Finding Aid for NARA Records

Appendix I: Record Groups Cited in Reference

http://www.archives.gov/publications/ref-info-papers/107/

RG 38	Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
RG 80	General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1798-1947
RG 111	Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer
RG 127	Records of the US Marine Corps
RG 128	Records of Joint Committees of Congress
RG 218	Records of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff
RG 233	Records of the US House of Representatives
RG 263	Records of the Central Intelligence Agency
RG 273	Records of the National Security Council
RG 306	Records of the US Information Agency
RG 319	Records of the Army Staff
RG 330	Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense
RG 335	Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Army
RG 340	Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
RG 341	Records of Headquarters US Air Force (Air Staff)
RG 342	Records of US Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations
RG 373	Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
RG 428	General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1947-

Finding Aid for ONI Records at NARA II College Park

http://jfkcountercoup.blogspot.com/2011/10/finding-aid-for-oni-records-at-nara-ii.html

According to Douglas Richmond in The Archaeologist Was a Spy: Sylvanus G. Morley and the Office of Naval Intelligence. Tim Nenninger created a finding aid for ONI records held at the NARA. 

Here's a finding aid to the ONI records related to Interagency Groups on Nazi Assets that he helped compile.

A FINDING AID TO RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT COLLEGE PARK


PREFACE

This finding aid was prepared for the Interagency Group on Nazi Assets, directed by Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, the Under Secretary of Commerce. The finding aid is part of a report for the Interagency Group on Nazi Assets that was prepared under the direction of Dr. William Z. Slany, Chief Historian of the Department of State.

Development of this finding aid actually predated the Interagency Group on Nazi Assets, beginning in early April 1996, when researchers began asking about our holdings relating to Swiss banks. The Archives II Textual Reference Branch staff was canvassed and a ten-page finding aid was produced by the preparer of this finding aid. It was made available to researchers on April 19, 1996. It identified the records in a half-dozen record groups and identified pertinent series of records. For the next six months an increasing number of researchers desired more information and, thus, the initial finding aid was periodically updated. Then in November 1996, with increased interest in the multitude of questions relating to Nazi looted assets, particularly gold, and the creation of the Interagency Group on Nazi Assets, increased attention was devoted to expanding the finding aid. The present version, prepared for the Interagency Group on Nazi nAssets, is not the end of NARA’s efforts to provide “ready access to essential evidence.” As time permits and researcher interest continues this finding aid will be periodically updated.

Purpose of the Finding Aid

The purpose of this finding aid is to assist researchers locating within the National Archives at College Park those records that pertain not only to the subject matter of the report but also to those records relating to the broader subjects listed in the title to the finding aid.

Specifically, the finding aid provides a guide to records pertaining to:
• efforts in 1940-1942 to freeze, block, and seize Axis and other assets located in the United States; efforts, in conjunction with the Allies, during the 1942-1944 period, to blockade the Axis to prevent them from obtaining the resources necessary to wage war; efforts during 1944 and 1945, to prevent the Axis from secreting and cloaking their assets in neutral and other countries (i.e., the Safehaven Program); efforts in 1945 and in the aftermath of the war to locate looted and other Axis assets; The U.S. postwar role in restitution and reparation activities; and, The U.S. diplomatic efforts to work with the neutral countries to obtain the return of and disposition of Axis looted assets as well as other enemy assets.

This finding aid is by no means comprehensive, given the wealth of the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and given the time constraints in its preparation.

There are, most likely, other series of records within the Record Groups mentioned as well as series in Record Groups not mentioned that contain information about World War II economic warfare, Nazi looted assets, Safehaven Program activities, post-war restitution and reparation activities, and the financial and diplomatic aftermath of the war. There is also a possibility that some pertinent records are still in the legal custody of one or more Federal agencies. This finding aid, nevertheless, should provide researchers with a relatively full guide to the archival records in College Park and give clues where other material may be held.

The National Archives and Records Administration and Archival Records

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) acquires, preserves, and makes available for research records of enduring value created or received by organizations of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government. A relatively substantial amount of the NARA holdings relate to World War II and are held in its facility in College Park, Maryland. Other NARA facilities hold many records and donated material related to World War II, including records related to the subjects covered in this finding aid. This is particularly true of the Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Harry S Truman, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Libraries. Researchers should contact the other NARA facilities for assistance in their research
efforts.

Arrangement of Archival Records

NARA arranges its holdings according to the archival principle of “provenance.” This principle provides that records be attributed to the agency that created or maintained them and arranged there under as they were filed when in active use. In the National Archives, application of the principle of provenance takes the form of numbered record groups, with each record group comprising the records of a major government entity, usually a bureau of an independent agency.

ix
Most record groups include records of any predecessors of the organization named in the title of the record group. A few record groups combine the records of several small or short-lived agencies having an administrative or functional relationship with each other.

Within a record group, the records of a government agency are organized into series. Each series is a set of documents arranged according to the creating office’s filing system or otherwise kept together by the creating office because they related to a particular subject or function, result from the same activity, document a specific kind of transaction, take a particular physical form, or have some other relationship arising out of their creation, receipt, or use.

NARA endeavors to keep records in the order in which they were maintained by the creating agency, in the belief that this best preserves their integrity and interrelationships. The agency filing systems were designed for administrative purposes and not for the benefit of future researchers. This finding aid seeks to assist subject-oriented researchers in understanding the complexities of the recordkeeping systems and in locating relevant material among the vast quantities of records.

Introduction to the Finding Aid

This finding aid is divided into three parts--the records of military agencies, records of civilian agencies, and records in the National Archives Gift Collection. The latter are subdivided by the individual who donated their personal papers to NARA. The military and civilian agency sections of the finding aid are subdivided by Federal agency and then by Record Group.

Within each Record Group the descriptions of the records are, for the most part, in a hierarchial order. For each series of records a Series Title is provided. In most instances the date span of the series is provided as well as the series entry number. In many instances an arrangement statement and full description of the records in the series is provided. When applicable, the total number of boxes in the series is given along with the beginning location of the series. Where specific boxes are identified, the exact box location is provided. When a folder or file title in a particular box or boxes of a series is given, the term “File Title” is used to indicate only certain file titles are identified; when all the files in a box or series are given then the term “File Titles” is used.

The location of each series of records at Archives II at College Park, Maryland, is provided, with the stack area, the row, the compartment, and the shelf where the series begins. When specific boxes are indicated, generally the exact location of the box or boxes is given. Thus a location of 450/34/7/01 would mean stack area 450, row 34, compartment 7, and shelf 1. There is one exception to this general guidance. The newly accessioned Department of Treasury records, mainly from the predecessor offices of the Office of International Affairs, have been declassified and moved to an unclassified stack area. To make the pertinent records more accessible we have moved many boxes, including those of several other Federal agencies, to the Textual Research Room (Room 2000) hold area. Thus the location for these newly declassified records is the Compartment Number. Also provided is the original stack location.

For example: Compartment 6 [450/34/33/01]. Records in stack 631, as a general rule, are classified. As they are declassified, they are being moved to nonclassified stack areas. Thus, researchers should check with the staff to determine whether records identified as being in stack 631 are still classified or have been moved to a new location.

x
Access to the Records

Almost all of the records described in this finding aid are located in the Archives II building in College Park, Maryland. The records are serviced by the Textual Reference Division. The Division’s Archives II Textual Reference Branch assists researchers in locating records and the Division’s Archives II User Services Branch assists researchers in the research room. Some of the records are microfilmed as NARA microfilm publications and those records are self-service.

