Guide to Federal Records

Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations


(Record Group 342)
1900-85, 1991

Overview of Records Locations

Table of Contents
  • 342.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  • 342.2 AIR FORCE UNIT HISTORIES AND SUPPORTING RECORDS 1920-73 1,837 rolls of microfilm
  • 342.3 RECORDS OF THE ENGINEERING DIVISION AND ITS PREDECESSORS 1916-51
  • 342.4 RECORDS OF THE AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND AND ITS PREDECESSORS 1961-65
  • 342.5 RECORDS OF THE AIR UNIVERSITY (AIR TRAINING COMMMAND, MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, AL) 1968-81
  • 342.6 RECORDS OF AIR FORCE BASES 1945-68
  • 342.6.1 Records of Griffis Air Force Base, Rome, NY
  • 342.6.2 Records of Homestead Air Force Base, FL
  • 342.6.3 Records of Sundance Air Force Base, WY
  • 342.7 RECORDS OF THE ARCTIC, DESERT, AND TROPIC INFORMATION CENTER 1934, 1943-44, 1953, 1955
  • 342.8 RECORDS OF THE AERONAUTICAL CHART AND INFORMATION CENTER (ACIC) 1947-71
  • 342.9 RECORDS OF AIR FORCE OPERATIONAL UNITS 1950-65
  • 342.10 RECORDS OF THE ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 1902-62
  • 342.11 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
  • 342.12 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL) 1900-72
  • 342.13 TEXTUAL RECORDS (GENERAL) 1955-1980
  • 342.14 VIDEO RECORDINGS (GENERAL) 1991
  • 342.15 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL) 1954-85, 1991
  • 342.16 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL) 1945-81
 342.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.

Related Records: Record copies of publications of the U.S. Air Force in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government. Records of the Army Air Forces, RG 18.
Records of Headquarters U.S. Air Force (Air Staff), RG 341.
Records of Joint Commands, RG 349.

Top of Page

 342.2 AIR FORCE UNIT HISTORIES AND SUPPORTING RECORDS
1920-73

1,837 rolls of microfilm

Textual Records: Security-classified and unclassified microfilm copies of records held in the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, consisting of air force unit histories with accompanying issuances, correspondence, tables, charts, and reports, 1920-73.

Related Records: Microfilm copies of these records are also available at the Office of Air Force History, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC.

Top of Page

 342.3 RECORDS OF THE ENGINEERING DIVISION AND ITS PREDECESSORS
1916-51


History: Airplane Engineering Department, Aviation Section, Office of the Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Army, established October 13, 1917. Redesignated Airplane Engineering Division and transferred to Bureau of Aircraft Production, August 31, 1918. Redesignated Technical Division, January 1, 1919. Redesignated Engineering Division, Air Service, May 13, 1919. Redesignated Materiel Division, Air Corps, October 15, 1926. Redesignated Materiel Center (MC), Army Air Forces (AAF), March 6, 1942. Redesignated Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), by General Order 16, MC, April 6, 1942. New organization, designated Engineering Division, established under AFMC by Notice 103, AFMC, June 7, 1942. AFMC redesignated successively Materiel Command, April 15, 1943; AAF Materiel Command, June 15, 1944; AAF Materiel and Services Command, summer 1944; AAF Technical Service Command, September 1, 1944; Air Technical Service Command, July 1, 1945; and Air Materiel Command (AMC), March 13, 1946. Engineering Division transferred from AMC to Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) by Notice 77, AMC, April 3, 1951. ARDC redesignated Air Force Systems Command (AFSC); and Engineering Division redesignated Aeronautical Systems Division of AFSC, effective April 1, 1961, by Letter AFOMO 590M, Department of the Air Force (DAF), March 20, 1961.

Note: For administrative histories of the air force organization at the highest echelon, SEE 18.1, 18.2, 18.5, 18.7, 341.1, and 341.2.

Textual Records: Central decimal correspondence, 1916-49 (1,774 ft.). Research and development project contract files, 1921-51 (3,438 ft.). Microfilm copy of research and development technical reports, 1928-51 (400 rolls).

Related Records: Records of the Bureau of Aeronautics, RG 72.

Top of Page

 342.4 RECORDS OF THE AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND AND ITS PREDECESSORS
1961-65


History: Research and Development Command, USAF, consisting of research and development units formerly under Air Materiel Command, established January 23, 1950. Became operational February 1, 1950. Redesignated Air Research and Development Command, September 16, 1950. Redesignated Air Force Systems Command, effective April 1, 1961, by AFOMO 590M, DAF, March 20, 1961.

Textual Records (in Los Angeles): Orders and directives of the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing, Ballistic Missile Division, 1961-65.

Motion Pictures (40 reels): Staff Film Reports series, produced by the Air Research and Development Command to document technical advances in the development of aircraft, missiles, and weapons systems, 1954-57. SEE ALSO 342.12.

Top of Page

 342.5 RECORDS OF THE AIR UNIVERSITY (AIR TRAINING COMMMAND, MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, AL)
1968-81


Textual Records: Records of the Junior Operations Branch, Junior Program Division, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, consisting of Junior Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps unit files, 1968-81.

Top of Page

 342.6 RECORDS OF AIR FORCE BASES
1945-68


Note: This subgroup includes approximately 2 lin. ft. of records in process of reallocation from Record Group 338, Records of U.S. Army Commands, 1942-. Summary descriptions of these records are enclosed in braces {}.

Top of Page

 342.6.1 Records of Griffis Air Force Base, Rome, NY

Textual Records: {Records of Griffis Air Force Base, 1945-50.}

Top of Page

 342.6.2 Records of Homestead Air Force Base, FL

History: Activated April 1941. Designated Homestead Airfield September 16, 1942. Became operational November 1942. Inactivated December 14, 1945. Reactivated January 5, 1953. Redesignated Homestead Air Force Base, March 3, 1953.

Textual Records (in Atlanta): Real property case files of the 31st Civil Engineering Squadron, 31st Combat Support Group, 1953- 66. News releases of the Homestead AFB Public Information Office (Directorate of Information, Headquarters, 19th Bomb Wing [Heavy], Strategic Air Command), 823d Support Group, 1965.

Top of Page

 342.6.3 Records of Sundance Air Force Base, WY

Textual Records (in Denver): Miscellaneous program correspondence, 1963-68.

Top of Page

 342.7 RECORDS OF THE ARCTIC, DESERT, AND TROPIC INFORMATION CENTER
1934, 1943-44, 1953, 1955


History: Established under the Proving Ground Command, AAF, at Eglin Field, FL, by directive from Maj. Gen. Muir S. Fairchild, Director, Military Requirements, HQAAF, to Brig. Gen. Grandison Gardner, Commanding General, Proving Ground Command, AAF, September 20, 1942. Transferred to Office of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, HQAAF, and relocated to New York City, October 1943. Transferred to Tactical Center, AAF, Orlando Field, FL, and redesignated Arctic, Desert, and Tropic Branch, April 1944. Deactivated, October 1945. Reactivated by directive from Commanding General, USAF, to Commanding General, Air University, USAF, February 26, 1947.

Textual Records: Copy of a report by Charles A. Lindbergh on the Greenland-Iceland transatlantic route, 1934. Activity report of the Ice Cap Detachment, Greenland Base Command, 1943-44. Instructor's manual for the Arctic, prepared by Dr. Vilhjahmur Stefansson, 1943. National Geographic Society survey of literature on the Greenland ice cap, 1953. Report on the use of ice for aircraft landing strips, 1955.

Top of Page

 342.8 RECORDS OF THE AERONAUTICAL CHART AND INFORMATION CENTER (ACIC)
1947-71


History: For an administrative history of ACIC and its predecessors, SEE 456.2, "Air Force Predecessors," in RG 456, Records of the Defense Mapping Agency.

Maps and Charts: Sets of published world aeronautical, pilotage, approach, and strategic planning charts, with index charts, 1947-71 (4,111 items). Charts of the surface of the moon, and a lunar photomap atlas, 1960-62 (347 items).

Top of Page

 342.9 RECORDS OF AIR FORCE OPERATIONAL UNITS
1950-65


Note: This subgroup includes approximately 6 lin. ft. of records in process of reallocation from Record Group 338, Records of U.S. Army Commands, 1942- . Summary descriptions of these records are enclosed in braces {}.

Textual Records: {Records of the 13th Air Force, 1953. Records of the Continental Air Defense Command, 1954-55, 1958. Records of the 3904th Composite Wing, 1952.} Special orders, 465th Bombardment Wing, Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA, 1965 (in Atlanta). {History reports of the 324th Troop Carrier Wing, 1950- 52. Records of the 372d Engineer Aviation Battalion, 1952.} Special orders, 693d Radar Squadron, Dauphin Island Air Force Station, AL, 1965 (in Atlanta).

Top of Page

 342.10 RECORDS OF THE ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
1902-62


Textual Records (in Anchorage): History of Alaska Communications System during World War II, September 1945. Cable ship operational histories, 1902-32. Publicity scrapbooks, 1942-56. Weekly reports of tests, 1960-62.

Related Records: Additional records of the Alaska Communications System in RG 111, Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer.

Top of Page

 342.11 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)

SEE Maps and Charts UNDER 342.8.

