Research Page

I am looking for veterans, family members, fellow researchers, and all others who have information about a family member or a friend that was killed and/or buried in The Netherlands during World War Two. With your help alone I can make this site into a fitting tribute. Your help is greatly appreciated.

If you have any information about a person, I would very much appreciate if you get in touch with me so I can add this person to the website. I often use material sent to me as the starting point of my own research. Contact me at information@basher82.nl

Researching the lives of WW2 servicemen can take a lot of time and effort. There are, however, a lot of on-line sources which are helpful in (starting) your own research. On this page I like to provide links to pages, organizations, forums, e-mail groups, etc. which are of particular interest to the (beginning) researcher.

I. The first record you should write for is a file created by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The documents in this file will have the veteran's serial number on them and also may have a social security number. During World War II the serial number was NOT the social security number. The documents will also show designated next of kin and the file will contain marriage records and birth certificates.

To get a copy of this file call (800) 827-1000. This will ring at your regional office. They will be able to tell you where your veteran's file is located and where to write. You will need to be able to give them identifying information, a serial number or the VA file number. Be sure to tell them you are requesting a "retired file." However, if someone is alive (for example the widow) and is still receiving benefits from the veteran, the file will be "active". You may have to get permission from that person or ask them to request the file in their name. If the widow never remarried and always received benefits, the file will be near where she is living or was living at the time of her death. After they tell you where the file is located, write to that address requesting a copy of everything in the file. (You are only eligible to get the information in this file if you are next of kin and the veteran was killed or missing in action.)

National Archives - The site to start if you are looking for official documents. NARA holds a vast amount of documents, pictures, films, microfilms, etc., about virtually all aspects of World War Two.

II. If you already have the serial number, you will want to write to the National Personnel Records Center for the veteran's "jacket," but do this only after you have the serial number:

National Personnel Records Center

National Personnel Records Center.

You may write a letter or use Standard Form 180 to request information.

The SF180 tells you what information the NPRC needs before they are able to answer your request and it is best to use one. To get a SF180 on the Internet, go to:

www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/standard_form_180.html#sf

You can also get a form by using Fax-on-Demand Fax number for requesting military records is 314-801-9195, or by writing to the National Personnel Records Center. You will also find a form SF180 in Touchstones: A Guide to Records, Rights and Resources for Families of American World War II Casualties by Ann Bennett Mix, available through the AWON Book Store. You cannot request records by phone but you can check or the status of your request (wait at least 3 months) by calling (314) 538-2050. You cannot request records by email but you can email questions to mpr.center@nara.gov. More information is available on the website www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.

Ask for a copy of everything in your veteran's personnel records ("jackets"). Also ask for the "MED" records. (You must have a serial number and ask for "MED" records specifically, as they are only filed under the serial number and not by name).

On the SF180 or in your letter, you may write (or attach a note): "I am the next of kin. I want these records for information for our family. I would like a copy of all documents in my father's personnel records file. If his records were burned or are missing, I would like to have his personnel file reconstructed. If the record is reconstructed, I would like a copy of all documents used to reconstruct his file and prove his service. The copies of the records I am requesting should include, but should not be limited to the following: Official Military Personnel File, Final Pay Voucher, Medical Records and Clinical Records to include the SGO Tape, Flight Records (for Army Air Corps Personnel only) and Certificate of Service."

It takes a LONG time to get these records so the sooner you send for them the better. Many of these files were burned in a fire at the center in 1973. Some fragments of some records were saved but many files were totally destroyed. This may have happened in your case. They will send whatever survived the fire and at least proof of service. (For information on writing for medals, Flight Reports, Morning Reports, Unit Records, and all benefits, we recommend the book Touchstones.

III. Next, write for the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF.) These records were created by the Mortuary Services, which dealt with a war casualty's body and sending personal effects to the next of kin. They are especially useful if the personnel records were burned. If no body was recovered, there will be a report of the investigation. All mortuary records for World War II, for ALL branches, are kept at the Total Army Personnel Command (TAPC.) Be sure to mention your relationship to the person who died and that you are requesting the records under the Freedom of Information Act. You cannot request records by phone.

Write to:

Commander, US Army Human Resources Command

For information on requesting a memorial marker and funeral services for a person whose remains were not recovered, see Touchstones.

IV. The Navy has index cards on deceased sailors. These 5x6 cards normally include a description of how the seaman was killed, burial place, next of kin, and birth, enlistment and death dates.

