1 Reply Latest reply on Dec 3, 2019 2:37 PM by Rebecca Collier

    Seeking records of Army Air Corps Air Courier Service

    Kathy Blacklock Newbie
    Kathy Blacklock Nov 15, 2019 1:20 PM

      My dad joined the U.S. Army Air Corps (later U.S. Air Force) in 1940. He was eventually assigned to the air courier service, delivering cryptographic materials. Is there any source to learn more about that service's activities in the early 1940s, or a source for any specific information about my father's assignments during that time? We know he flew to many locations, delivering code-breaking machines. One of the group's members eventually "lost" a delivery, and the work was then given to the U.S. Army to continue! Thank you for any assistance you can offer.

      • 38 Views
      • Tags:
        • Re: Seeking records of Army Air Corps Air Courier Service
          Rebecca Collier Ranger
          Rebecca Collier Expert Dec 3, 2019 2:37 PM (in response to Kathy Blacklock)

          Dear Ms. Blacklock,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          We searched the National Archives Catalog and located a series titled Decimal Correspondence Files, 1943 - 1945 of the G-3 (Operations) Division of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) in the Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II (Record Group 331) that includes a file unit titled 311.125 Air Courier Service. For access to and/or copies of this file unit, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.

           

          We also located a series titled Administrative, Historical, and Policy Correspondence Files, 12/1952 - 3/1955 of the Army-Air Force Security Courier Service that was formed in 1949 and includes some information about its predecessors. Please contact RDT2 for access to this series.

           

          In addition, we searched the index to the Air Force History and located 32 hits for the Air Courier Service from December 7, 1941 to September 30, 1945. Please read the brief Abstract for each hit to determine which records you are interested in and click on the specific PDF icon. In the PDF listing, the IRISREF is the microfilm reel number and note the FRAME and FRAMELST numbers for the location on the reel. If the reel number begins with A, B or C, please contact RDT2 for access to them. If the reel number begins with D - Z, the microfilm is still security classified and RDT2 will not be able to make the reel available to you. The original paper copy from which the film was created is still in the custody of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) and has been declassified. For access to these records, please contact AFHRA, 600 Chennault Circle, Building 1405, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL  36112-6424. The web site is https://www.afhra.af.mil/.

           

          We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research.

           

          2 people found this helpful