Warbird Information Exchange

Some of you may have noticed that the letter "D" was missing from the list of charts and forms in a previous post. Well good news, I found a complete set!

...or at least I thought I did. However, I noticed that the names don't match up. Previously, I had assumed that they were part of the same designation sequence. However, it appears there are two sets of documents - one for charts and one for forms. Furthermore, they appear to correspond to each other. So I guess that means I'm still on the lookout for copies of Forms A through E. Oh well!

Chart A - Basic Weight Check List

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart A-1 - Basic Weight Check List (Continued)

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart B - Record of Structural Changes

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart C - Running Log

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart D - Cargo (or Supply) List

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart E (Crew Movement Table of Moments, Bomb Weights & Ammunition Weights)

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart E (Station Graph & Bomb Graph)

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart E (Gasoline Graph & Center of Gravity Graph)

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Chart F - Weight & Balance Clearance

(Source: AirCorps Library)

I also came across a few more interesting details in the same source as the charts came from. For example, did you know that B-25Cs and Ds had bomb loading charts mounted in a holder at the forward end of the bomb bay?

(Source: AirCorps Library)

Finally, it also includes a number of pictures of the locations of form holders throughout the airplane:

(Source: AirCorps Library)


(Source: AirCorps Library)

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

I was at the museum today and while I was searching for something else to scan - I kid you not - I found copies of the forms! Not only that, but I found a copy of the draft, complete with marginalia, for creating the technical order that accompanies them! It even has the original pencil sketches of the cartoons that the author drew to illustrate the order! Just like the aircraft history card, it had been right under my nose the whole time! The serendipity is astounding! I of course had to scan it immediately!

I know I'm the only one who would get excited about the discovery of bureaucracy, but for the rest of you normal people even if you're not interested in the subject matter itself, it is still an interesting look into how technical orders were created.

Since I'm including so much detail, and this is unique as it is a draft, I might as well go all out in describing it. The pages are all single-sided, so unless there was some handwriting on the back they were not scanned. (Note, however, that page numbers 13 and 14 were reused, so the numbering is off by two starting on the former. Furthermore, due to the printing of redundant charts in the published version, there is a significant jump after page 22.) Like most ephemeral, unpublished documents from the war, the text was a spirit duplicate, the charts were photostat copies, and the pencil drawings were on wax paper. Some of the later pages are smaller in size. Also, the photographs were stapled to the pages. Finally, the whole document was bound by prong fasteners that were removed for scanning.

The final draft became AN 01-1-40 - the Handbook of Weight and Balance Data included in a previous post. Also, note the serial number of the B-24, 40-2369, on the slide rule case on page 32. The document itself came from the collection of a man named Forrest Orlo Miller.

Form A - Weight & Balance Clearance


Form B - Cargo (or Supply) List


Form C - Running Log, Basic Weight & Balance


Form C - Running Log, Basic Weight & Balance (Continued)


Form C-1 - Basic Weight Check List


Form C-1 - Basic Weight Check List (Continued)


Form C-2 - Record of Structural Changes


Weight and Balance Data and Record


B-25 Charts and Graphs


The full document is available on Imgur and from the museum's Internet Archive collection.

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

All of the following are from the collections at the museum.

The first three forms come from the collection of Frank W. Haines:

While it does not date to World War II, it is still technically an Army aviation form. This example was found clipped to a kneeboard:

DA Form 2283 - Army Aviation Instrument Flight Log



As evidenced by the entries in the first column, the following form was used to track time in Link trainers. This example was found interleaved at the end of a log book:

ATRC Form 91 - Individual Progress Record: Synthetic Trainers



This is a typewritten form and may not have had a number:

Instrument Trainer


Next, a series of forms from the collection of Leroy C. Sabatelli:

It is not clear what an envelope 201 is, but this appears to be the enlisted counterpart to the officer's version included in a previous post

Individual 201 Envelope Check List: Enlisted Men



This form also may not have had a number, but it is similar in format and purpose to and may be a recreation of AAF Form No. 5:

[Untitled]


This is another instance of a unit specific form:

P. O. M. Individual Qualification Card for Radio Operator and Mechanic (Ground Training)



While this is not an Army Air Force Form, it was part of the collection of an aviator and thus seems relevant enough to include:

ITCC Form No. 50-2 - Basic Military Training


This form was mentioned in a previous post:

AAF Form No. 28A - Army Air Forces Physical Fitness Test and Record Card



The last two forms are from the collection of Harry T. Wilkinson. The first portion of the number apparently indicates it was used within the First Air Force:

Form 1AF-AP 34 - Permanent Class "A" Pass



VF-9-24-42-2M - High Altitude Training Program



Here are higher resolution copies of the above:

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Somehow another one of the previous posts went missing. (Presumably due to the database update.) The recovered version is below:

EDIT (23-06-24): A list of office equipment and supply technical orders can also be found on page 198 of the Numerical Index of Technical Publications, T.O. No. 00-1.