Write to:

Officer In Charge, Naval Medical And Dental Affairs

VI. Records for Merchant Marines killed in World War II have been transferred to the National Archives Records Center (Deceased and War Casualty Records for Merchant Seaman 1936-1950). There is a charge of $1.00 per page for copies of records. You can go to the National Archives and make copies yourself for about 15 cents per page.

Write to:

Old Military Civilian Records

VII. The American Battle Monuments Commission is in charge of burials in American Military Cemeteries overseas. 134,548 American servicemen were buried in these cemeteries. More than 78,000 whose remains were not recovered are listed on the Tablets of the Missing located at these cemeteries and on East Coast and West Coast Memorials in the US. The commission will send you a beautiful brochure and the exact location of your veteran's grave or listing on the Tablet of the Missing. They will also send a photograph of the cemetery with a photo of the veteran's marker, or a photo of his name on the Tablet of the Missing superimposed. This commission only has records of all whose bodies were buried in American overseas cemeteries and those whose names are engraved on the Tablets of the Missing.

Contact:

American Battle Monuments Commission Operations

You can access information on the war dead buried overseas and on ABMC memorials at their website: www.abmc.gov. If your loved one was NOT buried overseas you can view information on ALL war dead (by state) at the National Archives website: http://www.nara.gov. Using NAIL: Select Digital Copies Search; Enter War Casualties in the first Keywords box; Enter Army or Navy; in the second Keywords box; Select Submit Search; Select Display Results. You will have to browse by State and by County. No index to names is available at this time.

(Sources for this information: Touchstones: A Guide To Records Rights And Resources for Families of WWII Casualties by Ann Bennett Mix, AWON member-researcher Col. Jack Forgy (ret), and Ann Bennett Mix)

When researching a particular Army, Navy, USAAF or Marine unit, the obvious sources would be books and unit associations. On-line you can find a great deal of information and many veteran associations have their own websites. Best way to find these are to use a search engine like Google. I provide links on my own links page, but only those relating to the subject of this site. I also have links to relevant pages on all individual pages.

There are two great sites that explain in rather great detail how to research the wartime career of a relative. Instead of copying their content here, follow these links to their sites:

Dave's forvalor.com research page. (Which is, by the way, also a great site for militaria collectors)

Wesley Johnston's Dad's War page. Wesley's father was with the 7th Armored Division. He did a lot of research and has a great site. Wesly has moved his site to http://www.7tharmddiv.org/docrep/#nara

For research on specific units I have used too many websites to mention here. I have listed them on the relevant individual pages. A number are also mentioned on the LINKS page.

Commonwealth War Grave Commission - The site about the organization responsible for maintaining the Commonwealth war graves all over the world. The site has a database with all World War Two (Commonwealth) war dead.

Public Records Office - Joined with the Historical Manuscripts Commission as The National Archives. Here are most documents stored that pertain to World War Two in the United Kingdom.

Service Records of military personnel can be obtained by family members. Contact the Veterans Agency of the Ministry of Defense by clicking on this banner

To research the wartime career of a particular soldier, go to this page on Paul Reed's website. Paul also offers a great service for those not able to do the research themselves. Visit www.ddayancestors.com for more information. The research page on Greg Kopchuk's website on 429 squadron RCAF also gives a lot of pointers how to research people who were with Bomber Command.

For research on specific units I have used too many websites to mention here. I have listed them on the relevant individual pages. A number are also mentioned on the LINKS page.

To request the service records of family members who fought in the Canadian Armed Forces, write to

For research on specific units I have used too many websites to mention here. I have listed them on the relevant individual pages. A number are also mentioned on the LINKS page.

Basic records of Australian service personnel can be found on these two websites:

Requests for Service Personnel files can be made to the Personnel Archives of the New Zealand Defense Force. Download their request form in PDF form here, fill it out and mail or fax it to the address/number on the form.

The following books, articles, etc. have been used to compile the stories on this site.

