United States World War II Unit Histories

Unit Histories - Bibliographies

 * James T. Controvich, ed. United States Army Unit and Organizational histories, a bibliography. 2 volumes. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2003. FHL 973 M23cj Volume 2 covers World War I to present.
 * World War II Unit Histories & Officers
 * United States. Department of the Army. Office of Military History. C.E. Dornbush. Unit Histories of World War II,United States Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy. (1950)
 * Record Group 338: records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations. Unit Histories, 1943-1967 NAID 895216

Army
For information regarding official military unit histories, contact:

U.S. Army Center of Military History 103 3rd Avenue Fort Lesley J. McNair, DC 20319-5058 Telephone: (202) 685-4042

Order of Battle

 * Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II. Novato, Calif.: Presidio Press, 1984. (FHL book 973 M2st.)
 * Order of Battle of the United States Army Ground Forces in World War II. Pacific Theater of Operations.
 * Order of Battle of the United States Army World War II. European Theater of Operations. Divisions.
 * Fighting Divisions.


 * List of United States divisions during World War II -Wikipedia

Division Histories - National Archives - Organization Authority Record

 * II Armored Corps. (1/17/1942 - 10/9/1943)
 * 4th Army. 1943-1947
 * 1st Infantry Division. (11/19/1939 - 1947)
 * 2nd Infantry Division. 10/1917-9/18/1947
 * 3rd Infantry Division. 1917-1947
 * 4th Infantry Division. 6/1/1940-3/12/1946
 * 5th Division. (10/16/1939 - 7/31/1942)
 * 5th Infantry Division. (8/1/1942 - 9/20/1946)
 * 5th Infantry Division. (9/20/1946 - 9/18/1947)
 * 7th Division. (7/1/1940 - 4/9/1942)
 * 7th Infantry Division. (1/1/1943 - 9/18/1947)


 * 9th Infantry Division. 8/1/1940-1/15/1947
 * 24th Infantry Division. 1941-1947
 * 25th Infantry Division. 1941-1947
 * 29th Infantry Division. 2/3/1941-1/17/1946
 * 31st Infantry Division. 11/25/1940-12/21/1945
 * 36th Infantry Division. 11/25/1940-12/15/1945
 * 40th Infantry Division. 1926-4/7/1946
 * 44th Infantry Division. 9/16/1940-11/30/1945
 * 45th Infantry Division. 1924-9/18/1947
 * 70th Infantry Division. 6/15/1943-10/11/1945


 * 75th Infantry Division. (4/15/1943 - 11/14/1945)
 * 83rd Infantry Division. (8/15/1942 - 4/5/1946)
 * 84th Division. 9/28/1921-10/14/1942
 * 85th Infantry Division. 8/1/1942-8/25/1945
 * 85th Infantry Division. 2/19/1947-9/18/1947
 * 10/15/1942-11/28/1945
 * 98th Infantry Division. 9/15/1942-2/16/1946
 * 98th Infantry Division. 12/19/1946-9/18/1947
 * 104th Infantry Division. 9/15/1942-12/20/1945
 * 104th Infantry Division. 12/1/1946-9/18/1947

Division Histories - FamilySearch Catalog
 Infantry Divisions 


 * 1st Division
 * 3rd Division
 * 5th Division
 * 6th Division
 * 6th Division
 * 8th Division
 * 10th Mountain Division
 * 24th Division
 * 26th Division
 * 29th Division
 * 30th Division
 * 31st Division
 * 33rd Division
 * 34th Division
 * 35th Division
 * 41st Division
 * 43rd Division
 * 43rd Division. Artillery


 * 48th Division
 * 63rd Division
 * 66th Division
 * 69th Division
 * 70th Division
 * 71st Division
 * 75th Division
 * 76th Division
 * 78th Division
 * 80th Division
 * 83rd Division
 * 86th Division
 * 87th Division
 * 88th Division
 * 90th Division
 * 94th Division
 * 96th Division
 * 100th Division
 * 102nd Division

 Armored Divisions 


 * 2nd Division
 * 10th Division
 * 11th Division
 * 13th Division
 * 14th Division
 * 20th Division

 Airborne Divisions


 * Airborne Division
 * Airborne Division
 * Airborne Division
 * 82nd Airborne Division
 * War II Army Airborne troop carriers

