World War II on the Web

Researcher's Page

This page contains information to help do research on people, places, events, units, etc. Due to the number of requests I get for information on these topics, I've decided to make a separate area for it. Before using these resources, check all of the links listed on the Links Page. Many times, the information can be found there, or at least a related area. If that fails, use the resources listed here. For those looking for information on WWII, Korean and/or Vietnam Conflict units, people, etc., try contacting your local Army, Air Force or Navy recruiter's office. Each of the services publishes a newspaper (Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times), that has an area in the back for unit reunions and advertisements. If you still can't find the info you need, send me an e-mail and I'll try to assist you.

NEW SERVICE AVAILABLE:

I can now provide {limited} information for people researching SS numbers, names etc., using a copy of the 1935 SS Dienstalterliste - Free of charge!

  • NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
    NNG
    WASHINGTON DC 20408

    - Maintains records on German officers who were available for duty in the last months of the war; charges 75 cents per page, with a $6.00 minimum order.

  • NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER
    MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS
    9700 PAGE BLVD
    ST LOUIS, MO 63132

    - Starting point for information on former and active duty members of the US Armed Forces. They will replace all medals and decorations earned by a person (former, active duty, deceased) FREE OF CHARGE. You will need to send a letter with all the information you have available i.e. name, rank held, unit's served in, etc.

  • BUNDESARCHIV
    POTSDAMER STRASSE 1
    POSTFACH 3 20
    56075 KOBLENZ
    PHONE: 0261-5050

  • BUNDESARCHIV-ZENTRALNACHWEISSTELLE
    ABTEIGARTEN 6
    52076 AACHEN-KORNELIMUNSTER
    PHONE: 02408-1470

    - Has information on former members of the German Army , Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS, Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), Organizations TODT (OT), Armed Forces Jurisdiction as well as awards of Orders and decorations.

  • BUNDESARCHIV
    ABT. VI - MILITARARCHIV
    WIESENTAL STRASSE 10
    79100 FREIBURG I. BR.

    - Information concerning the Prussian Army (Up to 1867), North German and Imperial Navy, Protection Troops, Freikorps, Reichswehr, Wehrmacht, and Waffen-SS.

  • BERLIN DOCUMENT CENTER
    WASSERKAFERSTEIG 1
    14163 BERLIN 37
    PHONE: 030-8197754

  • DEUTSCHE DIENSTSTELLE (WASt)
    EICHBORNDAMM 179
    13403 BERLIN
    PHONE: 0 30 4 19 04 290 (MON - FRI, 0900 - 1400)
    FAX: 41 90 41 00

    - Handles correspondence for Wehrmacht personnel KIA

    Questions on World War II units and personnel can be sent to one of the following agencies:

    Air Force History Support Office
    500 Duncan Ave Box 94
    Bolling AFB, D.C. 20332-1111
    Phone: (202) 404-2264

    United States Air Force Historical Research Agency (HQ AFHRA/RSA)
    600 Chennault Circle
    Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424
    Phone: (334) 953-2966

    For the Department of Defense and other Military Departments, historical files are stored in repositories of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Information from records maintained by NARA is available to the public. For a nominal fee, NARA will reproduce documents of interest. Their address is:

    National Archives and Records Service
    8th Street and Pennsyvanis Avenue, NW
    Washington DC 20408
    Phone: (202) 523-3220  

    Another source is the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office (GPO). The GPO stocks and sells over 24,000 different publications, periodicals, and subscription services. A listing of Government periodicals and subscription services sold by GPO is available to citizens at no charge. Citizens are also encouraged to avail themselves of resources of local public and school libraries, many of which routinely receive GPO listings. Their adddress is:

    Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office (GPO)
    Washington, DC 20402
    (202) 512-1800

    If you need specific information about a military person:

    If you're seeking information about military personnel who served in the United States Army Air Forces, or the United States Air Force, first obtain as much of the following information as possible:

    1. Full name and serial number of the individual.
    2. Rank held at a specific time or highest rank achieved.
    3. Names and dates of awards for decorations received (e.g., the Purple Heart).
    4. Unit(s) to which the individual was assigned or attached and the dates of service.
    5. Individual's military occupation or specialty, e.g., pilot, navigator, bombardier, gunner, physician, nurse, maintenance technician, supply clerk, security or military police, etc.