These microfilm publications are located in Room 4050 of the Archives II Building. Other NARA facilities have copies of many of these microfilm publications. To contact the Textual Reference Branch about our holdings or to request records please call 301- 713-7250 and ask to speak to either a military records archivist or a civilian agency records archivist depending upon the records in which you are interested. Please be as specific as possible so you may be directed to an appropriate staff member. If you would like to write us, please do so at the following address: Archives II Textual Reference Branch (NWDT2), Textual Reference Division, Office of Records Services-Washington, Room 2400, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001

The Naval Establishment Records

Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (RG 38)

By an Executive order of December 18, 1941, the Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet was removed from the authority of the Chief of Naval Operations and was put in supreme command of the Navy’s operating forces. On March 12, 1942, however, another Executive order made provision for combining the duties of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, and those of the Chief of Naval Operations and assigned them to one office with the title of “Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, and Chief of Naval Operations.” This official would serve as the principal naval adviser to the President on the conduct of the war, and principal naval adviser and executive to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of the activities of the Naval Establishment. Admiral Ernest J. King, who had become Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, in December 1941, was given the dual role, and retained it during the remainder of the war. As Chief of Naval Operations he succeeded Admiral Harold R. Stark, who had held that office since before the outbreak of the war in Europe in 1939.

Records of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Administrative) Division of Pan American Affairs and United States Naval Missions 1940-1946 With the outbreak of World War II, the increased importance and complexity of problems with respect to Latin American relations resulted in the establishment of a Pan American Division set up directly under the Chief of Naval Operations in January 1942. Rear Admiral W. O. Spears, who had been named Director of the new division, had previously been assigned duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in June 1940 to exercise overall supervision of naval missions.

80
After World War II, the division became the Division of Pan American Affairs and United States Naval Missions, responsible for the administering of United States naval missions and advisory groups; for assisting in plans for effective naval cooperation with the American republics; and for the arranging of training in the United States of armed forces personnel of these and other countries.

Correspondence relating to Hemispheric Security 1940-1945 (Entry 48B)

This series contains copies of intelligence reports prepared by naval and military attaches
in Latin American countries concerning political elections; political developments; and other related subjects. Also included are memorandums concerning agreements made during the years 1940-1942 for cooperation against possible Axis aggression. Most of the records relate to Lend Lease. The records are arranged by country and thereunder according to an alpha-numeric filing scheme.

Boxes 1-2 location: 370/12/13/05
Records of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations)

The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations), holding the rank of Vice Admiral,
under the authority and direction of the Chief of Naval Operations, prepared strategic plans and policies and was responsible for the organization, operational development, readiness, administration, and operations of seagoing forces, sea frontiers, and overseas naval command areas. He had the overall direction of the Intelligence Service, evaluated and disseminated operational information, and had representation on joint operational agencies.

Records of the Office of Naval Intelligence

During World War II the Naval Intelligence Division was part of the “Services” group
under the Sub Chief of Naval Operations. During the war the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) was responsible for the collection and distribution of naval intelligence for Navy bureaus and offices. It cooperated closely with the Military Intelligence Division (MID), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Department, the Office of U.S. Censorship, and the British Imperial Censorship Office. Since Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief , United States Fleet (COMINCH) and ONI both carried on intelligence activities, a more clear-cut distinction was made between them when COMINCH established the Combat Intelligence Division on July 1, 1943. The general line of demarcation between their duties was that the Naval Intelligence Division was responsible for strategic intelligence and the Combat Intelligence Division was responsible for operational intelligence.

The Foreign Economic Administration (FEA) asked the Office of Naval Intelligence to
furnish Safehaven data to it whenever possible. In case at least, that of Tangier, the Naval Attache sent reports of a very useful nature relating to enemy assets and enemy influence in that territory.

On the basis of its reception of these reports, the FEA requested that naval attaches in other neutral territories be requested to initiate similar studies.

ONI in April 1945, issued a special report (FT-11-2-45) defining its Safehaven program
and tying it in with current Naval interests. The report was planned to expedite the securing of Safehaven data and was distributed to Naval Commands abroad, Naval Attaches, Liaison Officers, and District Intelligence Officers.80 General Records 80 Clarke, “Safehaven Study,” p. 113.

81
Formerly Security Classified Administrative Correspondence 1941-1945 (Entry 85A)

This series is arranged according to the Navy Filing Manual, a copy of which is
located in the consultation area in Room 2400.

Boxes 1-451 location: 370/14/14/02
Subject Index to Naval Attache Reports in Series 98A, 98B, and 98C 1940-1947
(Entry 95A)81

This index is arranged alphabetically under 30 major headings, including: all nations;
commerce; financial; government, foreign relations; social and economic conditions; and, societies and organizations. Under each of the major headings the cards are arranged by subject or country, and there under by subject or country. Included on the cards are register number, file designation, date, title, the source of the information, and the original security classification on the document.

Also included on some cards are lists of the enclosures to the document and cross-references to other subjects in the index. The index has been microfilmed and is available as NARA Microfilm
Publication M1332.
Boxes 1-35 location: 370/13/9/05

Formerly Confidential Reports of Naval Attaches 1940-1946 (Entry 98A)

This series consists of intelligence reports submitted by naval attaches based upon their
observations concerning foreign naval activities. Most reports contain military, economic, and political information about the country. The series is arranged by subject classification number and there under numerically. See series 95A for a subject index for the World War II intelligence
summaries and reports.

Boxes 1-1276 location: 370/13/10/01
Confidential Reports of Naval Attaches 1940-1946 (Entry 98A)
This series is arranged alphabetically by the name of a city.
Boxes 1277-1349 location: 370/14/1/04
Formerly Secret Reports of Naval Attaches 1940-1945 (Entry 98B)

These records are much like those described above but were classified Secret. Arranged by subject classification number and there under numerically, with a few reports arranged by a separate number scheme at the end of the series. See series 95A for a subject index for the World

War II intelligence summaries and reports.
Boxes 1-488 location: 370/14/3/01
Formerly Top Secret Reports of Naval Attaches 1940-1947 (Entry 98C)

These records are much like those described in series 98A. Also included in this series is
correspondence relating to counter-espionage activities within the various embassies; excerpted foreign intelligence reports; and comments on current political events in foreign countries. The records are arranged by top secret document control number. 41 rolls 35mm negative microfilm; 19 rolls 35mm positive microfilm contained in boxes 16 and 17. Boxes 1-15 contained textual records. A partial list of files is available in the first box of the series, as well as in the
consultation area in Room 2400.

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Boxes 1-17 location: 370/14/13/03

Records of the Foreign Intelligence Branch

The Foreign Intelligence Branch was responsible for the obtaining, evaluating, and
disseminating information concerning foreign countries, especially that affecting naval and maritime matters. In addition, it directed the activities of US naval attaches and maintained liaison with foreign naval attaches accredited to the United States. An important aspect of the Branch’s task was the preparation of the so-called naval monographs, which were compiled for all countries with sea power. The monographs, which were indexed and kept current, supplied essential naval, political, and economic information in regard to possible enemies or allies.

Foreign Intelligence Branch Office and Historical Files 1939-1945 (Entry UD2)
Boxes 1-6 location: 370/14/35/06
Box # Subject
4 ONI Liaison Office to Board of Economic Warfare, 1942-1945
German Monograph Files 1939-1945 (Entry UD78)

This series is arranged mostly by the ONI Monograph Guide which is a numeric filing
system.