Division Histories - Internet Archives

 * 3rd Division
 * 4th Division
 * 4th Division
 * 32nd Division
 * 33rd Division
 * 42nd Division
 * 71st Division
 * 77th Division
 * 78th Division
 * 79th Division
 * 85th Division
 * 91st Division
 * 94th Division

Army Air Force
For information regarding official military unit histories, contact: U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency 600 Chenault Circle Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6424 Telephone: (334) 953-2395
 * Historical data of Army Air Forces training detachments. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama : Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, 1973. FHL DGS 9065255
 * Army Air Forces. Rapid City Army Air Base. 1/2/1942-9/18/1947
 * Record Group 92, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs), 1942 - 1947 NAID 305256

Air Force Award Cards, 1942-1963 - Unit Awards - National Archives Catalog Additional Sources  Unit Histories 
 * Air Force Awards Cards, 1942-1963 - Distinguished Flying Cross
 * Air Force Award Cards, 1942-1963 - Commendation Medal - National Archives Catalog
 * Air Force Award Cards, 1942-1963 - National Archives Catalog
 * Army Air Forces. - 2nd Bombardment Division. 9.13.1943-12.19.1944.
 * Army Air Forces. - 2nd Air Division. 12.19.1944-8.28.1945.
 * Air Attache Office (Korea) - 8th Weather Squadron. NAID 148262432
 * 9th Air Base Group - 36th Service Squadron. NAID 148263401
 * 37th Air Rescue Squadron - 92nd Troop Carrier Squadron. NAID 148264439
 * 93rd Airdrome Squadron - 349th Signal Company. NAID 148265413
 * 350th Airdrome Squadron - 575th Bomb Squadron. NAID 148266460
 * 576th Air Material Squadron - 1781st Ordnance S& M Company (AVN) NAID 148267482
 * 1782nd Ordnance S & M Company - 9677th Technical Service Unit NAID 148268573
 * Army Air Forces. - 2nd Bombardment Division. 9.13.1943-12.19.1944.
 * Army Air Forces. - 2nd Air Division. 12.19.1944-8.28.1945.
 * Army Air Forces. - World War II Combat Operations Reports, 1941-1946 NAID 596339
 * United States. USAF Historical Division; Maurer,Maurer.  Combat Squadrons of the Air Force Word War II.
 * Maurer Maurer, ed. Air Force Combat Units of World War II.
 * Maurer, Maurer, ed. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. Department of the Air Force, USAF Historical Division, Air University, 1961. FHL 973 M2mmu
 * Historical data of bombardment squadrons, United States Air Force, 1943-1944. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama : Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, 1972. FHL 1402471


 * Air Force
 * Eighth Air Force bomber stories : a new selection
 * Air Division, 8th Air Force, USAAF
 * Bomb Group (H)
 * Bomb Group
 * 34th Bombardment Group(H)
 * Bombardment Group
 * Bombardment Group (L)
 * 70th Bombardment Squadron (M)
 * Bombardment Squadron (M)
 * 96th Bomb Group
 * 99th Bomb Group (H) 15th Air Force
 * Bomb group
 * Bomb Group (H[eavy)] 5th Air Force
 * Bombardment Group 8th Air Force
 * Bombardment Group : the "cottontails" of WWII 15th Air Force
 * Bomb Group : 1943 - Steed's flying colts - 1945 15th Air Force
 * Bomb Group (H) 15th Airforce


 * Army Air Corps Museum and Library - Irving, Texas
 * Tracing A Family Member's Military Service
 * Search US Military Servicemen Record Extracts
 * Honor Roll
 * Missing Air Crew Reports - Database
 * Buried Unknown Soldiers

Navy
For information regarding official military unit histories, contact:

U.S. Naval History &amp; Heritage Command Washington Navy Yard, Bldg 57 (3rd Floor) Washington, DC 20374 Telephone: (202) 433-3224 Ship Histories.

