Like all chronologies, bibliographies, and encyclopedias, Air Force combat units of World War II serves a very special historical function. It traces the lineage of each Army air Corps and U.S. Air Force combat group or higher organization active in World War II, form its origins to 1956. It is a concise official record of those units, their assignments, subordinate organizations, stations, commanders, campaigns, aircraft, and decorations. But more than that, it is an important source of ready information providing readers with a corporate memory of vital statistics.