Boxes 1-35 location: 370/15/27/07
Latin America Monograph Files 1920-1945 (Entry UD83)

This series is arranged first alphabeticlly by the name of the country and thereunder by the ONI Monograph Guide which is a numeric filing system.
Boxes 1-67 location: 370/15/29/01
Foreign Publications and Reports 1940-1950 (Entry UD 88)
Arranged alphabetically by name of country/geographical location. A folder list is
available in the consultation area in Room 2400.
Boxes 1-76 location: 370/15/30/06

Correspondence with Naval Attaches, Observers, and Liaison Officers 1930-1948

(Entry UD3)
Arranged alphabetically by name of cities.
Boxes 1-6 location: 370/14/35/07
Boxes 7-18 location: 370/15/1/02
Records of the Foreign Trade Section

Formerly Security Classified Reports and Dispatches Recieved Related to Enemy

Shipping 1941-1945 (Entry 176)
This series, which is arranged topically (sometimes by the name of ship), contains
intelligence reports, dispatches, booklets, pamphlets, and other material received from Europe and the Far East relating to enemy shipping, axis blockade runners and raiders.
81 This series also contains references to Reports (“Registers”) of Naval Attaches, 1886-1922 (Entry 98), which are located in the Archives I Building and serviced by the Archives I Textual Reference

NARA Record Group 38
Records of Chief of Naval Operations
Office of Naval Intelligence
Reg. Publications and Monograph Files
Finding Aid

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/index.htm

Folks,

This finding aid may be used to locate documents from the Textual Records Branch of the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, MD. These are some of the finding aids from RG 38, Records of the Chief of Naval Operations, Office Of Naval Intelligence, Registered Publications and Monograph Files. Note that this is not a complete list of all the records available, or even of all the finding aids available. Be sure to check http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ and the printed finding aids available in the research room.

Note that the binder in the research room also has a short section containing Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data that I missed while scanning this finding aid. If you are able to scan this section, please contact us with the HNSA Feedback Form. We would like to add it to this online copy of the finding aid. We are also looking for a volunteer to transcribe Part 6. The copy at NARA has so much writing on it that OCR will not work well and it will need to be transcribed by hand if we want a searchable copy.

Note that this record group contains many rare early US and British Radar, Sonar, Fire Control, Torpedo and other technical manuals in addition to the plans and monographs.

Rich Pekelney
Webmaster

---

Part 1 - Miscellaneous ONI Publications (1 page indexing 87 boxes)

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part1-001.htm

Part 2 - Monograph Files (6 pages indexing 36 boxes)

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part2-001.htm

Part 3 - Operational, Tactical & Instructional Publications, 1918-1970 (6 pages indexing 120 boxes)

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part3-001.htm

Part 4 - (Pubs. Containing Restricted or Formerly Restricted Data)

Part 4 - (Pubs. Containing Restricted or Formerly Restricted Data)

Part 5- Technical Publications (Ships, Engineering, Ordnance, Gunnery Exercises and Engineering Performance, Miscellaneous (31 pages representing 176 boxes)

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part5-001.htm

  Page 1-Ships Publications

  Page 1-Ships Publications

  Page 7-Fleet Training Publications

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part5-007.htm

  Page 12-Engineering Publications

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part5-012.htm

  Page 15-Ordnance Publications

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part5-015.htm

  Page 21-Gunnery Exercises and Engineering Performance Publications

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part5-021.htm

  Page 22-Miscellaneous Unnumbered Publications

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part5-022.htm

Part 6 - Foreign Navy and Related Foreign Publications, 1913-1960 (136 pages indexing 595 boxes)

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nara/oni/part6-001.htm

Folks,

When looking at US Navy records, they are normally sorted by the Navy Filing Manual. Although the manual evolved over time, a typical filing manual (1941) that covers the immediate pre-WW II, WW II and postwar is available online on this web site, Navy File Manual (fast loading) (or single page easy to search in browser version). A more detailed list of ordnance filing codes is available ordfile.pdf (4.2 MB PDF). A 1950 version of the filing manual is available navyfile1950.pdf (11.5 MB PDF). Standard Subject Identifcation Codes is a 1987 version of the filing manual, ssic.pdf (5.9 MB PDF), a 2005 version of SSIC is at m5210-2.pdf (1 MB PDF). For ordnance publications, OP0.pdf (18 MB PDF) will help in searching for Ordnance Publications. For other periods there are copies of the manuals in the finding aids in the reference rooms at NARA.

Below are some of my suggestions on how to get started on searching for US Navy records at the US National Archives and Records Administration. Since for most of us a trip to the Archives includes expensive long distance travel I hope these suggestions help you to me more productive once you arrive. Archives research is a "hands-on" activity, for the most part you should not expect to be able to access the records via the web. There are not enough archivists to search for you, however, they are incredibly helpful in training researchers on how to access the records, building finding aids, doing conservation on the records, etc:

To get started on research at NARA:
http://www.archives.gov/about/index.html
http://www.archives.gov/research/index.html

Be sure to note that there are very valuable records at the record centers outside of NARA in College Park, MD (Archives II). This is the largest location, but it does not duplicate the collections at the regional centers.
http://www.archives.gov/locations/index.html

The usefulness of NARA's online catalog varies depending on the age and quality of the finding aids, but it is usually the place to start:
http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/

Click on the yellow button to get to the search page.

Do not be surprised that you may additional finding aids printed out at NARA that are not available online. On a first visit you may wish to speak with an archivist that specializes in your research topic area.

Archives research is a hands on experience, it cannot be done from a distance. For those that are not fortunate enough to be able to visit the archives themselves, NARA maintains a list of independent researchers that are available for hire. This list can be found at:
http://www.archives.gov/research/index.html

These finding aids for ship plans and drawings are available online on this web site. All of this material is in Archives II, College Park, MD:

• Master Ship Plans List, This list has entries for almost all of the ships for which the archivist know they have drawings, plans, microfich or microfilm available (over 17,000 records).	Master Ship Plans List
• Plans for Concrete Ships	Plans for Concrete Ships
• Contract Portfolios.	Contract Portfolios
• Hull Series	Hull Series
• Ordnance Drawings	Ordnance
• USS Olympia	USS Olympia
• Submarine Patrol Charts	Submarine Patrol Charts
Search HNSA.ORG (except the Master Ship Plans List.)

My personal research interest has included US WW II submarines and cryptology. Below are some of my favorite finding aids:

These finding aids for Cryptologic history are available online on this web site. These may be available somewhere on the NARA site, but I could not find them. Note that the NARA site is updated regularly and should be more accurate than these finding aids.

These were provided by NARA in 2005 and reformatted for this web site. All of this material is in Archives II, College Park, MD:

• A large amount of material was declassified from the National Security Agency and its predecessors (i.e. ASA) in 1996. This was called project OPENDOOR.	NSA Opendoor
• The Commander Naval Security Group Library from the Crane Indiana storage was transferred and declassified in 2001.	Crane CNSG Library
• The Crane Library.	Crane Library
• Active Stations	Active Stations
• Inactive Stations	Inactive Stations
• Radio Intelligence Publications (RIPs)	RIPs
Search HNSA.ORG (except the Master Ship Plans List.)

These finding aids for technical manuals are available online on this web site. All of this material is in Archives II, College Park, MD:

• Navy Ordnance Pamphlets (OP) are in RG 74	Ordnance Pamphlets
• Navy Ordnance Data (OD) are in RG 74	Ordnance Data
• Technical Manuals in RG 344	Technical Manuals
• Office of Naval Intelligence Reg. Publications and Monograph Files in RG 38 (a lot more than technical manuals)	Registered Publications

Below are some useful search terms you might consider when using
http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/
Click on the yellow button to get to the search page (we tried to make these links, but ARC changes too often to keep them working):

RG 19: Records of the Bureau of Ships

RG 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel

RG 26: Records of the U.S. Coast Guard

RG 32: Records of the U.S. Shipping Board

RG-38: The Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

RG-71: Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks

RG-74: Records of the Bureau of Ordnance

RG 78: Records of the U.S. Naval Observatory

RG 80: General Records of the Department of the Navy

RG 143: Records of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts (Navy)

RG 178: Records of the U.S. Maritime Commission

RG-181: Naval Districts and Shore Establishments

RG-127: Records of the U.S. Marine Corps

RG 298: Records of the Office of Naval Research

RG 313: Records of Naval Operating Forces

RG 343: Records of the Naval Air Systems Command

RG 344: Records of the Naval Ship Systems Command

RG 345: Records of the Naval Electronic Systems Command

RG 357: Records of the Maritime Administration

RG 358: Records of the Federal Maritime Commission

RG 385: Records of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command

RG-428: General Records of the Department of the Navy

RG 402: Records of the Bureau of Naval Weapons

RG 405: Records of the U.S. Naval Academy

RG-457: The NSA (National Security Agency), CSS, and CIA (Central Intelligence Agency also RG-263) and its predecessors's records (Army Security Agency, OSS also RG 226), Naval Security Group is in RG-38, (DIA is in RG-373)

RG 526: Records of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service

As an example, in the finding aid for Commander Naval Security Group Library above, I found the following line: "5750/303 - CNSG - COMINT Contributions to Success of Sub Ops Against the Japanese in WWII, 17 Jun 1947." When I arrived at Archives II in College Park, MD, I filled out a call slip requesting Box 137 from Record Group 38, CNSG Library. All together I requested about a dozen boxes. Two hours later the archivist brought out a cart with the boxes and there was the Lockwood piece. Of course during the wait I looked through additional finding aids and filled out more slips. In this way I was able to search through many boxes during a three day visit. When I found interesting documents, I was able to photocopy them on the machines provided. On other trips I have brought my own scanner and was thereby able to avoid the photocopier entirely.

Here is the report on "Statement as to value" of "Communication Intelligence against the Japanese in World War II" report dated 17 June 1947 by Vice Admiral C. A. Lockwood, USN. The Lockwood note is often quoted, but I have never had copy of it before.
lockwoodonintell.pdf (1.5 megabytes)

Below is a short list for USN ship museums searching at NARA in College Park. This is not a complete list, these are just a few places to start. There are also records for Maritime Administration ships, a few merchant ships and a few non-USA ships in these same areas:

Cartographic: Start with the Master Ship Plans List. This has entries for almost all of the ships that have drawings or microfilm available. It tells you only if something is available, but not how much and not what quality. It has enough information that the archivist can help you find those items. • RG 19, USN Ship Roll Drawings sorted by Ship Name and Hull Number. The same drawers sometimes have War Patrol Charts and Books of General Plans. • There are also some Bureau of Ordnance drawings that are cataloged. Microfilm and Microfiche: • There are war patrol reports on micro-fiche for most submarines and some other ships. (M1752) • There are crew muster rolls on microfilm (RG24 Room 2520). These are pretty complete. More recent lists may require intervention of the archivist as they contain confidential social security numbers that must be blanked out. • There are also rolls of ships plans on microfilm. (RG 19) • There are some technical manuals for radar, sonar, radio and engines in uncataloged drawers of microfilm. It is very hit or miss what you will find. (RG-19) Textual records in the General Correspondence files: • The end of the Navy Filing System includes a file for every ship. (RG 19, 470) Note that the finding aids are broken into groups of years. You need to look through all the likely groups of years. • There are also some deck logs in the Records of Bureau of Naval Personnel, RG 24. Photographs: • There are photos of many of the ships. In addition to the sorted, catalogued photos there are also many unsorted photos. Film and Sound: • There are a few films and very little sound available. The film is well indexed and the web site is useful in finding what does exist. Be sure to search on both name, hull number and hull type.

Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations [OCNO]

Search OPA for Entries from this Record Group

(Record Group 38)
1875-1993

Overview of Records Locations

http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/index-numeric/001-to-100.html

http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/038.html

Table of Contents

http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/038.html

Table of Contents

38.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

38.2 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS 1917-63

38.2.1 Records of the Chief of Naval Operations

38.2.2 Records of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO)

38.2.3 Records of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet

38.2.4 Records relating to U.S. Navy operations received from the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center

38.3 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (ADMINISTRATION) 1885-1963

38.3.1 Records of the Division of Naval Communications

38.3.2 Records of the Central Division and its predecessors

38.3.3 Records of the Division of Pan American Affairs and United States Naval Missions

38.3.4 Records of the Naval District Affairs Division

38.3.5 Records of the Office of Naval Records and Library

38.4 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE (ONI), OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (OPERATIONS) 1875-1956

38.4.1 General records

38.4.2 Records of the Director and Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence

38.4.3 Communications with naval attaches

38.4.4 Records relating to investigations

38.4.5 Records relating to personnel

38.4.6 Records of the Intelligence Branch

38.4.7 Records of the Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.8 Records of the Far Eastern Section, Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.9 Records of the Eastern European Section, Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.10 Records of the Central European Section, Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.11 Records of the Western European Section, Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.12 Records of the Latin American Section, Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.13 Records of the Africa and Mid-East Section, Foreign Intelligence Branch

38.4.14 Records of the Counter Intelligence Branch

38.4.15 Records of other ONI units

38.4.16 Other ONI records

38.5 RECORDS OF THE OPERATIONAL READINESS DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (OPERATIONS) 1908-45

38.6 FIELD RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (OPERATIONS) 1882-1955

38.6.1 Records of U.S. naval attaches

38.6.2 Records of aids for information

38.6.3 Records of branch naval intelligence offices

38.7 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (LOGISTICS) 1882-1962

38.7.1 Records of the Ships' Movement Division

38.7.2 Records of boards of inspection and review

38.7.3 Records of the Base Maintenance Division

38.7.4 Records of the Latin American Defense Section, Plans Division

38.8 RECORDS OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (AIR) 1917-46

38.8.1 38.8.1 Records of the Aerology Section, Flight Division

38.9 RECORDS OF THE OPERATIONS EVALUATION GROUP, CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES, PROGRAM PLANNING OFFICE 1975-85

38.10 TEXUAL RECORDS RECORDS (GENERAL) 1963-93

38.11 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL) 1917-19, 1955-68

38.12 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)

38.13 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)

38.14 MACHINE-READABLE RECORDS (GENERAL)

38.15 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)

 38.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: In the Department of the Navy by an act of March 3, 1915 (38 Stat. 929).

Predecessor Agencies:

Division of Operations of the Fleet (1909-15)

Transfers: With the Department of the Navy to the newly created National Military Establishment (NME), by the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 495), July 26, 1947; with the Department of the Navy to the Department of Defense (formerly NME) by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 578), August 10, 1949.

Functions: Advises the President, Secretary of the Navy, and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on the administration of the navy and on naval warfare. Administers naval programs to support manpower, materiel, weapons, and logistical needs; research and development activities; strategic planning; and the organization, training, and readiness of forces.

Finding Aids: Harry Schwartz, Kenneth F. Bartlett, and Lyman Hinckley, comps., "Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations," NM 63 (1966); supplement in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.

Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.

Related Records: Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library, RG 45.
General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1798-1947, RG 80.
Records of Naval Districts and Shore Establishments, RG 181.
Records of Naval Operating Forces, RG 313.
General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1947- , RG 428.

 38.2 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
1917-63

History: Division of Operations of the Fleet, headed by an Aid for Operations, established, effective December 1, 1909, by Changes in Navy Regulations No. 6, November 18, 1909. Superseded by OCNO, pursuant to an act of March 3, 1915 (38 Stat. 929). Initial composition (Office of Naval Intelligence, Board of Inspection and Survey, and Naval Communication Service) augmented by Hydrographic Office and Naval Observatory pursuant to EO 9126, April 8, 1942. Reorganized to include Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Chief of Naval Operations; and Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations for Personnel, Administration, Operations, Logistics, Air, and Special Weapons, by EO 9635, September 29, 1945, and an act of March 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 67). Additional functions assigned by the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 992), October 1, 1986.

 38.2.1 Records of the Chief of Naval Operations

Textual Records: CNO general correspondence, 1942-56. Microfilm copy of security-classified general correspondence, 1918-42 (377 rolls), with index, 1918-42 (42 rolls).

Microfilm Publications: T974, T975.

Related Records: Combined general correspondence of the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and the CNO, 1915-42, in RG 80, General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1798-1947.

 38.2.2 Records of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO)

History: Appointed by the President under authority of an act of March 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 67).

Textual Records: Correspondence, reports, and other records relating to logistic operations, public works projects, and demobilization, 1942-46. Correspondence and program files of the Logistics Organization Planning Unit, 1944-45. Records of the History and Reports Section relating to logistic history and operations, 1942-46. Historical file relating to OCNO divisions, 1944-46.

Subject Access Terms: Advance base program; Barach Report; Base Maintenance Division; Booz Report; Central Division; Flight Division; Naval Transportation Service; Transportation Division.

 38.2.3 Records of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet

History: Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (commonly referred to as "CINCUS"), established under OCNO, with administrative responsibility for fleet elements of U.S. Navy, 1922. Removed from OCNO, given supreme command of all U.S. naval forces, and placed as Commander in Chief (commonly referred to as "COMINCH") under general supervision of the Secretary of the Navy, but reporting directly to the President, by EO 8984, December 18, 1941. Headquarters COMINCH established in Washington, DC, December 30, 1941. Prepared and executed plans for war operations involving the naval forces of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Asiatic Fleets, and the naval coastal frontier commands. Duties of COMINCH and CNO combined under Adm. Ernest J. King by EO 9096, March 12, 1942. Headquarters COMINCH abolished, October 10, 1945, with functions absorbed by OCNO.

Textual Records: Correspondence, 1942-45 (883 ft.), with indexes (107 ft.). Publications, 1942-44. Reading files, 1942-45. Weekly reports on Allied and Axis naval forces, 1944-45. Administrative file of memorandums, instructions, and messages to all ships and stations ("ALNAVSTA Messages"), 1942-45. Correspondence of COMINCH aides and flag lieutenants, 1942-45.

Subject Access Terms: Kimmel, Adm. Husband E.

 38.2.4 Records relating to U.S. Navy operations received from the
Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center

Textual Records: Records relating to U.S. Navy operations in World War II, 1939-47, including general correspondence of the Operations Division, CINCUS/COMINCH; records of the New Weapons Research and Developments Section, CINCUS/COMINCH; a microfilm copy of incoming and outgoing dispatches (832 rolls) and chronological message traffic (461 rolls) of the Commander in Chief, Pacific, and the U.S. Pacific Fleet ; charts and maps, 1941-45; immediate office files of the Chief of Naval Operations, 1942-47; records of the Tenth Fleet, Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, 1939-45; World War II action and operational reports, 1939-45; World War II plans, orders, and related documents, 1939-45; World War II war diaries, 1941-45; publications and record material (World War II Command File), 1939-45; and records of the Strategic Plans/War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 1912-46. Records relating to U.S. Navy operations from World War I through the Korean War, 1917-63. Records relating to U.S. Navy operations, 1938-62, including submarine war patrol reports, 1941-45; records of the Mine Warfare Division, OCNO, 1941-49; chart room dispatches, CINCUS/COMINCH, 1940-46; records of U.S. Naval Group China, 1942- 57; records of Commander Naval Forces Europe, 1943-46; and records of Commander U.S. Naval Forces Northwest African Waters, 1942-43.

Machine-Readable Records (1 data set): U.S. Naval Group China personnel records, 1942-45, with supporting documentation. SEE ALSO 38.13.

 38.3 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (ADMINISTRATION)
1885-1963

 38.3.1 Records of the Division of Naval Communications

Textual Records: General correspondence of the director and his predecessors, 1911-26 (305 ft.). Microfilm copy of security- classified messages and dispatches, 1941-63 (8,868 rolls). Office files of Capt. David W. Todd, 1916-19; and Rear Adm. William H.G. Bullard, 1919-21. Newspaper clippings and publications, 1911-23. Daily records, including communication log sheets, from "Radio Central," 1932-39. General records of the Atlantic Coast Communications Superintendent, 1917-25. General correspondence of the Postal Affairs Section, 1942-45. Subject file, Commercial Traffic Section, 1929-37.

Microfilm Publications: T955.

Architectural and Engineering Plans (187 items): Plans and blueprints of communications installations at naval stations, 1917-25. SEE ALSO 38.10.

Subject Access Terms: Naval Radio Service; Noyes, Comdr. Leigh.

 38.3.2 Records of the Central Division and its predecessors

History: Established, December 15, 1930, as a successor to the Policy and Liaison Section, Office of Island Governments, functioning since June 1926. Occupied Areas Section created under the Sub CNO, August 1943; redesignated the Military Government Section, Central Division, August 2, 1944. Military Government Section abolished, November 1945, and reconstituted as the Office of Island Governments. The Central Division and its predecessors provided administrative assistance; acted as liaison with navy bureaus, government agencies, and the Congress; and administered island governments and places occupied by naval forces.

Textual Records: Records of the Central Division, including general correspondence, 1943-44, with index; subject file, 1944; and records relating to public finance and public health matters, 1944. General correspondence of the Office of Island Governments, 1945, with index. Records of the Military Government of Santo Domingo, including correspondence, 1917-24; radio messages, 1922- 24; reports, Executive orders, and proclamations, 1916-24; and publications, 1904-24. Records relating to the Virgin Islands, including correspondence and reports, 1922-30; and newspapers, 1929-30.

Related Records: General correspondence of the Office of Island Governments in RG 80, General Records of the Department of the Navy. Additional records of the Military Government of Santo Domingo in RG 45, Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library.

Subject Access Terms: Bonin Islands; Caroline Islands; Coleccion de Ordenes Ejecutivas y Reglamentos Administrativos (Military Government of Santo Domingo); Dominican-Haitian boundary controversy; Formosa; Kurile Islands; Mariana Islands; Marshall Islands; Pescadores Islands; Policia Nacional Dominicana (PND); Universal Negro Improvement Association; Welles, Sumner.

 38.3.3 Records of the Division of Pan American Affairs and United States Naval Missions

History: Pan American Division established, January 1942. Redesignated Division of Pan American Affairs and United States Naval Missions following World War II. Responsible for administration of naval missions and advisory groups; cooperation with Latin American republics; and training in the United States of armed forces personnel of Latin American and other countries.

Textual Records: Reports of bilateral staff conversations, 1940- 42. Correspondence with U.S. naval missions in Latin America, 1922-42. Correspondence relating to hemispheric security, 1940- 45; and to lend-lease procedures for Latin America, 1941-46.

