US Navy Aircraft History Card Requests

[Barrie MacLeod]

Thank you kindly for doing the TBM-3E cards for me.
Much appreciated.

[Noha307]

First question: any good?

That's excellent! Thank you!

You wouldn't happen to have a copy of the alternate stamp format, would you?

Strike Codes

The strike codes reminded of the "character of flight" codes used in log books. While aircraft history/record cards and log books are two separate things, the fact that deciphering the abbreviations for both of them requires a code book makes me think it would be useful to mention them here. Note that two different formats of codes were used. The first format was used during World War II:

A - Training (Regular Students)
B - Training (Reserve Students)
C - Training (qualified Pilots)
D - Reserve Flying (Not extended)
E - Familiarization & Practice
F - Gunnery
G - Bombing
H - Torpedo
I - Observation
J - Scouting
K - Tactical
L - Navigation
M - Transportation
N - Ferrying
O - Utility
P - Photographic & Mapping
Q - Aerological
R - Test
S - Experimental
T - Administrative
U - Extended
V - Instrument
W - Emergency or Relief Work
X - Communication
Y - Night Flying
Z - Special

At some point after the war, a second format was apparently implemented. It used a number-letter-number format. This system is obviously more complex, but an explanation can be found here: Naval Aircraft Flight Classification System - Seawolf.org

In the off chance anyone happens upon this thread looking for information about aircraft record cards for the Army Air Corps/Force, then you need to check out the book Aircraft Record Cards of the United States Air Force: How to Read the Codes by Robert A. Mann. Otherwise, the Air Force Historical Research Agency's 1995 guide to interpretation of ARCs might be useful.

EDIT (23-05-20): I recently came across a copy of CNAF M-3710.7, which lists the "Total Mission Requirement" codes, as purpose of flight codes are now called, in Appendix D.

Last edited by Noha307 on Sat May 20, 2023 2:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Noha307]

While trying to find anything more online related to wartime AHC's, I happened across a sample copy of a more modern AHC, and I thought I'd include it here in case it would be useful to anyone:

(Source: Integrated Publishing)

A later page also includes a list of status codes:

(Source: Integrated Publishing)

And even farther in is a copy of the strike codes that quemerford posted above. Also, the accompanying explanations on how to use the cards seems to be about as close to a navy version of the aforementioned Mann book as we are going to get.

[Noha307]

First question: any good?

After comparing with the history cards above, I realized that, unfortunately, this is not exactly the same as what I was looking for. However, Mr. Bob Thomas, a research volunteer in the National Naval Aviation Museum's library and their history card expert was able to provide me with a scan of the correct format:

AIRCRAFT HISTORY CARD OPNAV-50-157 5-50

AHC001.jpg (36.56 KiB) Viewed 2732 times

Also, Mr. Chris Adams of the Forest Protection Limited blog was kind enough to provide me with a higher resolution version of one of the history cards for BuNo 53610 which had a more legible example of the stamp I needed:

FPL#23 FIMR USN card-combined (Cropped).jpeg (36.96 KiB) Viewed 2732 times

Much thanks to the both of them for their help!

[VCS1]

Can I request AHC for:

SNJ-3 BuNo 7008
FM-2 BuNo 73849
SOC-3 BuNo 1125
F4F-4 BuNo 5044, 5046, 5049, 5053

I will gladly pay for each one. Thank you!

[Noha307]

After all this focus on the cards themselves, I started wondering, how were they filed? I noticed that the text in the center of the USAAF IARC's used the term "Kardex":

Individual Aircraft Record Card – 41-39274 – Center

and the bottom right corner read "Remington Rand":

Individual Aircraft Record Card – 41-39274 – Corner

Individual Aircraft Record Card – 41-39274 – Corner.png (103.6 KiB) Viewed 2574 times

The answer, as evidenced by the above is apparently in storage cabinets by Remington-Rand:




(Source: WorthPoint)

The trays then slide out to reveal a tray that holds flip cards:

(Source: PicClick)



(Source: Vintage Office Supplies)

One listing for the "Victor" system even calls it a "Fleet Maintenance Record Card Holder":

Victor Kardex Visible Book Fleet Maintenance Record Card Holder Vintage

Victor Kardex Visible Book Fleet Maintenance Record Card Holder Vintage.png (52.35 KiB) Viewed 2574 times

Another shows a card, still in the original holder, that looks strikingly similar in style to an IARC/AHC:

(Source: PicClick)

EDIT (21-07-27): An advertisement on page 608 of the Aircraft Year Book for 1944 confirms the widespread usage of the Remington Rand "Kardex Method of Visible Record Control" and its "Graph-A-Matic signaling system". No less than 28 major aircraft and parts manufacturers are named as employing the system.

