There are so many possible records one can obtain to tell a veteran’s World War II story and build the timeline of service. Alternatively, this is called reconstructing military history. There is a misconception that if a service file survived the NPRC 1973 Fire, that you don’t have to reconstruct service history, but this is incorrect. Everyone does because the service file (OMPF) doesn’t provide information in a way that’s initially easy to understand or provides context of the experiences. You can read more about this in my article, Reconstructing WWII Veteran History.
Did your family’s veteran serve in the Air Corps/Army Air Force during WWII? Or perhaps the Air Force post-WWII? There is a record that’s worth searching for if it exists for your veteran and that is the Air Force Accident Report. The Navy also has accident reports. This article though focuses on the Army Air Force reports.
An Air Force Accident Report (AAR) was created for any accident that occurred for a pilot or air crew, even if death did not occur. This information can provide more details about your veteran’s service and add to your timeline of service.
How do you know if your veteran was involved in an accident? Search the newspapers. Check the AAR database at Aviation Archaeology. Conduct research and locate this in the Morning Reports.
My Family’s Air Force Accident Reports
My family has not had good luck with marriage in WWII if someone was in the Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces. My cousin the AVG Flying Tiger, Robert Brouk survived being shot by the Japanese, only to die in a plane crash training pilots in Orlando, FL, just three weeks after he married. His story is in my book Stories of the Lost along with his AVG War Diary.
My cousin Emil Ratay was killed in a plane crash in Missouri less than 24 hours after getting married.
Then there is Fred Davis, the co-pilot on a bomber that was shot down over Austria 2 November 1943. He would have been Virginia Brouk’s brother in-law, had he not died during WWII. Virginia was Robert’s widow and met her second husband Harvey, Fred’s brother, while working as a WAC in Egypt in 1944. Virginia’s story is in my book The Tiger’s Widow.
Now Fred’s accident report is from Michigan when his bomber was preparing to depart for the east coast. There was an issue with the break line and the propeller smashed into a hangar door. No deaths, no injuries, but the plane was damaged so an accident report was created.
Air Force Accident Report Contents
These files range anywhere from 10 pages up to 40 or more, depending on the circumstance of the accident. They are on microfilm so any photos that exist may not be high quality. The ones I’ve received are very grainy. These files exist even if no one died. Contents may include the following. These are just some of the documents you may discover in your file.
- Details of the crash or accident.
- Names of all those involved in the accident.
- Photos of the crash site and planes or property involved.
- Basic details of military service including flight time or training.
- Testimony from the individual or crew (if they survived).
- Testimony from those in the vicinity (air or ground) on what took place.
- Accident or crash investigation.
- Maps.
- Details on the outcome of the investigation and any impact to the living pilot or crew member as needed.
Accessing these files is easy. Contact the AFHRA to request a copy of the AAR (Air Force Accident Report) for the veteran you are researching. This file will be sent digitally.
Learn More
Read Robert Brouk’s Air Force Accident Report.
Read Emil’s Air Force Accident Report.
Read Fred Davis’ Air Force Accident Report.
Research Your Veteran’s Story
If you’d like to learn your veteran’s history, I take research and book clients. Email me at jennifer@ancestralsouls.com and let’s set up a time to chat. I offer free consults to discuss the research strategy, fees, time, and possibilities.
You can also pick up a copy of my book Research a Veteran which will guide you through the initial information gathering.
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