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Historical Documents Online: Search Hints for Selected Topics

Military: World War II

Selected World War II Records in ARC

For information on other WWII sources at the National Archives, please see:

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  • Selective Service System Registration Cards for Ohio Men born April 28, 1877, through February 16, 1897
    998 registration cards have been digitized. These records are selected Selective Service System Registration Cards for Ohio men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897. Each card has information such as the individual's name, address, date and place of birth, signature, race, height, and weight. These cards relate to men who resided in Ohio at the time of registration, not because Ohio may have been their place of birth. These materials are held by NARA's Great Lakes Region (Chicago, IL).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 998 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Selective Service System Registration Card AND the last name of the individual you seek in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    World War II Selective Service System Registration Card for Stephen Towson Ables
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    ARC Identifier: 283136, Title: "World War II Selective Service System Registration Card for Stephen Towson Ables., 04/25/1942"

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  • Classified Files of the Extension and Credit Office, 1931 - 1946
    46 items have been digitized from the Salt Lake City Extension and Credit Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These materials are held at NARA's Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle, WA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 46 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Salt Lake City Extension and Credit Office in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit hits radio button to 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Eastern Navajo Agency, Pictorial Record of Fairs Held, Fall 1932
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    ARC Identifier: 298580, Title: "Eastern Navajo Agency, Pictorial Record of Fairs Held, Fall 1932, ca. 1930 - ca. 1938"

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  • Coded Administrative Camp Files Related to the Arvin (Weedpatch) California Migratory Labor Camp, 1933-1945
    18 multi-page documents relating to this series have been digitized. Included are weekly and monthly narrative reports, minutes of camp committee meetings, camp newspapers, accounting and financial records, property operation and disposition records, and reports on subjects such as occupancy, projects, and surveys of progress. Non-textual records consist of photographs. These materials are held by NARA's Pacific Region (San Bruno, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 18 multi-page digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Migrant Labor Camps in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    California Migratory Labor Camp Report for Week Ending February 28, 1936
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    ARC Identifier: 296511, Title: "Report for Week Ending February 28, 1936, 02/29/1936"

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  • The Franklin D. Roosevelt/Winston Churchill Correspondence, 1939 - 1945
    518 documents from the correspondence between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill from the outbreak of World War II in Europe through the United States' entry into the war in December, 1941 and up to President Roosevelt's death in April, 1945. These materials are maintained by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library (Hyde Park, NY).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 518 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter The Franklin D. Roosevelt/Winston Churchill Correspondence in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Press the Go button.
    6. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.
    7. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 4 file units. Click on that link to view the hit list for all 4 file units. Click on the respective File unit descriptions for 1939 Correspondence, 1940 Correspondence, 1941 Correspondence, 1942 Correspondence.
    8. Within each file unit, scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes items. Click on the Includes link to view the hitlist for the digitized items for each file unit. Click on the Title to view each individual item.

    From the Collection:

    Letter from Winston Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1942
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    ARC Identifier: 195299, Title: "Winston Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt, 06/13/1942."

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  • Destruction of the S. S. Montebello, 1941 - 1946
    11 documents have been digitized from this series. This series is composed of a single file documenting the December 23, 1941, sinking of the steam tanker S. S. Montebello.  The tanker was sunk by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine in coastal waters near San Simeon, California. The tanker had departed from Port San Luis Obispo loaded with crude oil for delivery to Vancouver, BC. These materials are held by NARA's Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 11 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Montebello in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link The Franklin D. Roosevelt/Winston Churchill Correspondence, 1939 - 1945. .

    From the Collection:

    Report of Casualty, December, 1941
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    ARC Identifier: 295002, Title: "Report of Casualty, 12/23/1941"

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  • World War II Action and Operational Reports, 1941-1947
    The 96 page "Report of the Search for Amelia Earhart, July 2-18, 1937," of the U. S. Navy has been digitized from this series.  The vast bulk of this series dates from the World War II period. The U.S. Navy also filed among these records some reports dated both before and after this time frame, although they are relatively few in number. These materials are held by NARA's Modern Military Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized report:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Search for Amelia Earhart in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    U. S. Navy Report of the Search for Amelia Earhart, July 2-18, 1937
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    ARC Identifier: 305240, Title: "U. S. Navy Report of the Search for Amelia Earhart, July 2-18, 1937., 07/31/1937"

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  • Selected Records Related to Significant Pacific War Theater Battles, 1941 - 1945
    12 multi-page documents have been digitized from this series. This series consists of messages, dispatches and reports focusing on three significant events: 1) the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7, 1941 and related messages until December 11, 1941; 2) Narrative reports for the Hawaiian Islands and other locations under the administrative jurisdiction of the 14th Naval District: 3) the Battle of Midway June 1-20,1942 and VJ day, August 12-15,1945. These materials are held by NARA's Pacific Region (San Bruno, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 12 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Significant Pacific War Theater Battles in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Press the Go button.
    6. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link Records Related to Significant Pacific War Theater Battles, 1941-1945., 12/07/1941 - 08/15/1945
    7. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 1 file units. Click on that link to view the hit list for all links to view the file units. Within the file units, click on the Includes link to view the 12 digitized items for that file unit.

