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During World War II the U.S. Army Air Forces (AAF) required group echelon units to submit Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) to AAF headquarters within two days after an aircraft or air crew failed to return from a combat mission. AAF HQ directed the various group headquarters to submit a MACR for all incidents involving the loss of air crew members during combat operations irrespective of the number of crew members lost. For example, heavy bomber groups would submit a MACR when an aircraft returned from a mission with fewer than the usual ten crew members. In the event an entire crew failed to return, a report was submitted to AAF HQ describing the events prior to the loss of the aircraft. Likewise, fighter groups would submit MACRs when the pilots of single seat aircraft failed to return after a mission.
The information contained in a typical MACR includes a date, time, and location that the crew and aircraft were last seen or reported missing from the formation. Details about aircraft incidents were taken from statements given by crew members from other aircraft flying in the same formation. These statements usually mentioned whether any parachutes were seen to have opened and how many airmen exited the aircraft before it crashed. The names of the missing air crew member(s) were listed by crew position, rank, serial number, and known status such as MIA or POW.
Additional information included in the MACR is the aircraft AAF serial (tail) number; nickname or squadron identification letter; and the type, model, and serial number of the engine(s) or machine gun(s). The name of the assigned air base and numbered unit (squadron, group, or air force) to which an aircraft belonged also appears in the MACR.
The Air Force Historical Studies Office (AF/HOH) in Washington, D.C. maintains MACRs on microfiche. Copies of these reports are provided to veterans and their family members upon written request. When submitting requests for MACRs from AFHSO, write to the following address: AF/HOH, Reference and Analysis Division, 3 Brookley Avenue, Box 94, Bolling AFB, DC 20032-5000. You may also email your request to afhso.research@pentagon.af.mil. Please include your full postal address if you request that we send you print items!
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) maintains MACRs on 16 mm microfilm and provides copies to public and private researchers for a nominal fee. When submitting requests for MACRs from NARA, write to the following address: NARA/NNR2, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 or call 301-713-7250 ext. 382.
The Air
Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) at Maxwell AFB, AL may also be
of assistance to private and professional researchers trying to locate MACRs.
The AFHRA has several numerical listings compiled from the AAF unit records
which may be used to find the corresponding MACR number for crew members failing
to return from combat missions when the following information is known: aircraft
serial number and type, date when aircrew became missing, assigned unit, machine
gun serial number(s), or engine serial number(s).
These numerical listings are also available for purchase on 16 mm microfilm
from the AFHRA. When requesting microfilm, use the following address:
HQ AFHRA/RS
600 Chennault Circle
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6424.
Consider these guidelines when placing orders for microfilm: