Research Division
Organizational History Branch

• The Birth of the USAF
• Types of USAF Organizations
• Major Commands
• Direct Reporting Units
• Field Operating Agencies
• Numbered Air Forces
• Wings/Groups
• Squadrons/Flights
• Air Divisions
• Guide to USAF Lineage & Honors
• Acronyms & Abbreviations
• Air Force Heritage Pamphlet

The Air Force Historical Research Agency publishes this web page as a source of ready information for USAF historians, other researchers, and the general public. This information, except as noted under Wings/Groups and Squadrons/Flights is current as of January 1, 2001.

Most of the sources used to prepare the lineage and honors entries presented here are located in the document collection of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. The most important sources are the histories that Air Force organizations at all echelons periodically prepare and send to the Agency under the auspices of the Air Force History Program. The Agency maintains organizational record cards and emblem records as working papers to provide essential information. The Agency also collects indispensable primary source documents, including G-series special orders, operations plans and reports, organizational directories, Department of the Air Force manpower and organization numbered letters, and similar records. Unfortunately, even with all the available information, the historians could not always ascertain specific facts. These entries are subject to revision in the light of evidence that may be discovered or become available in the future.

The organizational emblems on this site are the current, officially registered emblems. Reproduction of these emblems for commercial use or for profit is not permitted without express permission of the individual unit commander, who claims rights to the emblem. Because the quality of the reproduction on this site is less than optimum, an Air Force organization should not copy its emblem from this source to use for official purposes. It should instead use the official emblem files from its wing history office, MAJCOM history office, or AFHRA/RSO.

Comments and questions concerning any information on this web page should be addressed to AFHRANEWS at AFHRANEWS@maxwell.af.mil or by writing to the AFHRA Organizational History Branch, 600 Chennault Circle, Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424.