Alexander, Raymond, Special Operations 101 Squadron, Self published 1979
Andrews, Paul M., Operational Record of the 95th Bomb Group,
Benson, John, Saturday Night Soldiers, Self Published, 2002
Blakebrough, Ken, The Fireball Outfit - The 457th Bombardment Group in the Skies over Europe, Aero Publishers, 1968
Boiten, Theo, Nagdjagd, Crowood Press, 1997
Bruce, Don, 115 Squadron Roll of Honour, Self Published 2003
Caldwell, Donald, The JG26 War Diary, Volume I and II, London: Grub Street 1998
Chorley, W.R., To See The Dawn Breaking - 76 Squadron Operations, Self published 1981
Chroley, W.R. In Brave Company - 158 Squadron operations, Self published 1990
Cooper, Alan W., Bombers Over Berlin, Northampshire: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1989
Crost, Lyn, Honor By Fire, Novato, California: Presidio Press 1994
Draper, Lt. Theodore, The 84th Infantry Division In The Battle For Germany, New York: Viking Press 1946
Finn, Sid, Black Swan - A History of 103 Sqn, Edenbridge: Newton Publishers 1989
Freeman, Roger A., The Mighty Eight War Diary, London: Arms and Armour Press 1990
Fydenchuk, W. Peter, Immigrants of War, Self published 2005
Goss, Chris, It's Suicide Bit It's Fun, Manchester: Crecy Books, 1995
Hawkins, Ian, Courage Honor Victory, Bellevue, Washington: 95th Bomb Group Association 1987
Hechler, Ken, The Bridge At Remagen, Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company 1998
Hoek, Sietse van der, Vredenhof - Rustplaats voor drenkelingen op Schiermonnikoog, Amsterdam 2003
Houston, Donald E., Hell On Wheels, Novato, California: Presidio Press 1995
Jansen, Ab A., Wespennest Leeuwarden, Volume I, II and III, Baarn: Hollandia 1976
Jansen, Ab A. Gevleugeld Verleden, Baarn: Forum ny
Jansen, Ab A., Sporen aan de hemel, Volume I, II and III, Baarn: Holland 1979-1980
Jansen, Ab A., Fliegerhorst Schiphol, Volume I, II and III, Amsterdam: Bataafse Leeuw 1996
Lincoln, John, Thank God and the Infantry, Stroud: Allan Sutton 1994
Lundy,Will, 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor, 2004
Magellas, James, All the way to Berlin, New York: Ballantine Books 2003
Manrho, John and Ron Putz, Bodenplatte, Crowborough: Hikoki 2004
Mason, F/O T., The History of 9 Squadron RAF, 1965
Martyn, Errol W., For Your Tomorrow, Volume I and II, Christchurch: Volplane Press 1999
McDonough, James L. and Richard S. Gardner, Sky Riders - History of the 327/401 Glider Infantry, Nashville: Battery Press 1980
Mick, Maj Allen H., With the 102nd Infantry Division Through Germany, Washington: Infantry Journal Press 1947
Murphy, Thomas B., Ambassadors In Arms,
Pence, Donald C and Eugene J. Petersen, Ordeal In The Vosges, Sanford: Transition Press 1981
Pergrin, Col. David E., First Across The Rhine, Pacifica, California: Pacifica Press 1989
Piper, Ian, 605, Self published 2003
Rijnhout Bart M. and John P. Rennison, The Sky Is Our Ocean, Rotterdam: Wyt Uitgevers, ny
Rapport, Leonard and Arthur Norwood, Rendezvous With Destiny, Old Saybrook: Konecky & Konecky 2001
Roever, Eddy de, Londen Roept Amsterdam, Baarn: Hollandia 1992
Ross, David, The Greatest Squadron, Vol.II, London; Grub Street
Schotman, J.L., Zij Vielen Rondom Zwolle, Kampen: IJsselacademie 2001
Shirey, Orville C., AMERICANS The Story of the 442nd Combat Team, Washington: Infantry Journal Press 1946
Shomon, Lt Col Joseph J., Crosses In The Wind, Self Published 1991
Shields, Doyle, History of the 447th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group Association, ny
Smit, Peter and Jaap Spanninga, Van Veensoldaat tot Pools Bevrijder, Bedum: Profiel 1995
Steidl, Franz, Lost Battalions, Novato, California: Presidio Press 1997
Zwanenburg, Gerrit J., En Toen Was Het Stil, Volume I, II and III, Den Haag: Royal Dutch Air Force, ny
War Service Records, The Canadian Bank of Commerce, 1947
Ward, Chris, 50 Squadron (Squadron Profiles series), Self Published 1999
Ward, Chris, 78 Squadron (Squadron Profiles series), Self Published 2000
Warth, Michael, Wings Over Wing, Dunstable: The Book Castle 2001