 38.3.4 Records of the Naval District Affairs Division

History: Established, October 13, 1945, to administer activities of naval shore establishments.

Textual Records: Records of the Committee on the Standardization of Terminology for Activities of the Navy, 1943-46.

Related Records: Records of Naval Districts and Shore Establishments, RG 181.

 38.3.5 Records of the Office of Naval Records and Library

History: Originated as Navy Department Library, 1800. Assigned to Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), 1882. Consolidated with Naval War Records Office to form Office of Library and Naval War Records, 1884. Assigned to Office of the Secretary of the Navy, 1889. Redesignated Office of Naval Records and Library, 1915. Restored to ONI, 1919. Assigned to Deputy CNO (Operations), 1946. Merged with Office of Naval History to form Naval Records and History Division, 1949. Redesignated Division of Naval History, 1952, and Naval Historical Center, 1971. For an expanded administrative history, SEE RG 45.

Textual Records: Letters sent, 1885-89. General correspondence, 1885-1925. Administrative records, 1918-25. Registers of records received from ships and stations, 1920-37. Records of the Historical Section, including a calendar of materials received concerning questions of international law and diplomacy, 1886- 1919; and miscellaneous correspondence of U.S. naval forces operating in European waters, 1917-18.

Sound Recordings (47 items): Radio broadcasts of navy and Marine Corps combat operations, Pacific theater, World War II; and relating to war production, women in the shipbuilding industry, and war bond promotion, 1942-45 (44 items). General Dwight D. Eisenhower's report to Congress on the progress of the war in Europe, June 18, 1945 (2 items). V-E (Victory in Europe) Day broadcast, May 8, 1945 (1 item). SEE ALSO 38.12.

Related Records: Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library, RG 45.

 38.4 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE (ONI), OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (OPERATIONS) 

1875-1956

History: Established in the Bureau of Navigation by General Order 292, March 23, 1882. Transferred to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1890; returned to the Bureau of Navigation by order of the Secretary, April 26, 1898. Transferred to the jurisdiction of the Aid for Naval Operations, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, 1909; and to the OCNO, 1915. Designated the Intelligence Division, 1922, but continued to be known as ONI. Under command of the Sub Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. By reorganization, September 29, 1945, ONI came under supervision of the newly established Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Administration). Transferred to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations), July 1946.

 38.4.1 General records

Textual Records: Letters received, 1882-99. Letters sent, 1899- 1911. General correspondence, 1899-1943 (222 ft.), with indexes. Case files of persons suspected of espionage and other activities, 1917-18. Administrative correspondence, 1927-48 (452 ft.). Instructions to intelligence officers and naval attaches, 1916-33. Registers of letters received, 1922-42. Letters sent ("Day File"), 1929-46.

 38.4.2 Records of the Director and Assistant Director of Naval
Intelligence

Textual Records: Correspondence, 1928-43. Dispatches, 1929-39. Director's subject file, 1939-50 (bulk 1939-46). Correspondence of the Assistant Director, 1946-47. Daily information memorandums ("DIMS"), 1939-41. Summaries of current national situations, 1940-43. ONI summaries, 1947-50. Reference file of capital ship construction, 1927-40.

 38.4.3 Communications with naval attaches

Textual Records: Letters from naval attaches, 1882-1900. Registers of intelligence reports and other records received, 1882-88, 1897-1909. Registers of letters received from naval attaches, 1901-29. Naval attache reports, 1886-1947 (1,421 ft. and 6 rolls of microfilm). Naval intelligence reports ("IR's"), 1948-56 (755 ft.). Naval attache reports relating to the outbreak of World War II, 1936-43. Registers of naval attache reports, 1900-45. Subject index to naval attache reports, 1900-45; and to World War II intelligence reports, 1940-46. Diary and other records of Lt. N.A. McCully relating to the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-5. Cable correspondence with naval attaches during the Spanish-American War, 1898-1900.

Microfilm Publications: M975, M1332.

Maps and Charts (276 items): Maps forwarded to ONI as oversize enclosures to reports from naval attaches and shipboard naval officers, showing intelligence information about foreign areas, 1884-1945, including locations of U.S. and foreign naval bases; coaling and oiling stations; coastlines; islands; cities and harbors; telegraph lines; radio stations; trade routes; commercial steamship lines; Latin American airline routes; airports; values of British, German, and Japanese exports and imports; Spanish harbor defenses in Cuba, 1898; China during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-5; Russian forces in Poland, 1915; Battle of Jutland, 1916; and locations of possible German activities in Latin America. SEE ALSO 38.10.

Related Records: Additional reports of naval attaches in RG 45, Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library.

 38.4.4 Records relating to investigations

Textual Records: Records relating to subversive activities, 1917- 27. Lists of persons suspected of being foreign agents, and business firms suspected of illegal activity, 1917-18. Summaries of activities of cable and postal censors, 1917-18. Index to press clippings regarding subversive activities, 1917-18. Lists of intercepted mail, 1917-18. Lists of persons investigated by ONI, and carriers of illicit material and enemy correspondence, 1917-18. Index to seized passports, 1917-19. List of reports on German activity in Central and South America, 1917-18. Seized records of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of the United States, 1927-30.

Subject Access Terms: American Protective League; Daily Worker; draft dodgers; Johnson, James L.; pacifists; The Spy Glass.

 38.4.5 Records relating to personnel

Textual Records: Register of personnel, 1882-1925. Lists of agents, 1917-20. Lists of ONI agents and informants residing in foreign countries, 1917-25; and ONI personnel in naval districts, 1917-20. Card file of Navy Department personnel investigated, 1917-18. Name list of persons considered as potential sources of information, 1914-18.

 38.4.6 Records of the Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Letters sent by the Security Section, 1929-40. Correspondence relating to the investigation of the naval arsenal explosion at Lake Denmark, NJ, 1926-27. Military attache reports received from Paris and Rome, 1937-38. Records of the Coastal Information Section, including general correspondence, 1939-43, with index; and a reading file of letters sent, 1941-43.

 38.4.7 Records of the Foreign Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Office file, 1940-45. Correspondence with naval attaches, observers, and liaison officers, 1930-48. Reports on the world petroleum situation, 1940-42. Records of the ONI liaison to the Board of Economic Warfare, 1942-45. North American Theater Section historical file, 1943-45. Operational Intelligence Section historical file, 1939-43. Miscellaneous records of the Technical Section, 1945-46; Collection and Dissemination Section, 1949-50; Estimates Section, 1952-54; and Foreign Trade Section, 1942-45.

Subject Access Terms: National Intelligence Estimates.

 38.4.8 Records of the Far Eastern Section, Foreign Intelligence
Branch

Textual Records: Subject file, 1936-46. Intelligence records, 1942-46. Intelligence summaries, 4th Marines, Shanghai, China, 1934-40. State Department consular reports and dispatches concerning China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, 1935-41. Treasury Department reports concerning China and Japan, 1937-40. Japanese merchant shipping file, 1934-39. Reports from the naval attache, Tokyo, 1939-41. War Department radiograms, China, 1937-40. Records relating to the Pearl Harbor attack, 1939-44 (bulk 1940- 41). Enemy Oil Committee reports, 1942-45. U.S. Seventh Fleet intelligence bulletins, 1944-46. Records concerning Japanese diplomatic personnel in Europe, 1942-45; and economic conditions in Japan, 1945-47. Japanese desk serial file, 1941-47. Records from the China-Malay desk, 1935-46. Captured documents and translations, 1942-45. Weekly news summaries of conditions in the Far East, 1938-41. Records relating to the Painter Expedition to the China Coast, 1944-45.

