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Old 12th September 2005, 15:02
Rabe Anton Rabe Anton is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Alabama U.S.A.
Posts: 256
Rabe Anton
Re: "US Operation Record Book" Which inside and where ?

Hallo Bertrand!


The USAAF did not use Operational Record Books ("ORBs").

There are two primary series of records for the operational history of USAAF units. First, an operational summary or "mission report " was prepared for each combat mission flown by each unit. These are the master records for each operation. The ops sums generally state the number and type of aircraft launched; date; time up, TOT, and time down; ordnance released or rounds fired; observed results of the attack; and losses. The individual aircraft and pilots participating in the mission are NOT usually recorded. The AFHRA holds ca. 10-15 percent of mission reports for World War II; the National Archives the remaining ca. 85 percent. There is no observable pattern as to what records are in which institution.

The second main series of operational records for USAAF units are the unit histories. These vary widely, so widely that one can only say that sometimes quite a lot of operational data may be found and sometimes little or none. As you seem to be French, it may help to know that the unit histories are the equivalent of les journaux de marche.

Best,

RA
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