 Unit Histories
 * Submarine veterans of World War II : a history of the veterans of the United States naval submarine fleet
 * Richard F. Newcomb, U.S. destroyers of the World Wars : history of the "tin cans" Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1994 FHL 973 M3nd
 * Howard Mingos, American heroes of the war in the air New York, New York : Lanciar Publishers, Inc., c1943
 * David Polk, Escort carriers of the U.S. Navy : the CVE's illustrated history Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1993 FHL 973 M3pe
 * LCS(L), Landing Craft Support (Large) : we were the mighty midgets ... the small ships that cast big shadows Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1995 FHL 973 M3Lcs
 * Walter W. Jaffee, The Liberty ships : from A (A.B. Hammond) to Z (Zona Gale) Palo Alto, California : Glencannon Press, 2004 FHL 973 M2jw
 * Destroyer Escort Sailors Association editorial committee, Donald A. Glaser ... et. al, Destroyer Escort Sailors Association : trim ... but deadly 3 volumes. Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1987, c1989 FHL 973 M3gd
 * Battleship USS Alabama (BB-60) : golden anniversary history Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1993 FHL 973 M3b
 * Pat Martin, USS California (BB-44) Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1995 FHL 973 M3mca
 * USS Maryland (BB-46)Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1997 FHL 973 M3ma
 * USS Missouri (BB-63) : the "Mighty Mo" Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1998 FHL 973 M3mm
 * USS New Jersey (BB-62) Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1996 FHL 973 M3nj
 * Charles D. Melson and David Melson, USS Washington (BB-56)Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1998 FHL 973 M3mwa
 * Robert J. Martin, USS West Virginia (BB-48) Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1997 FHL 973 M3mw

Marine Corps
For information regarding official military unit histories, contact:

U.S. Marine Corps History Division 2044 Broadway Street Quantico, Virginia 22134 Telephone: (703) 432-4877

Information on WWII Marines has been collected by Jerome Beau, volunteer historian. He has collected over 7600 histories on fellow Marine Raiders.


 * Gordon L. Rottman. U.S. Marine Corps World War II order of battle : ground and air units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945.Westport, Connecticut : Greenwood Press, 2002. FHL 973 M3rg

 Marine Divisions
 * 1st Marine Division. 1941-1947

Marine Corps Regimental History Series
 * Robert J. Kane. A brief History of the 2d Marines. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1970
 * Frank. A Brief History of the 3d Marines. Washington, D.C.: Historical Branch, G-3 Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1968
 * James S. Santelli. A Brief History of the 4th Marines. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1970
 * William K. Jones. A Brief History of the 6th Marines. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Divisions. headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1987
 * James S. Santelli. A brief History of the 7th Marines. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1980
 * James S. Santelli. A Brief History of the 8th Marines. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1976
 * David N. Buckner. A Brief History of the 10th Marines. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1981
 * Robert Emmet. A Brief History of the 11th Marines. Washington, D.C.: Historical Branch, G-3 Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps,1968
 * Charles R. Smith. A Brief History of the 12th Marines. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1972
 * Ronald J. Brown. A brief History of the 14th Marines Washington, D.C.: Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Divisions. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps,1990
 * Joseph B. Ruth. A Brief History of the 25th Marines. Washington, D.C.History and Museums Divisions. Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1981

Transportation Corps
 Military Railway Service 
 * Railroaders in Olive Drab: The Military Railway Service in WW II
 * Ron Zeil, Steel Rails to Victory. Random House Value Publishing, n.d.
 * Railway Operating Battalion
 * War Department Field Manual. Transportation Corps. Railway-Operating Battalion
 * editor, Louis L. Russell ; Loren W. Richter, The Santa Fe Battalion in World War II Chicago, Illinois : Neely Print. Co, 1946? 713th Railway Operating Battalion
 * 718th Railway Operating Battalion
 * 723rd Railway Operating Battalion
 * 727th Railway Operating Battalion

Coast Guard
For information regarding official military unit histories, contact:

U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Commandant (CG-09224) U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters 2100 Second Street SW Washington, D.C. 20593

Other Sources
For brief organizational and service histories of Army combat units see the following:
 * David Polk. World War II Army Airborne troop carriers. Paducah, Kentucky : Turner Pub. Co., c1992. FHL 973 M2pat
 * United States. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, The history of the Medical Department of the United States Navy in World War II volume 2. Washington : U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1953

UnitHistories.com website aims to give a full spectrum of data on World War II fighting units, including details on organization, commanders, and literature.