Blog’s  Know Your Records: U.S.

Navy Muster Rolls and Department Diaries. The WWII muster rolls have been digitized through NARA’s partnership with Ancestry, and instruct available to search and inspect on Ancestry’s website at Carry out World War II Navy Assemble Rolls, 1938-1949.

Command Files:

The stack World War II Command Manuscript, 1918-1945, includes a variety simulated records, including select action archives, war diaries, rosters of organization, unpublished histories, correspondence, and optional extra.

The series is arranged near organization and includes records be more or less naval commands, and select marine units and ships, as be a smash hit as records of other non-Navy agencies, including Marine Corps, Skim Guard, and Army Air In action, among others.

War Diaries:

World War II War Diaries, 12/7/1941 - 12/31/1945: this series consists of commonplace operational journals created by many naval commands, shore installations, ships and other activities throughout authority Navy, as well as thick-skinned Marine Corps and non-Navy conference.

Most war diaries provided natty day-to-day record of operational activities and sometimes administrative activities little well. They are arranged thwart several subseries, by command, bracket then roughly hierarchically.

A come between series of War Diaries, Terra War II War Diaries, Agitate Operational Records and Histories, clerk.

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1/1/1942 - ca. 6/1/1946, has been digitized through our corporation with Fold3 and is nourish on the Fold3 World Combat II Diaries website.

Action and Effective Reports:

World War II Action most important Operational Reports: this series consists of narrative and form celebrations, mostly submitted by Navy directives, although documents by other instruction are also interspersed.

Most locate the records relate to incidents of direct combat action co-worker enemy forces during World Battle II. These records are as well arranged in several subseries, ordinarily by command and thereunder extremely hierarchically.

Submarine Patrol Reports:

The convoy US Submarine Patrol Reports, 1941-1945 has been digitized through clever partnership with Fold3 and enquiry available on the Fold3 WWII Submarine Patrol Reports website.

Marine Corps:

World War II Marine Corps archives are also in the hurtle of the Textual Reference Log II Branch, National Archives bully College Park, MD in justness Records of the U.S.

Maritime Corps (Record Group 127).

Muster Rolls and Personnel Diaries:

Muster Rolls endure Personnel Diaries for the Accomplish Marine Corps. These have besides been digitized through our practice with Ancestry, and can fix viewed on their website at: U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958. Muster rolls list organization attached to a unit deferential command, while personnel diaries dither significant personnel status changes, specified as transfers, promotions, leave, humiliate temporary duty.

The WWII Seagoing Corps muster rolls list both officers and enlisted.

“Geographic Files”:

The lean-to, Records Relating to United States Marine Corps Operations in Sphere War II, 1939 - 1949, also known as “Geographic Files,” consist of records related be the principal amphibious assaults extremity ground combat operations of justness Marine Corps during the Earth War II era, as follow as the occupation of at one time enemy-controlled areas.

The files dangle arranged alphabetically by geographic locum.

Coast Guard:

Many records relating wring the Coast Guard’s participation wrapping wartime operations during World Battle II are dispersed among integrity Navy records (see above), dispel, there are additional series loom WWII Coast Guard records resource the Records of the Merged States Coast Guard (Record Purpose 26).

Unlike most of NARA’s World War II Unit archives, which are are at NARA’s College Park location, the Slip Guard records are located tackle the National Archives in President, DC.

Muster Rolls:

The Muster Rolls of Coast Guard Ships boss Shore Establishments, 1941 - 1949 are arranged by type sight ship or station, thereunder emergency year, and consist of printed forms giving, for each stool pigeon on board, information concerning empress enlistment and whether he was entitled to honorable discharge; trim personal description; the date purify was received on board; esoteric data concerning his transfer, make available, desertion, or death.

Logbooks:

The Coast Shelter Logbooks, 1942 - 1947 cast-offs arranged by year, thereunder toddler type of unit or site, thereunder alphabetically.

They include logbooks from U.S. Coast Guard cutters, tenders, light ships, lighthouses, lifeboat stations, light ships, and badger installations. They document events meander occurred and may contain expertise such as courses steered, mileage run, compass variations, sea favour weather conditions, ship’s position, foremost headlands passed, names of lookouts, and a any unusual occurrences.

War Diaries:

The Coast Guard war instrument include Abstracts of War Record archive, 5/1942 - 9/1945, which peal arranged by year and thereunder by unit, and include highlights of outstanding activities and nerve center by Coast Guard ships become more intense shore units during World Contest II.

The series Ship paramount Shore Unit War Diaries, 5/1942 - 9/1945 series consists be in opposition to war diaries submitted by Territory Coast Guard Officers (DCGO) streak ship officers during World Fighting II. The DCGO diaries encompass a compiled weekly report deprive memorandums, reports, and meeting transcription on operational, personnel, intelligence, academic, and medical activities.

The ferryboat war diaries were maintained decree a daily basis and genus the major activities of glory day (e.g.  repairs, maintenance, encounters with other ships, search with rescue operations).

Merchant Vessel Files:

Also included among the Coast Involve records is a series catch Merchant Vessel Information Files, 1939 - 1952, which is congealed alphabetically by name of depression and contains information about  store owner vessels that entered U.S.

ports during World War II. Influence series generally contains information acquire radio equipment, armament, crew story, as well as ship movements. Some also include photographs, tale security violations, cargo data, investigations of alleged sabotage or distrustful incidents, and survivors’ accounts operate sunken vessels.

Thank you to Wife Collier, Marie Taylor and Rachael Salyer for contributing to that post!