Catalogue description Air Ministry: Allied Expeditionary Air Force, later Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (Air), and 2nd Tactical Air Force: Registered Files and Reports

Search within or browse this series to find specific records of interest.

Date range

Details of AIR 37
Reference: AIR 37
Title: Air Ministry: Allied Expeditionary Air Force, later Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (Air), and 2nd Tactical Air Force: Registered Files and Reports
Description:

This series contains records of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force and of its principal components the Second Tactical Air Force (RAF), the American Ninth Air Force, USAAF and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (Air). Also included are files of, or relating to, 2, 38, 46, 83, 84 and 85 Groups and 310 Squadron, which were controlled by the British organizations above; of the Air Commander-in-Chief (Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory) and his chief of Operations and Plans (Air Vice Marshal Strafford).

There are also files originating at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force which relate largely to the organisation and operation of the AEAF and which are arranged under the headings SHAEF (Main and Rear), Chief of Staff (Supreme Allied Command) and Deputy Chief of Staff (Air). A few other files relate to 21 Army Group, Air Vice Marshal Disarmament (Executive), US Strategic Air Forces, Europe and 88 Group, a group especially formed to take part in operation 'Apostle', the return to Norway on the surrender of the Germans.
Date: 1939-1969
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department: AEAF and other file series
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Air Ministry, Allied Expeditionary Air Force, 1943-1944

Air Ministry, Second Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945

Air Ministry, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (Air), 1944-1945
Physical description: 1466 files and volumes
Access conditions: Open
Immediate source of acquisition:

From 1971 Ministry of Defence
Accruals: Series is accruing
Administrative / biographical background:

AEAF was established on 15 November 1943 and replaced by SHAEF (Air) which in turn disbanded in July 1945. The 2nd Tactical Air Force (originally just the Tactical Air Force) was formed on 1 June 1943 and became the Air Component of the Occupation Forces in Germany on 17 July 1945 as the British Air Forces of Occupation.

Have you found an error with this catalogue description?

Help with your research

How to look for...