The Air Force Historical Research Agency is the repository for Air Force historical documents. The Agency’s collection, begun in Washington, DC, during World War II, moved in 1949 to Maxwell Air Force Base, the site of Air University, to provide research facilities for professional military education students, the faculty, visiting scholars, and the general public. It consists today of over 70,000,000 pages devoted to the history of the service, and represents the world’s largest and most valuable organized collection of documents on US military aviation.

Within their archive, they have preserved an unknown number of records onto Microfilm, then converted those to .PDF digitized collections. This page, is an archive of ONLY SOME of these digitized microfilm reels that have been collected by or donated to The Black Vault

** Special thanks to FOIA researcher Cory Newman, who has contributed much of his own collection, that is encompassed into the below list. With his help, and the help of others who have donated their private collections; an archive like this would not be possible in its current form. CONTACT The Black Vault if you have other full reels you’d like to donate to the below.

Document Archive

Below, you will find a full index of records by microfilm reel number. Film reels can consist of THOUSANDS of pages, and contain various topics and documents, sometimes, unrelated to each other. Although this seems like a somewhat rough method of archiving, the below records can be cross-referenced with “AirForceHistoryIndex.org“, a website which has painstakingly taken a database (as of 2001) of AFHRA records, and made a searchable index. This resource is not affiliated with The Black Vault, but links are integrated below to get a quick index to what is on the film reel archived here.

Note: Some reels are marked “partial” as only a partial number of pages from the reel has been released. Since automatic page numbering machines are often inaccurate, it is likely that not all partial reels are labeled as such. If you feel you found a partial reel that is not complete, feel free to contact The Black Vault. Keep in mind, the total number of pages numbered, due to page numbers being skipped, may not reflect the ACTUAL number of pages on any given reel. 

Digitized Microfilm Reels by Number

47214 (partial reel) (Download Reel [309 Pages, 65MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

49775 (Download Reel [1,572 Pages, 421MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

49776 (Download Reel [1,860 Pages, 589MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4012 (Download Reel [1,610 Pages, 343MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4013 (Download Reel [2,185 Pages, 505MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4014 (Download Reel [2,386 Pages, 436MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4015 (Download Reel [1,519 Pages, 284MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4016 (Download Reel [1,981 Pages, 370MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4017 (Download Reel [2,010 Pages, 531MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4018 (Download Reel [1,881 Pages, 402MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4019 (Download Reel [1,455 Pages, 315MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4020 (Download Reel [1,831 Pages, 436MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4021 (Download Reel [1,575 Pages, 371MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4028 (Download Reel [1,641 Pages, 490MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4029 (Download Reel [1,346 Pages, 358MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4030 (Download Reel [1,599 Pages, 500MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4031 (Download Reel [1,448 Pages, 364MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4032 (Download Reel [2,049 Pages, 640MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4033 (Download Reel [2,297 Pages, 769MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4034 (Download Reel [1,909 Pages, 564MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4035 (Download Reel [1,117 Pages, 367MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4036 (Download Reel [1,818 Pages, 675MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4037 (Download Reel [1,639 Pages, 460MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5830 (Download Reel [2,019 Pages, 440MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5831 (Download Reel [2,344 Pages, 818MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5832 (Download Reel [1,922 Pages, 478MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5836 (Download Reel [1,764 Pages, 464MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5850 (Download Reel [1,928 Pages, 565MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5851 (Download Reel [1,732 Pages, 545MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5852 (Download Reel [2,026 Pages, 507MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

B0605 (Download Reel [2,215 Pages, 522MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