Subject Access Terms: Peiping War (Peking); Sian Revolt; Sino- Japanese War.

 38.4.9 Records of the Eastern European Section, Foreign
Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Day file, 1940-44. Serials, 1940-46. Situation reports, Russian Front, 1942-45. Dispatches relating to the Soviet Union, 1941-45. Communiques, 1941-45. Prisoner of war interrogations, 1948-49. Reference file, ca. 1942-48 (bulk 1942- 45).

Photographic Prints (376 images, in Washington Area): Vice President Henry A. Wallace's visit to China and Soviet Union, in albums, 1944. SEE ALSO 38.14.

Subject Access Terms: Aleutian Islands; Bering Sea; Black Sea; Caucasus; Hula Project; Hungary; Kamchatka; Kurile Islands; Poland; Sakhalin Island; Siberia; Soviet Navy.

 38.4.10 Records of the Central European Section, Foreign
Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Subject file, 1939-46.

 38.4.11 Records of the Western European Section, Foreign
Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Records relating to the Spanish Civil War, including briefs and correspondence on nonintervention, 1936-37; reports on ship movements, 1936-37; naval and military attache reports, 1936-38; records concerning the evacuation from Spain of U.S. and other foreign nationals, 1936-39; and records relating to conditions in Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal, 1936-41 (bulk 1936-39).

 38.4.12 Records of the Latin American Section, Foreign
Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Letter file, 1928-33. Reports relating to Central America, 1945-47.

 38.4.13 Records of the Africa and Mid-East Section, Foreign
Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Reports from the Mediterranean, 1943-47. Reference file on Palestinian partition, 1947-48. Letters from the naval observer, Freetown, Sierre Leone, 1942-43.

 38.4.14 Records of the Counter Intelligence Branch

Textual Records: Letters, regulations, and orders of the Censorship Section, 1917-25. Reports, studies, regulations, and other records of the Counter Intelligence Section, 1940-48. Records of the Oriental Desk, 1936-46; and the Air Intelligence Group, 1942-48.

 38.4.15 Records of other ONI units

Textual Records: Correspondence, reports, reference files, manuals, directives, and other records of the Special Warfare Branch, 1942-45; and the Planning Branch, 1940-52. Records of the Specific Activities Branch, including administrative files, 1940- 45; records relating to agents, 1940-45; interrogations and other documents relating to U-boats, 1941-45; and records of the Prisoner-of-War Section, 1949-54. Reports and other records of the Naval Contract and Plant Division, 1918. Intelligence reports and other records of "C" Section (Collating), 1916-19. Card file of security suspects compiled by "G" Section (Central Files and Indexing), ca. 1917-18. Correspondence and reports of the Naval Group China, 1941-45. Records of the Four Power Naval Commission in Rome, 1947-49; the Naval Technical Mission to Japan, 1945-46; and the Naval Technical Mission to Europe, 1945-47.

Sound Recordings (148 items): Propaganda broadcasts to Axis countries produced by the Special Warfare Branch, including talks by U.S. military personnel; news announcements; anti-Fascist messages; and German-, Japanese-, and English-language messages from prisoners of war to their relatives, 1943-45. SEE ALSO 38.12.

Subject Access Terms: War Information, Office of.

 38.4.16 Other ONI records

Textual Records: Ledger of expenses, 1883-96. Requisition book, 1885-1901. German-language diary of Else Finsterbusch (age 15), 1914-16. Daily radio reports, 1916-19. Reports on ship movements, 1917-19. Reports, photographs, and sketches of camouflaged warships, armed merchant vessels, and other vessels, 1917-19. Ship silhouette charts, ca. 1918. "Guide Cotier D'Italie" (Italian Coastal Guide) published by the Ministers de la Marine, Etat Major General of France, 1924-1940. Formerly security-classified census of manufacturers, 1929. Translation of German Foreign Office report, "The Liman Sanders Affair, January 1913-June 1914," 1935. ONI monograph files, 1920-55. ONI publications, 1882-1954. Intelligence publication collection, 1919-52. Foreign publications and reports, 1901-50. Exhibits file, 1942-55. Card indexes to German and Japanese naval and political figures and intelligence targets, compiled ca. 1941-45, but including biographical information dating back to the 19th century. Unpublished area studies of Japan, 1943-44. Unabstracted aircraft intelligence reports regarding Japanese and U.S.S.R. aircraft, 1942-49. Reports and publications forwarded to the Chief of Naval Operations, 1948-50. Case files of American prisoners of war during the Korean War, 1952-56.

Map (1 item): Aerial mosaic photomap of Nanking, China, 1929. SEE ALSO 38.10.

Architectural and Engineering Plans (154 items): Blueprints of naval auxiliary (private) vessels, ca. 1875-1904 (150 items). Plans relating to camouflage of ships, 1917-18 (4 items). SEE ALSO 38.10.

Photographs (13,074 images): Military defenses at Valparaiso, Chile, 1897 (VAL, 7 images). Armor tests at the naval facility in Indian Head, MD, 1891-92; sailors at Naval Training Station, Newport, RI, 1891-92; Veracruz and Tampico, Mexico, 1914; buildings in Haiti, ca. 1930; construction of German vessel Kaiser Wilhelm II, n.d.; German, Chinese, and other foreign medals, n.d.; and civilian and military personnel at the Navy Department, ca. 1941-45 (HS, 330 images). Coastal defenses of Japanese-mandated Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands, ca. 1935 (SS, 100 images). Design and construction of domestic, foreign, and experimental aircraft, 1914-43 (AC, 12,000 images). Advance base naval units Lion 2 and Lion 4, ca. 1944 (LT, 313 images). Storage facilities at the Naval Supply Depot, Oakland, CA, ca. 1943; and exterior and interior views of German U-boats, 1918 (NS, 192 images). Aerial views of coastal defenses of United States and territories, 1914-23 (FCD, 102 images); and of Italian ports and landmarks, and aerial bombing tests, 1920 (IS, 30 images). Photographs of U.S. Forces on Makin Island, 1943 (MK, 335 images).
SEE ALSO 38.14.

 38.5 RECORDS OF THE OPERATIONAL READINESS DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (OPERATIONS)
1908-45

History: Operational Readiness Section (later Division) organized in Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations) at same time as the latter's establishment, October 10, 1945. Assumed functions formerly performed by Division of Fleet Training and by Mine Warfare Section.

Textual Records: Records of the Division of Fleet Training, including general correspondence, 1914-42; subject files, 1908- 26; reports, 1917-41; circulars, 1919-26; and vessel efficiency inspection reports, 1921-26. General correspondence of the Mine Warfare Section, 1942-45.

Microfilm Publications: M964.

Photographs (369 images): Naval procedures for mine and antimine operations; and netting devices designed to protect ships and harbors from enemy torpedoes, mines, and submarines, 1944-45 (MW). SEE AlSO 38.14.

Subject Access Terms: Navy Fleet Problems I-XXII.

 38.6 FIELD RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (OPERATIONS)
1882-1955

 38.6.1 Records of U.S. naval attaches

Textual Records: Letters sent by naval attaches, 1882-1905. Correspondence and other records of U.S. naval attaches and missions in Brazil, 1919-29; Cuba, 1917-19; Honduras, 1929-33; The Hague, 1920-33; Peru, 1929-33; and the USSR, 1934-35. Records of the U.S. Naval Representative, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1917-19; and the Scientific Attache, London, 1917-19. Office files of various naval attaches in foreign cities, 1917-55.