    From the Collection:

    Message pertaining to the attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941
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    ARC Identifier: 296795, Title: "Message pertaining to the attack on Pearl Harbor., 12/07/1941"

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  • Selected Documents Relating to the War Manpower Commission, Region VII, 1942 - 1945
    At least 35 multi-page documents have been digitized from these records. The War Manpower Commission was established within the Office for Emergency Management by an executive order of April 18, 1942, to "formulate plans and programs and establish basic national policies to assure the most effective mobilization and maximum utilization of the nation's manpower in the prosecution of the war." These materials are held by NARA's Southeast Region (Atlanta, GA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the multi-page digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter War Manpower Commission in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Labor Market Developments Report entailing the ratio of non-whites and women in the workforce
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    ARC Identifier: 281508, Title: "Labor Market Developments Report entailing the ratio of non-whites and women in the workforce, labor demands, labor turnover, training, absenteeism, overstaffing, and related community problems such as day care, laundries and transportation., 06/12/1943"

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  • World War II posters, 1942 - 1945
    2,829 posters have been digitized from this series. Posters from various Federal agencies, assembled by the Division of Public Inquires, Office of War Information, and used to promote the war effort. These materials are held by NARA's Still Picture Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 2,829 digitized posters:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter World War II Posters in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Press the Go button.
    6. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link for World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945.
    7. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 2,829 items. Click on that link to view the hit list for all 2,829 items.

    From the Collection:

    WWII Poster saying Keep'em Flying is Our Battle Cry
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    ARC Identifier: 513525, Title: "Keep'em Flying is Our Battle Cry. Do Your Part for Duty-Honor-Country., 1941-1945", Local Identifier: NWDNS-44-PA-37

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  • War Production Board, 1942 - 1943
    1,568 posters have been digitized in this series. The posters were used in various production drives instituted by the War Production Board. These materials are held by NARA's Still Picture Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 1,568 digitized posters:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter War Production Board in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 2000.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Poster saying No Factory Will Run On Memorial Day, from about 1942
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    ARC Identifier: 533867, Title: "No Factory Will Run On Memorial Day, ca. 1942 - ca. 1943", Local Identifier: NWDNS-179-WP-9

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  • Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority (WRA), 1942 - 1945
    3,961 photographs have been digitized from this series. Professional photographers, including Dorothea Lange, were commissioned by the WRA to document the daily life and treatment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. These photographs show Japanese-Americans at home and at work immediately prior to evacuation; evacuees at assembly centers where they were processed before being assigned to relocation centers; agricultural, vocational, educational, recreational, religious and internal political activities at each of the ten relocation centers, supervisory personnel and local officials; Nisei resettled in their former homes or at work after releases from a relocation center; Nisei servicemen and women at awards ceremonies or on leave; the arrival and departure of evacuees who were transferred from one of the relocation centers to the Tule Lake Segregation Center in September 1943, including a few photographs of repatriated Japanese-Americans embarking for Japan; property formerly owned by Japanese-Americans, but vandalized, deserted, or taken over by Chinese-Americans and others. These materials are held by NARA's Still Picture Records (College Park, MD). 

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 3,961 digitized photographs:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Press the Go button.
    6. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority, 1942 - 1945.
    7. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 3,961 items. Click on that link to view the hit list for all 3961 items.

    From the Collection:

    Yugoslavian farmer is taking over berry farm formerly operated by resident in Centerville, California
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    ARC Identifier: 536420, Title: "Centerville, California. Yugoslavian farmer is taking over berry farm formerly operated by resident . . ., 04/18/1942", Local Identifier: NWDNS-210-G-A528

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  • World War II War Diaries
    1 page from this document has been digitized. World War II war diaries are daily journals of events submitted by all but the most minor of naval commands during WW II. The operational information they contain is complementary to information provided by action reports, the basic source of reports for naval actions/operations during WW II. 11 pages have been digitized from the action report of the USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) for action with Japanese aircraft on October 13, 1944. The structure and style of information presented in war diaries is analogous to that found in the deck logs of Navy ships.  Other records that could be consulted include casualty reports. These materials are held by NARA's Modern Military Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 1 digitized document:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter War Diary of USS FRANKLIN in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    War Diary of USS FRANKLIN (CV-13), October 1944
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    ARC Identifier: 305242, Title: "War Diary of USS FRANKLIN (CV-13), October 13, 1944., 10/13/1944"; This war diary entry is one example of several kinds of records that may be consulted regarding specific engagements of U.S. Navy ships / units like the USS FRANKLIN during World War II. This entry covers a Japanese attack against the ship.