EDIT (22-06-13): Interestingly, even with all of the computerization of the modern era, there is one place record cards continue to be used in substantially unchanged form: libraries. Among other things, Brodart still sells a product they call "Daily Periodical Record Cards" which look remarkably similar to aircraft history cards.

Last edited by Noha307 on Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:42 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Woodsy Airfield]

This has nothing to do with USN History Cards, but I have several Unserviceable Green Tag Cards DD Form 1577 and full page OPNAV 4790 forms that reflect Intercom Control AIC-14 failure and disposition data. The information lists failure reasons, part nos., and Bureau Numbers. The AIC-14's were used on many Navy and Marine aircraft such as A-6, H-53, C-130 T-39 and other recent/current aircraft. To see what cards look like, refer to eBay id #312392312927 (12 cards for sale). I can mail cards - no cost to you - if interested. I have several more not currently listed...

[Noha307]

So, I was able to recreate the record card (the original can be found on a page on the Forest Protection Limited website) for the TBM-3E at the museum in Excel:

Unfortunately, I had to shrink it down a bit to be able to post it, so the resolution slightly worse.

Also, I came across a master's thesis from the Naval Postgraduate School titled "The Costs of Aircraft Squadron Readiness" and although it doesn't have OPNAV Form 5442-1, which is apparently the actual Aircraft Record Card, it does include facsimiles of 5442-9 (Aircraft Record "A"), 5442-10 (Daily Record of A/C Readiness), 5442-11 (Aircraft Flight Data Worksheet), 5442-12 (Monthly A/C Activity Report), 5442-13 (A/C Status Change Report), 5442-14 (Inventory of A/C), 5442-15 (Monthly A/C Readiness and Activity Report) as well as a Schematic Diagram of the Aircraft Accounting System which appears to show the Kardex system in use.

EDIT: I realized I forgot to add the "stricken" text and had a few cells incorrectly outlined, so I've uploaded a revised version with the mistakes corrected.

EDIT (21-05-15): Here is a full size version of the above:

(Source: Imgur)

Last edited by Noha307 on Sat May 15, 2021 2:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[warbirdfinder]

Hello,

I would appreciate the aircraft history card for Consolidated Catalina, BuNo 46457, CN 1821

Thank you,

Mike

[mike furline]

Hello,

I would appreciate the aircraft history card for Consolidated Catalina, BuNo 46457, CN 1821

Thank you,

Mike

You can request a copy of an Aircraft History Card from NASM for free. It used to take only a couple of weeks to receive. Covid may have stopped or slowed things down for now.
https://airandspace.si.edu/collections/ ... so%20forth.
Simply type in your request here,
https://airandspace.si.edu/archives-research-request

[warbirdfinder]

Thank you

Mike

[Noha307]

I have been very curious this whole time to see an original aircraft record card - in other words not a microfilmed reproduction. I was looking through some pictures I took the other day, and I was surprised to find out that there was one right under my nose the entire time here at the museum. Admittedly, it's not a World War II version, but the one for the museum's FG-1D, BuNo 92132, is the only one I have come across so far. I was very kindly permitted to scan it (OPNAV FORM-5442-1) and an Aircraft Acceptance & Transfer Data Card (11ND FORM 3129):

Here are higher resolution copies of the above:

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

You'll note that the ARC scans are named page 1 and page 4. That is because what I scanned were actually two aircraft record cards stapled together and I didn't want to try to remove the staple. However, since my focus was more on the format than the data and the back of the second card would be identical to the back of the first in format, I just scanned it instead.

EDIT (21-04-24): I realized I accidentally posted the same high resolution image twice. This has been fixed.

Last edited by Noha307 on Sat Apr 24, 2021 3:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[ALOHADAVE]

I'm trying to determine which F6F this crash site is, in the waters off Oahu Hawaii.
I've narrowed down the possibilities to 3 aircraft. I respectfully history cards for all three Hellcats.

F6F-3 Hellcat buno 42259 crashed 3/31/1945 or could be 4/3/45

F6F-5 Hellcat buno 79247 crashed 05/03/1948

F6F-5N Hellcat buno 77615 crashed 03/18/1945 or 3/19/45

Attachments

IMG_4226 - Copy.JPG (33.91 KiB) Viewed 2165 times

[Noha307]

I recently came across a website called Bomber Command History that has a bunch of the British analogs of aircraft record cards. (It's worth noting that the site also has accident record cards (A.M. Form 1180) and aircraft loss cards.) Apparently they're called "A.M. Form 78". A few examples:




(Source: Bomber Command History)

I know they're not U.S. Navy record cards, but I feel like it's relevant enough to at least mention here. Maybe they'll help someone else out.

[Noha307]

The Air Zoo posted a PDF with copies of the history cards for the SBD-2P they're restoring on their website. I thought they'd be worth including here because they show a different layout of the cards: