392nd Bomb Group

RESEARCH HELP
FINDING AN INDIVIDUAL VETERAN

FIRST AND FOREMOST, we want to help you find the information regarding your loved one that served in WWII. That is why we have assembled the following information and ways to find the information you are looking for. While we have found many resources to find answers to your questions, we are sorry that we not able to research all of the individual requests we receive for non-392nd BG Crusaders.

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IF YOU KNOW THE BOMB OR FIGHTER GROUP try searching Google.com by the bomb/fighter group. Many bomb/fighter groups have websites with active historians and researchers that will help you.

IF YOU DON"T KNOW THE PERSON'S BOMB OR FIGHTER GROUP NUMBER OR THE GROUP DOES NOT HAVE A WEBSITE THEN:

  1. Family members is good place to start your research. Gather all the information you can, such as letters, stories, newspaper clippings, grave markers, etc. Knowing the person's army serial number, bomb/fighter group affiliation, hometown, date of birth and place and date of death are important for continued research.

  2. Check with The American Air Museum in Duxford, England by Clicking here. They have the largest database of 8thAAF personnel.

  3. Fold3 records have all the Missing Air Crew Reports, casualties for every U.S. war, enlistment records, draft cards, census records, aircraft dispositions, etc. https://www.fold3.com   Fee of $7.95/month

  4. Check the records at the National Archives’ on-line database at http://aad.archives.gov/aad/

  5. Check the records at the National Archives’ at St Louis https://www.archives.gov/st-louis

  6. Hometown newspapers often listed when they graduated from boot camp, completed training phases, were promoted, sometimes even in action overseas. Most certainly if MIA or KIA will be listed in their local newspaper.

  7. A great site for Military Records is the National Archives. There you find their WWII history documents.

  8. Another great site for deceased veterans is FindaGrave.com. Often you find their WWII history too.

  9. If the veteran you are searching for was killed in action and is still buried overseas then they should be listed at American Battle Monuments Commission WWII Honor Roll

  10. If your veteran is buried in a national cemetery then check the Department of Veterans Affairs: National Cemetery Administration - Nationwide Gravesite Locator

  11. Try Google.com and search by name, by Army Serial Number or name and serial number.

  12. If you know nothing, go to the WWII Army Enlistment Records There you can find their serial number, residence state, etc.

  13. If you are a military veteran, or Next of kin of a deceased, former member of the military, you can Request Military Service Records Online, or by Mail, or by Fax.  Otherwise use the Military Record Requests Using Standard Form 180 (SF-180)

  14. If you find or have the Army Serial Number then go to Military Service Records for info on how to request DD-214 discharge documents from St. Louis.

  15. If he was a POW, go to the World War II Prisoners of War Data File This will give date of capture and where he was held. To learn about the different Stalag Lufts in Europe, go to https://www.b24.net/pow

  16. If you know the plane name and if it was a B-24, it might be listed at http://b24bestweb.com/ This might also give the bomb group.

  17. MIAs never found or recovered can be found at Service Personnel Not Recovered

IF YOUR ARE LOOKING FOR A PARTICULAR BOMB or FIGHTER GROUP, BASE, TARGET or MISSION INFORMSTION: Click here.

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ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT RESEARCH RESOURCES

National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records: This is where you obtain Service Records (201 file) located in St. Louis. Note that a fire in 1973 destroyed many records, nearly 80% of them. You'll need their Standard Form 180 and an understanding of the Privacy Act of 1974.

With access to a printer and the Adobe Acrobat Reader software available below, you may download and print a copy of the Standard Form 180 - Request Pertaining to Military Records. The front and back of the form are separate files which must be downloaded separately. NOTE: Please download both sides of the form as the back of the form contains important mailing addresses and instructions.

The Standard Form 180 is formatted for legal size paper (8.5" X 14"), please print that way if your printer can accomodate. If your printer can only print on letter size paper (8.5" X 11"), select "shrink to fit" when the Adobe Acrobat Reader "Print" dialog box appears.

Standard Form 180            FREE Adobe Acrobat .PDF Reader

Mailing address for Military Personnel Records: National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

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Form for the 293 file, Individual Deceased Personnel File:
If the individual you are researching was killed in action, the disinterment file will have information about the identification and reburial process. The U.S. Total Army Personnel Command handles these requests.

Mailing address for Individual Deceased Personnel File:
Commander
Army Human Resources Command
Attn: AHRC-PED-D
200 Stovall Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22332

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National Archives:
MACR's, KU-Reports, Tactical Mission Summaries, replies may take two to four months. Records pertaining to the military in W.W.II are maintained at National Archives at College Park, MD (Archives II).

Mailing address for MACR'S,KU Reports and Tactical Mission Summaries:
National Archives and Records Administration
Textual Reference Branch
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone 301-713-7250

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Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
Located at Maxwell AFB Alabama. A great potential source for unit information and for purchasing microfilm records. Replies may take five to six months, but the wait is well worth it.

Mailing address for unit information and for purchasing microfilm records:
AFHRA/RSA
600 Chennault Circle
Maxwell AFB, Alabama 36112-6424
Phone (334) 953-2437 FAX (334) 953-4096

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Air Force History Support Office (AFHSO): Located at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. In conjunction with the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, which is the primary repository of historical information, the office responds to requests for information from private organizations, government agencies, and the general public.

Mailing address for the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA):
AFHSO/HOS
Reference and Analysis Division
200 McChord Street, Box 94
Bolling AFB, DC 20332-1111
Phone 202-404-2261

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OTHER USEFUL RESEARCH WEB SITES

Lynn.Gamma@maxwell.af.mil.To request documents or information from AFHRA

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/digital/eightairforce.html. Penn state Special Collections Library; the 8th Air Force Collection

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/ .National Archives’ on-line database of WWII enlistment records and POW records.

http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/. Information for researchers about the National Archives at College Park, MD, including how to contact the staff

http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1. Database of all persons buried in a national or state veterans cemetery. Can be used to determine if there was a group burial.

http://www.abmc.gov/. Web site of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including information on all US military cemeteries overseas and a database of burial listings

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbaf.htm. Database of Aircraft Accident Reports, searchable by pilot’s name, date, location, aircraft serial number, group, squadron, and home base

http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/war/crashes.htm. Foreign aircraft that landed in Ireland 1939-1946

http://www.axpow.org/. American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization

http://www.aafcollection.info/. Training manuals, postcards, and documents about the U.S.A.A.F. in WWII.

http://historylink101.com/ww2_color/index.html. Color photos of the U.S.A.A.F in WWII

http://www.merkki.com/.Information about Stalag Luft I, including a prisoner roster

http://www.heritageleague.org/. For family members and friends of 2nd Air Division veterans

POW Stalag Luft 4.   Greg Hatton's research on Stalag Luft 4