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  • Aerial Photography of Auschwitz Concentration Camp
    A number of photographs have been digitized from this collection. 20 aerial photographs showing the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and a Central Intelligence Agency analysis of this photography. Additional aerial photographs of Auschwitz taken by the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1935-1965. These materials are held by NARA's Cartographic and Architectural Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized photographs:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Auschwitz OR Aerial Photographs in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex, 1944
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    ARC Identifier: 306056, Title: "Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex, 12/27/1944"

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  • Samuel H. Beer Papers: U. S. Military Government in Germany
    26 multi-page documents have been digitized from this series. The digitized documents relate to the attitudes of the German People immediately following World War II. Included are reports and interviews with resistance fighters; town leaders; and intellectuals; and the views of American soldiers on questions of "What is a good Nazi?" and "Why was there no underground?" These materials are held by the John F. Kennedy Library (Boston, MA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 26 multi-page digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Sam Beer in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Interview With Dr. Kuper Oberburgermeister of Bayreuth, 1945
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    ARC Identifier: 192629, Title: "Interview With Dr. Kuper Oberburgermeister of Bayreuth, 07/27/1945"

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  • Exhibits, 11/15/1945-05/31/1946
    25 photographs submitted as exhibits to the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack. These materials are held by NARA's Center for Legislative Archives (Washington, DC).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 25 photographs:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Joint Committee Investigation Pearl Harbor Attack in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Photograph of the USS Shaw hit by three bombs
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    ARC Identifier: 306531, Title: "Photograph of the USS Shaw hit by three bombs which exploded in her forward magazine during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 12/07/1941"

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  • State Summaries of War Casualties for the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard during World War II, 1946
    The series consists of casualty lists for each of the forty-eight existing states, the District of Columbia, and Territories and Possessions of the United States and Foreign Countries. The names in the lists were taken from casualty lists released by the Navy Department, corrected to the most recent casualty status and recorded residence of the next of kin as of the date of publication. In other words, inclusion of names in a particular State's list was determined solely by the residence of the next of kin at the time of notification of the last wartime casualty status. These materials are held by NARA's Modern Military Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized lists:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter War Casualties in curly braces AND Navy in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Alabama
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    ARC Identifier: 305186, Title: "State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Alabama, 1946"

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  • World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel, 1946
    This document lists War Department casualties (Army and Army Air Force personnel) from World War II. Entries in the list are arranged by name of county and thereunder alphabetically by name of deceased. Information provided includes serial number, rank and type of casualty. The birthplace or residence of the deceased is not indicated. An introduction explaining how the list was compiled, a statistical tabulation, and the descriptions of the types of casualties incurred are also included. These materials are held by NARA's Modern Military Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized lists:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Honor List in curly braces AND Army in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from New York
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    ARC Identifier: 305309, Title: "World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from New York, 1946"

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  • Selected Documents Relating to the European Theater of Operations during World War II
    3 multi-page documents relating to the European Theater of Operations during World War II have been digitized. The digitized documents include letters from General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lieutenant General George S. Patton praising American ordnance products; the escape and evasion case file for Flight Officer Charles (Chuck) E. Yeager; and the missing air crew report for Lieutenant Colonel John R.S. Morgan, Major Glenn Miller, and Flight Officer Norman F. Baessell. These materials are held by NARA's Modern Military Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized letters from General Dwight D. Eisenhower:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Letters from General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized document relating to Flight Officer Charles E. Yeager:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Escape and Evasion Case File and Yeager in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    Search Hint: To retrieve the digitized document Missing Air Crew Report for Lieutenant Colonel John R.S. Morgan, Major Glenn Miller, and Flight Officer Norman F. Baessell:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Missing Air Crew Report and Glenn Miller in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Missing Air Crew Report for Lieutenant Colonel John R.S. Morgan, Major Glenn Miller, and Flight Officer Norman F. Baessell, 1945
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    ARC Identifier: 305258, Title: "Missing Air Crew Report for Lieutenant Colonel John R.S. Morgan, Major Glenn Miller, and Flight Officer Norman F. Baessell, 01/08/1945"

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