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Noha307,

Have you come across the Form SCU 6309, "Report of Entering Class and Students Under Instruction", per EFTC Memo 15-SCU 6309-1, dated 23 Aug 1944? I found reference to this form in the base histories from Greenville Army Air Field, Greenville, MS.

Thanks,
Jordan

_________________
Greenville Flyers: The Legacy of Allied Pilots Who Flew at Greenville Army Airfield

Sorry, I can't say I have. If I come across it, I'll make sure to let you know though.

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

I came across another pair of forms today while looking through more of Mr. Witte's collection. While there are plenty of copies of Form 1 and 1A floating around out there, what makes these rare is that they are of the Air Corps variety, include the name of the printer - American Sales Book Company - and the former came complete with original carbon paper and second copy:

AC Form No. 1 - Flight Report - Operations




AC Form No. 1A - Flight Report - Engineering


Here are higher resolution copies of the above:

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Another answer to the "who cares?" question mentioned in a previous post came in the form of a Vintage Aviation News article posted today. Titled "The Making of Masters of the Air: Hero Prop Paperwork", it details Taigh Ramey and Megan Jones's efforts to recreate the proper paperwork – maps, charts and forms – for the show.

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Found another original form in the Russell B. Witte, Jr. Collection today. This one was interleaved between some handwritten notes from training:

AAF Form No. 23 - Aircraft Arrival Report


Here is a higher resolution copy of the above:

(Source: Imgur)

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

So, something I didn't realize until today is that the copy of Form 21 mentioned in a previous post is only part of the form. Thanks to a blog post, I learned that it actually unfolds into a sheet 20" tall by 26" wide. Luckily, the author included a full resolution scan:

AAF Form No. 21A-1 - Navigator's Log [Alternate Version]

(Source: The Past Presented)

Also, on a related note, I came across a forum thread where someone recreated Form 21 using a copy mentioned in a different previous post. Unfortunately, the image links to the digital version are long dead.

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

More forms from another collection that was donated to the museum two weeks ago. They belonged to Leo Shuller, son of the founder of the restaurant Shuller's Wigwam in Cincinnati, Ohio:

Pilot Transition Training Record





Proficiency Card



AAF Form No. 8B - Pilot Instrument Certificate Application and Flight Check Form



Here are higher resolution copies of the above:

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

(Source: Imgur)

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Hi Noha307,

Given your forms research, thought I'd reach out to see if you can help me with (hopefully) a quick question. Do you know of an official resource for decoding WWII Army Morning Reports? I'm digging through MR's from Greenville AAF, MS, and looking to verify abbreviations for Grades of personnel at the field. I'm quite confident that 'A/C' is Aviation Cadet, but I've run across one report that has 'A/C' stricken out with a single hand written line and 'K' handwritten in the adjacent column (column labeled "Code", but I suspect is just inserted there out of convenience/space to replace 'A/C' in the "Grade" column).

Any insight you're able to provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

_________________
Greenville Flyers: The Legacy of Allied Pilots Who Flew at Greenville Army Airfield

Unfortunately, I don't believe I can offer much help. I'm not aware of one. The National Archives has a blog post written by an expert at the National Personnel Records Center that includes a list of some abbreviations - presumably after handling requests for years they would have some insight into the conventions used - so it would probably be worth reaching out to them. My only other thought is to try to find lists of abbreviations used on other forms (e.g. Aircraft Record Cards of the United States Air Force: How to Read the Codes by Robert A. Mann) and see if there's some overlap.

Might I suggest posting an example of the morning report you're referring to? Sometimes just being able to see it in its original format is helpful.

_________________
Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Here is one example. Note the "A/C" stricken out for multiple entries and "K" or "J" entered in column to right.

_________________
Greenville Flyers: The Legacy of Allied Pilots Who Flew at Greenville Army Airfield