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Seeking help in locating relative's WWII service records

isshinwhat

isshinwhat

Registered User
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I visited an air museum where I'm TDY and learned there's a good possibility that my grandfather was stationed here during WWII as a B-24 tail gunner. We requested his service records from the National Archives but they were destroyed in the 1973 fire. The paperwork they did send mentions "alternate record sources" but not what those are. Flying out of the same airport my grandfather could have when he was in the USAAF has really piqued my interest. I appreciate any advice you gentlemen have to offer as to what my next step should be. All I have is his service dates for WWII and his patch from the Central Flexible Gunnery School, Laredo Army Air Field to go on. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Get on the Air Force Academy's library website. It has been a few years, but they used to have a great search function. If you know your grandfather's squadron, you may be able to find his "squadron scrapbook"--I do not know the proper name, but I saw my grandfathers once (medic during ww2). Your other options, while tedious.... After action reports. It would take searching, but they are out there. The National archives has a pretty good search function. Find his squadron, and then look for him mentioned in after action reports. The navy's after action reports are found at the Operational Archives in DC. I am not for sure where the air forces holds its records but I want to say maxwell AFB. If you just want to know if he flew there, you could try to find anybody in his squadron. Again, the Navy has a locater service, you would have to find the one for the Air force/AAF. Last, most schools keep records. Find the records for the "Central Flexible Gunnery School" in your local federal depository. When all else fails---googlefu!

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1473638
http://books.google.com/books?id=_6...sig=fXRgdTl0RbUbjU9og8C71Gq7_K4&hl=en#PPP1,M1

The above book is probably the one that will lead you to your answer!

http://liberatorcrew.com/Manuals.htm

good luck, family history is something that literally dies around us each and every day. Its awesome that you are taking an interest in your family's past.

Questions--pm me
 
good luck, family history is something that literally dies around us each and every day. Its awesome that you are taking an interest in your family's past.
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Thanks for the quick response. To top it all off, the retired Commander who showed me around the museum (and who flew everything from Hellcats and Navy B-24s to A4s and Phantoms) let me crawl up in the A-26 they have on display. My grandad was a Nav on one during Korea, and a picture of him in an Invader sits on my desk (can't see any relevant info re: squadron, though), so this weekend has been special for me. I'm only an hour away from the Academy and I'll be at Maxwell this Fall, so it looks like the tools will be available. I've Googled for hours with no luck other than his service dates, but I'm going to keep looking there, too. Thanks again.
 
isshinwhat said:
Thanks for the quick response. To top it all off, the retired Commander who showed me around the museum (and who flew everything from Hellcats and Navy B-24s to A4s and Phantoms) let me crawl up in the A-26 they have on display. My grandad was a Nav on one during Korea, and a picture of him in an Invader sits on my desk (can't see any relevant info re: squadron, though), so this weekend has been special for me. I'm only an hour away from the Academy and I'll be at Maxwell this Fall, so it looks like the tools will be available. I've Googled for hours with no luck other than his service dates, but I'm going to keep looking there, too. Thanks again.
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You can also try the Air Force Historical Research Agency. I am not sure how much of their stuff they have online, but they might still have hard copies of things from WWII, assuming of course they belong to the AF and not the Army. If that's the case try the Army equivalent. I know the Navy Historical Center still has all kinds of hard copy records from WWII that you can search through.
 
Contact your local congressman. I used to work for a Congressman back in Iowa doing casework and I helped several vets and family members locate service records, etc. who were having a diffucult time on their own due to the fire. Somehow when you get a congessman's office calling gov't agencies, responses come much quicker. :) It was really rewarding giving vets their much deserved service medals after certain records were located. Best of luck to you.
 
Thanks, everyone. I've got some photos and docs on the way that should get me the info I need. I appreciate the responses.
 
Although their numbers are dwindling, most Liberator crews have maintained close contact with those in their units and their community over the years, and have frequent reunions around the country.

One of them should certainly point you in the right direction, give you first hand knowledge of their experiences, and perhaps even knew your granddad. Here is a start:
http://www.461st.org/Contacts.htm

Good luck.
 
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