B2415 (Download Reel [1,569 Pages, 401MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K0611 (Download Reel [1,652 Pages, 343MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1054 (Download Reel [1,492 Pages, 452MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1141 (Download Reel [1,492 Pages, 452MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1262 (Download Reel [1,306 Pages, 223MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1264 (partial reel) (Download Reel [52 Pages, 9.9MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K3623 (Download Reel [1,121 Pages, 230MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4002 (Download Reel [1,542 Pages, 470MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4003 (Download Reel [1,400 Pages, 370MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4004 (Download Reel [1,728 Pages, 370MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4006 (Download Reel [1,451 Pages, 358MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4007 (Download Reel [876 Pages, 277MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4008 (Download Reel [1,835 Pages, 752MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4009 (Download Reel [856 Pages, 178MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4010 (Download Reel [762 Pages, 187MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4011 (Download Reel [907 Pages, 200MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4012 (Download Reel [1,568 Pages, 383MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0190 (Download Reel [2,233 Pages, 535MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0196 (Download Reel [1,726 Pages, 396MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0245 (partial reel)  (Download Reel [519 Pages, 98.7MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0325 (Download Reel [963 Pages, 238MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0326 (Download Reel [1,780 Pages, 354MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0463 (partial reel)  (Download Reel [209 Pages, 61.5MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0538 (Download Reel [2,539 Pages, 664MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0539 (Download Reel [1,871 Pages, 513MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0558 (Download Reel [1,854 Pages, 387MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0559 (Download Reel [2,327 Pages, 572MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0576 (Download Reel [2,493 Pages, 579MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0577 (Download Reel [2,422 Pages, 622MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0598 (Download Reel [2,162 Pages, 387MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0644 (Download Reel [1,642 Pages, 327MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0645 (partial reel) (Download Reel [905 Pages, 185MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0657 (Download Reel [2,452 Pages, 457MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0659 (Download Reel [1,743 Pages, 383MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0660 (Download Reel [1,573 Pages, 413MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0682 (Download Reel [1,929 Pages, 388MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0710 (Download Reel [2,205 Pages, 490MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0723 (partial reel) (Download Reel [918 Pages, 188MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0833 (Download Reel [1,594 Pages, 336MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0834 (Download Reel [1,688 Pages, 392MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0836 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,371 Pages, 319MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0865 (partial reel) (Download Reel [232 Pages, 68.9MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0929 (Download Reel [1,511 Pages, 313MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0932 (Download Reel [1,774 Pages, 368MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0933 (Download Reel [1,704 Pages, 315MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0984 (Download Reel [2,032 Pages, 438MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0986 (Download Reel [1,827 Pages, 360MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0179 (partial reel) (Download Reel [825 Pages, 173MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0180 (partial reel) (Download Reel [433 Pages, 180MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0197 (Download Reel [1,647 Pages, 343MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0198 (partial reel) (Download Reel [691 Pages, 131MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0216 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,159 Pages, 261MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0238 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,050 Pages, 234MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0267 (Download Reel [1,602 Pages, 330MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0268 (partial reel) (Download Reel [750 Pages, 163MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0269 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,145 Pages, 252MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0285 (Download Reel [1,629 Pages, 318MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0288 (Download Reel [1,520 Pages, 303MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0305 (Download Reel [1,786 Pages, 361MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0306 (Download Reel [1,731 Pages, 349MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0307 (partial reel) (Download Reel [802 Pages, 185MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0366 (Download Reel [1,731 Pages, 363MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0424 (Download Reel [1,948 Pages, 461MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0503 (Download Reel [1,695 Pages, 313MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0504 (partial reel) (Download Reel [754 Pages, 154MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0622 (Download Reel [1,980 Pages, 497MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0163 (Download Reel [1,727 Pages, 361MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0379 (Download Reel [1,409 Pages, 311MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0408 (Download Reel [2,152 Pages, 413MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0409 (partial reel) (Download Reel [436 Pages, 92.7MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0410 (Download Reel [1,714 Pages, 338MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0438 (Download Reel [1,674 Pages, 406MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0461 (Download Reel [1,453 Pages, 291MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0462 (Download Reel [1,849 Pages, 379MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0536 (Download Reel [593 Pages, 142MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0537 (Download Reel [2,184 Pages, 464MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0538 (Download Reel [2,107 Pages, 427MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0563 (Download Reel [1,482 Pages, 282MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0577 (Download Reel [1,743 Pages, 451MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0602 (Download Reel [1,436 Pages, 276MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0733 (Download Reel [1,513 Pages, 331MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

The post Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Document Collection first appeared on The Black Vault.

Here are the notes, as listed on the microfilm for this record, as written by the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA):

“Recognized requirement for night fighter aircraft prior to attack on Pearl Harbor HI. Northrop P-61 Black Widow made first flight on 26 May 1942. F-82 aircraft offered temporary solution after World War II. Northrop created F-89 in 1947; production halted on F-87. Problems with F-89 prompted transfer of F-94B aircraft from Air Training Command (ATC) to Air Defense Command (ADC). Decision to use Falcon (GAR-1) air to air missile on interceptor required modifying aircraft. F-86 aircraft converted to interceptor role. 1954 interceptor later designated F-102 aircraft. Valley committee recommended north American receive contract to manufacture F-102 accessories. Saville board declared Hughes aircraft winner of competition. Convair declared winner of airframe competition. Debated advantages of delta wing for high-speed aircraft. F-103 aircraft product of same design competition that produced F-102. Lockheed developed F-104 aircraft. F-101B resulted from design competition held immediately after World War II. ADC received first F-106A aircraft in 1959. Plans for third generation jet interceptor included long range interceptor (lrix/F-108). Medium range interceptor (MRIX) first known as F-102B and later F-106. F-103 aircraft considered research vehicle.”

The following document was donated to The Black Vault by FOIA researcher Cory Newman. He spent YEARS collecting and researching these, and has allowed The Black Vault to archive parts of his collection. The records have been converted (to the best of a computer’s ability as the records are older and in parts harder to read) to a searchable format within the PDF, and uploaded below.

Document Archive

 Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12) [145 Pages, 39.7MB]

The post Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12) first appeared on The Black Vault.