Re: KW Naval Research

[<geminiad@whidbey.com>]

FYI,

*  Another aspect of KW period, or years from 1946-50,
are records in terms of storage location and what requirements
existed (or did not exist) at the time period one is researching.

*  If one is looking for records on a specific ship, on a specific day
or specific period of time, here are some usable guidelines -

1] General -

a]  Annual unit or ship (command) histories were not required prior to
1959.
However, interim quarterly reports were usually required from 1953,
so some records may exist in this convenient method of research
ship or unit history.

	If you want more detail than what is compiled in DAFNS histories,
these folks can sometimes still help. Fax or letter requests only. Start
with their web site (given earlier).

b] The "Korean War Diary" report is a most useful method of determining
ship activity.  (Unfortunately, do not know specific date the "War
Diary"
requirement was promulgated - may have been with 1July 1950 fleet
re-organization).

	Start with www.nara.gov/

c] Deck Logs, specifically if you want to know where a ship was on a 
particuarly day, week, month, etc. are useful - all are with National
Archives
[not the Navy!].

	Start with www.nsarchive.com

d] Action Reports and Operational Reports -  These are useful during 
wartime, less useful during a relatively quiet 1946-1950 prior to
outbreak
of KW. The "Incidences" involving USN vs PRC or Russian air forces
either
before or during the KW would find these useful.

e]  Movement Reports.  These are most useful in locating a ships
position, such as during a PH to Sasebo, Japan or other transit
information.

These are on old style microfische and can be provided to researchers
in paper copy ($0.30 per page, usually, unless you want of 50 pages!).

	If one wants a period, such as a specific vessels movement during
a given week or month, to Operational Archieves for these requests.

	Start with www.nara.gov/

f]  Squadrons, units, etc. often have Association web sites, as one
of our list menbers provided Valley Forge and HMS Belfast (Worchester
and sister ship did not serve in KW).  (Look up name via web search
first) 
In case of naval aviation squadrons, alot have web sites, including
Patrol Squadron associations and others. 

2] There are other routes to go for command or unit histories, other
than
a ships history. If we are talking US Navy, start with Operational
Archieves
and work request through them.  

	For example, request to obtain Destroyer Squadron 92 info might take
some time, but there maybe an Administrative history with these folks. 
Otherwise, it might show up under Commander, Naval Forces Far East or
US Seventh Fleet records. Indicate as much of this information as you 
suspect is the case, which will help in their research. 

Hope this helps.

Keith Jacobs