    If requesting the records of a relative, the requester should mention the relationship to the former member (brother, uncle, or other). There is no charge for this service to former service members or their next of kin. For others, a nominal fee is charged for research and reproduction costs. Files at the Records Center are maintained as historical records only and are not updated to reflect current data on the former service member. The address for the National Personnel Records Center is:

    For individuals compiling family histories, NARA provides assistance to those interested in genealogy. NARA normally charges a nominal fee for research and reproduction costs. Their address is:

    National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
    8th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
    Washington, DC 20408
    202-501-5400

    Second, contact local sources if original residence is known:

    1. Adjutant General's Office in the individual's state of residence for data on state personnel who served in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam.
    2. County and State Veteran's Service Offices for information in case the individual applied for Veteran's benefits or hospitalization.
    3. County Office of Vital Records in individual's county of residence prior to entry into service for either birth or marriage records of the individual.
    4. County Probate Office for a will or Letters of Administration on file for the individual if he or she possessed property in the county and is now deceased.
    5. Newspapers published in the city or county where the individual is presumed to have lived prior to entry into service for news items or articles, including obituaries or death notices.
    6. Local post of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Veterans of World War II, and the like, for information on local men and women who survived service in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam.
    7. The State Office of Vital Statistics for death records of service personnel who died while on active duty.

    Finally, the following Federal agencies may be able to help:

    World War II Memorial
    American Battle Monuments Commission
    2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 501
    Arlington, VA 22201

    Next of kin may ask for a copy of the service member's personnel records (including "201" files) by contacting:

    For aircrew members lost in combat during World War II:

    Request a Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) under the individual's name from:

    To determine whether an individual was declared missing or killed in action, contact the agency below. They can also provide location details if the deceased is buried in a US (overseas or national) cemetery. If the response is negative (no record of death or continued missing status), it is possible that the member survived.

  • To contact Air Force personnel who are still on active duty, or who have retired: Write a letter to the person you wish to contact. Place the letter in a sealed and stamped envelope with your name and return address and the name of the individual on the outside of the envelope. Send this envelope to the agency below along with a note giving all identifying information about the person you are trying to reach. Ask the locator to add the individual's current address to your sealed envelope and to forward it to the person you wish to contact. A $3.50 finder's fee must be included (make check out to: DAO-DE RAFB).

  • To contact military personnel who have filed a claim against the Veterans Administration (VA) write a letter to the person, place in an unsealed stamped envelope without a return address. Send envelope with $2.00 fee and name, serial number, date of birth, etc., to the local or regional VA office listed in the Blue Pages of the phone directory. The VA will forward your letter to last known address.

    What if all else fails?

    Consider "search notices" or letters to the editor in these publications:

      Air Force Times
      6883 Commercial Drive
      Springfield VA 22159
      Fax (703) 750-8601
      The Retired Officer
      Reader's Exchange
      TROA
      201 N Washington Street
      Alexandria VA 22314-2539

    Also consider searching in one of the national telephone directories now available on CD-ROM. These directories contain millions of telephone numbers, seqarchable "by name". Several companies are now offering such products - PhoneDisc USA and PhoneDisc Reverse, for example; the public can often find these directories in public or university libraries. The service is usually updated monthly and varies widely in quality.

    A final possibility is How To Locate Anyone Who Is Or Has Been in the Military: Armed Forces Locator Directory, Fifth Edition, by Lt Col (Ret) Richard Johnson, MIE Publishing, $23. It explains hundreds of proven ways to locate current and former members of all service branches, including the National Guard and Reserve. It provides information on how anyone may obtain copies of individual military records, rosters, muster rolls, after-action reports and numerous other military records.

    Return to Main Page
    World War II Links
    The Collector's Corner
    Sources for obtaining Military Collectibles
    Repro Alert!