Top of Page

 342.12 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)
1900-72


Air Force Digest series, 1953-55 (65 reels). Air Force News Review series, 1939-59 (349 reels). Armed Forces Information Films series, 1950-63 (46 reels). Tarzon Bomb, documenting bomb development, 1963 (2 reels). General Holtoner and Bill Holden - Sound Barrier, documenting the actor's visit to an Air Force base and his ride in a jet fighter, 1956 (1 reel). Film Reports series, 1958-66 (153 reels). Film Training Aids series, 1953-63 (103 reels). Department of Defense News Releases series, 1952-54 (410 reels). Report to the Armed Forces series, documenting the preparations for a nuclear detonation on Eniwetok Island and the construction of the air base at Thule, Greenland, 1953 (6 reels). Special Film Projects series, 1943-64 (1,785 reels). Technical Film Reports series, documenting the development of the Snark long-range missile system, 1950-55 (9 reels). Training Films series, 1942-63 (208 reels). Project Crossroads atomic bomb tests, Bikini Atoll, 1946 (77 reels). Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 1945 (133 reels). Gun Sight Aiming Point series, consisting of Korean War gun camera footage, 1951-53 (36 reels). U.S. Air Force activities in Greenland, Labrador, Washington State, and Alaska in support of the International Geophysical Year, 1953-59 (75 reels). USAF series, consisting of edited and unedited footage documenting early aviation; aerial warfare during World Wars I and II; experimental aircraft and missile testing; air force command activities during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis; and air operations in Southeast Asia, with accompanying index and documentation, 1900-72 (4,968 reels).

Finding Aids: Master catalogue cards and production files for the Air Force Digest series, Air Force News Review series, Film Training Aids series, New Releases series, Special Film Projects series, Technical Film Reports series, Training Films series, and USAF series. Master catalog cards only for Film Reports series. Production files only for Staff Film Reports series.

SEE UNDER 342.4.

Top of Page

 342.13 TEXTUAL RECORDS (GENERAL)
1955-1980


Security-classified correspondence of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence concerning tactical intelligence in Vietnam, 1955-1980. Security-classified records of the Strategic Air Command, consisting of Vietnam-related combat operations reports from the 8th Air Force, 1972-73; bombing mission messages, 1966; and correspondence and other records concerning target identifications and air operation, 1965-68. Military Airlift Command security-classifed logbooks, 1965-68. Security-classified records of the Pacific Air Forces, consisting of Southeast Asia "Project Checo" air operations reports, 1967; reports on the history of the 7th Air Force's U.S. Support Activities Group, 1973-75; comments on proposed changes to Pacific Air Forces regulations and procedures manuals, 1966-74; operational analysis reports, 1965-68; and a report on force reduction planning, 1968. Records of the 8th Air Force, consisting of correspondence relating to the readiness and reliability of Strategic Air Command forces and equipment, 1964-68; and a record set of superseded or rescinded Air Force publications, 1963-67. Security-classified records of the Seventh Air Force, consisting of combat operations reports from the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing; and reports on 12th Tactical Fighter Wing missions, 1966-69. Security-classified Southeast Asia equipment operational requirements modification case files for the Seventh Air Force. Security-classified reports on the history of the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing, 1970-75. Security-classified mixed files relating to various USAF combat operations and other activities during the Vietnam War, 1961-77. Security-classified records of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, under the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), consisting of daily and weekly statistical reports and summaries on air combat operations, 1968-74; aircraft loss or accident reports, 1968-73; and Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) emergency actions file, 1966-74.

Top of Page

 342.14 VIDEO RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
1991


Armament deliveries, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Kuwait, 1991, unclassified (110 items) and security-classified (295 items).

Top of Page

 342.15 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
1954-85, 1991


Air Force public information programs, including "Great Moments To Music," "Our Date With History," and "Serenade in Blue" series, 1954-76 (21 items). "Country Music Time," 1961-85 (818 items). Iraqi prisoner of war interviews, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Kuwait, 1991 (18 items).

Top of Page

 342.16 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
1945-81


Photographs: Air force personnel and activities in Germany and Japan following World War II, including 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, 1945-62 (G, J; 7,681 images). Scenes of post-World War II Europe, including war-damaged areas, industrial areas, urban and rural areas, and historic landmarks, 1946-48 (CGA, CGB, CGC, CGD; 674 images). U.S. Air Force activities, military projects, and operations, including the war in Vietnam; airmen and officers; aircraft and missiles; and airfields and bases in the United States and overseas, 1955-81 (AF, B, C; 140,245 images).

Finding Aids: Subject and name indexes and shelf lists to series AF and C.

Top of Page


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


Top of Page

Guide to Federal Records >

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272