 38.6.2 Records of aids for information

History: As early as 1915, "aids for information" were assigned to supervise intelligence work within naval districts. At first reported directly to Director of Naval Intelligence; by 1918, to the naval district commandant.

Textual Records: Records of the Aid for Information, 3d Naval District, New York, NY (in New York), consisting of correspondence, 1917-19, with indexes to merchant seamen and other suspects; general correspondence and censorship reports of the Moving Picture Censorship Department, 1918-19; correspondence of the "Placing of Informants Aboard Ship" Department, 1918-19; records of the Ship Investigating Bureau, including lists of operatives of alien suspects investigated, and an index to locations of suspected illegal activities, 1917-18; and reports of the Ship Search Department, 1917-18. Correspondence concerning informants and submarine activity, maintained by the Aid for Information, New London, CT, 1917-18 (in Boston).

 38.6.3 Records of branch naval intelligence offices

Textual Records: Records of the Branch Naval Intelligence Office, New York, NY (in New York), including administrative records, 1917-18; correspondence relating to the investigation of suspected labor agitators, 1918; copies of The Daily Bulletin, a publication of the New York Cable Censor's Office, with index, 1918; and general records of the Plant Protection Section, 1918. Records (in Philadelphia) of the Plant Protection Section, Branch Naval Intelligence Office, Pittsburgh, PA, consisting of reports of plant inspections and related records, 1918, with index.

 38.7 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (LOGISTICS)
1882-1962

History: Established, October 1945, assuming functions, previously vested in OCNO, of determining the navy's materiel requirements and of executing logistic plans and policies.

 38.7.1 Records of the Ships' Movement Division

Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-42. List of private vessels employed by the Naval Transportation Service, 1917-20. Case files of armed guard units aboard merchant vessels, 1940-45 (275 ft.).

 38.7.2 Records of boards of inspection and review

Textual Records: Records of the Board of Inspection and Survey, including letters sent, 1882-1937, and received, 1882-1901; administrative records, 1917-35; a history of the board, 1921; inspection reports concerning naval vessels, 1893-1946, and submarines, 1920-44; and reports on acceptance trials of naval aircraft, 1919-32. Correspondence and inspection reports of the Boards of Inspection for Shore Stations, 1910-14. Records of the Joint Merchant Vessel Board, including correspondence, 1915-19; and inspection reports concerning merchant vessels and motor boats, 1917-20. Records of the Board of Review, including correspondence, appraisal reports, and other records relating to private vessels used by the navy, 1917-21. Security-classified correspondence of the Ships' Characteristics Board, 1958-62.

Motion Pictures (1 reel): Testing of Higgins Boats, silent, 1941.

 38.7.3 Records of the Base Maintenance Division

Textual Records: Correspondence of the Base Defense Section, 1941-45. Correspondence concerning handling and employment of prisoners of war, 1944-46. Minutes of the Home Base Employment Council, 1944-45. Draft manuals of advance base development and maintenance, 1943-45. Records documenting the activities of the Naval Districts Division, 1916-18. Lists of private and government-owned vessels inspected for possible use, 1917-21. Records of the Shore Station Development Board, 1920-42. Graphs and diagrams depicting deployment of naval aircraft and aviation personnel and material, and illustrating personnel strength and progress of projects at advance bases, 1944-45. Correspondence concerning development and maintenance of advance bases, 1941-43. Correspondence and other records relating to overseas bases, primarily in the Pacific, 1941-42.

Photographs (156 images): Specialized training at advance bases, 1944-45 (SNT). SEE ALSO 38.14.

Subject Access Terms: Acorn (Advance Base); Bora Bora; Burma Road; China, supply of; Cub (Advance Base); Lion (Advance Base); Operation Bobcat; Pacific Base Facilities Charts.

 38.7.4 Records of the Latin American Defense Section, Plans
Division

Textual Records: Subject file, 1941-45.

 38.8 RECORDS OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (AIR)
1917-46

History: Established, August 18, 1943.

Textual Records: General correspondence, 1943. Correspondence of the Naval Air Transport Service, 1941-43. Correspondence relating to airplane contracts, 1943.

 38.8.1 Records of the Aerology Section, Flight Division

Textual Records: Correspondence, 1917-21. Outgoing correspondence, 1922-34. Correspondence of Lieutenant Francis W. Reichelsdorfer, head of the Aerology Section, 1924-26. Correspondence relating to proposed aerology legislation, 1919-26. Office orders and circular letters received from the Bureau of Aeronautics, 1930-36. Correspondence of Commander Wilbur M. Lockhart, head of the Aerological Section, 1937-40. General correspondence, 1919-46.

Photographs (4,819 images): Studio portraits of Allied leaders and high-ranking officers of the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps, by Comdr. Maurice Constant, Naval Photographic Service, 1942-46 (MCN, MCP). SEE ALSO 38.14.

 38.9 RECORDS OF THE OPERATIONS EVALUATION GROUP, CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES, PROGRAM PLANNING OFFICE
1975-85

Machine-Readable Records (1 data set): Surface Warfare Division's Hostile Fire File ("HOSTA"), documenting incidents (1966-70) of Communist shore batteries firing on U.S. and Australian Navy ships off the coasts of North and South Vietnam, 1975-85, with supporting documentation. SEE ALSO 38.13.

 38.10 TEXTUAL RECORDS (GENERAL) 1963-93

Selected records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, including information concerning the enlistment, service, and discharge of Lee Harvey Oswald from the Marine Corps; Oswald's defection to and return from the Soviet Union; investigations of other persons associated with Oswald; and requests for information about Oswald from various agencies after the assassination; 1963-93. Publications and other records relating to naval operations and administration, 1901-70 (402 ft. and 7 rolls of microfilm). Records of the Naval Security Group Command including Commander Naval Security Group Command Library, 1930-46; inactive stations library, 1930-46; active stations library, 1925-46; radio intelligence summaries, 1941-46; radio intelligence publications, 1924-45; and Naval Security Group detachment Crane Library, 1908-46. Translations of intercepted enemy radio traffic and miscellaneous World War II documentation, Microfilm collection, 1940-70. Master alphabet strips for unidentified mership ciphers during World War II, n.d.

 38.11 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
1917-19, 1955-68

Maps and Charts: Hydrographic Office Chart No. 5155 of west coast of Europe from southern Norway to the Straits of Gibraltar, annotated by the London headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces in Europe to show names of ports other than those printed on maps, as well as mine barrages, ca. 1917-19 (1 item). Incomplete set of seven marine climatic atlases of the world, 1955-68, and a naval operational weather atlas of North America, 1955, prepared by the Naval Weather Service Division, containing climatic charts (2,000 items). Plans of navy yards to accompany industrial managers' reports, 1917-18 (18 items).

SEE Maps and Charts UNDER 38.4.3 and 38.4.16.
SEE Architectural and Engineering Plans UNDER 38.3.1 and 38.4.16.

Finding Aids: Charlotte M. Ashby, comp., Cartographic Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, PI 85 (1955).

 38.12 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)

SEE UNDER 38.7.2.

 38.13 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)

SEE UNDER 38.3.5 and 38.4.15.

 38.14 MACHINE-READABLE RECORDS (GENERAL)

SEE UNDER 38.2.4 and 38.9.

38.15 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)

Photographs: Photographic report of the Japanese Army submarine YU-3, 1945 (JS, 62 images).

SEE Photographs UNDER 38.4.16, 38.5, 38.7.3, and 38.8.
SEE Photographic Prints UNDER 38.4.9.