This work details the methods of deciphering and reading the coding found on Individual Aircraft Record Cards (IARCs). The work shows how to read the 21 formats of record cards to help the reader or researcher identify the reporting or possessing unit, activity, station, and important dates for individual aircraft. The author also details where and how to obtain IARC microfilm rolls.

Robert A. Mann is a former member of the United States Air Force, and enjoyed a long career in the aerospace industry. The author of five books, he lives in Pahrump, Nevada.

Robert A. Mann
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 288
Bibliographic Info: appendices, glossary
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3782-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5119-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v
Preface      1
Introduction      3

1. Aircraft Identification      7
2. Sources of Data      12
3. World War II Overseas Deployment      14
4. Record Card Formats      17
5. How to Do It      26

Appendix A. Master Code Index      31
Appendix B. Abbreviations and Acronyms      69
Appendix C. Functional Codes (Prior to 1 July 1949) / Assignment
Status Codes (After 1 July 1949)      73
Appendix D. Aircraft Cause of Loss Codes      78
Appendix E. Command and Sub-Command Codes      79
Appendix F. Gain Codes      83
Appendix G. Loss Codes      84
Appendix H. Manufacturers Codes      85
Appendix I. Organization Kind Codes      88
Appendix J. Organization Type Codes      107
Appendix K. Air Force Station Codes (Alpha Sort)      109
Appendix L. Air Force Station Codes (Numeric Sort)      182
Appendix M. Overseas Destination Codes: World War II      254
Appendix N. Termination Codes      255
Appendix O. Aircraft Type Designations      256
Appendix P. Unit/Organization Codes      258
Appendix Q. Unit Type Codes      259
Appendix R. Microfilm Roll List, Prefixes ACR, OACR,
AC and ACA      261
Appendix S. Individual Aircraft Record Card Formats (21 Formats)      268

“this handy…volume may exceed all others in specialization…a must”—ARBA.