This article will be broken into different sections and contain links to different kinds of paperwork that are printable for us and reference for WW2 reenacting.
Most of the paperwork listed will be PDFs. Unless specified differently in terms of size and paper the PDFs can all be printed on a regular 8.5×11 piece of printing paper.
US War Ballots Commission Form 1 – Federal War Ballot you can print off and send to your state’s secretary of state to get a 1944 general or primary election ballot.
Print it off and then flip it so it lines up. The color is a yellow-cream. The size should come out to be 4.5in wide by 3.5in long.
For an analysis of how soldiers voted in WW2 see: Voting in WW2.
Drivers Trip Ticket – Form 48 approved Dec 15th, 1944. Outlines what you need to do before you drive, during your drive, and when you’re done with your drive. You’ll want to use 16lb bond paper (25% cotton content). Try to use a typewriter with 12 characters per inch type. That was the standard/preferred type size for typewriters in the army.
Captured Enemy Item Certificate AG USFET Form No 33 – This is a captured weapons certificate allowing you to bring back an enemy souvenir like a firearm or other weapon.
The measurements are 8 1/4in wide x 5 1/2in long.
This is only a document file and not a good one at that. I made it years ago in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Hopefully, someone with better skills can come along and make better edits.
There are a few different versions of this form. This YouTube video from Legacy Collectibles explains more.
Morning Report HQ % 3341 Signal Service Battalion Dec 11th 1944 – An example of a morning report. This report comes from the % 3341st Signal Service Battalion which was made up of Women Army Corps soldiers (WACs).
The % isn’t a typo but a way to designate on paper that the unit is WACs. The battalion operated what was likely the largest message center outside of Washington DC.
1st Division Special Orders 19 May 1945 – An example of a Special Order. The number goes in the top-left and the date in the top-right and an explanation of what the orders are and who is impacted. In this example, it looks like a bunch of soldiers are transferred to the US for separation or re-assignment following VE day.
Enlisted Mens Individual Clothing and Equipment Record – A chart that gets filled noting the article and quantity and date of items issued. Form No 32, Feb 24 1942.
You’ll want to use 16lb bond paper (25% cotton content). Try to use a typewriter with 12 characters per inch type. That was the standard/preferred type size for typewriters in the army.
Form 304A Locator Card-1941 – This card was similar to a report of change notice, however was used specifically to notify the postal services of where service members were located. TM 12-225: Administrative Procedures goes into more details on the usage of these cards. Print on tan cardstock or light brown cardstock. 3 can be printed per page. Top right corner has small notch cut in it as seen in photo.
Service Record Form – AGO Form 24 – From 1944. An example of how to fill out the form. Form is Audie Murphy’s. Need to use AR 345-125 for instructions on how to fill it out. If I come across that I’ll add a link. Alternatively, use TM 12-230 Service Record.
The Packing of the Field Desk and Record Chest – Created at Fort Benning GA on May 1st, 1943, and describes how to pack the field desk and record chest. There were two types of field desks an older model and a newer one. The older model field desk is expected to be pressed into service as a record chest (according to the guide). I Also wanted to drop some images below of it.
Print double sided, flip on long side. Best paper is a light ivory.
United States Army Projector Operators Permit Form 190 May 1942 | Permit to operate a Signal Corps sound projector. It’s a standard US Army ID 2.5 wide x 4 long inches wallet card-type size.
Print off on paper. Unsure of color, maybe light pink? Almost a salmon?
War Department Army ID Card Cover – It looks like paperwork No 16-20107, March 21st 1942. You should cut it out and glue one side to the other.
You will want to print the front page on a maroon cardstock, trimmed to about 1/2″ away from the fonts. The second page can be printed on an off-white ivory paper, trimmed to about 1/4″ from the edges. These will be glued together to create your ID card(s). It is suggested to trim them a bit after the glue is dry to make them more uniform in appearance.
Immunization Register Form 8-117 Sept 1942 Newer Type – This form replaces the older Form 81 and would be filled out by a medical officer and go with your records with the company clerk.
Immunization Register Form 81 Jan 1941 Older Type – This is included for historical reasons and was used only up till Sept 1942 at which the newer form, 8-117 is used. The form is filled out by the medical officer and goes with your records with the company clerk.
Also see an example of filled out immunization register.
War Department ID – Looks to be From 65. Not sure how this differs from the No 16-20107, March 21st 1942? It might be an updated ID card, possible from 1944?
You can use Pamphlet 20-9 Preparation of Identification Cards, May 1944 for assistance.
Individual Pay Record Cover and Individual Pay Record Insides – War Department Form No. 28 March 26th, 1942. This is the cover and back of the pay record.
It’s a little booklet and the pages are numbered and you can print it off and staple it using two stapes. One near the top and one near the bottom. Make sure the smooth top part of the stable is facing outside so the tines of the staple go inside the pages and grab them altogether.
Print the cover on a light brown card-stock, and the inside pay record sheets on ivory regular paper. There is cut marks to cut down, and each print makes two! Print the inside on both sides, flip on long side.
Also included in the image gallery are a few examples.
Connecticut Defense Council – A certificate stating that the said person has been a member of the CT Civilian Defense Force. This was something Connecticut created in 1917 during WW1 and just carried over into WW2. It helped with various areas of concern, such as food supply, fuel conservation, transportation, military and naval affairs, and publicity. They probably also engaged in Air Ward Warden activities, aircraft and Uboot spotting, and nightly beach patrols. This is not the stupid pro-gun group in CT or any of the idiotic private militias one might come across. Totally different things.
Moresecode Cheat Sheet – Not totally sure if wartime but good to have around for working communications and signal.
Separation Notice – Form RIUC S-12. I’m not sure if this is a separation notice from the Army but could be something civilian contractors or regular workers might have gotten from their jobs back in the 1940s.
It would have been originally done on a carbon stack of paper, cream on top, yellow and pink below. The cream would be submitted to the state, yellow for the employer, and the employee would have the pink. DO NOT PUT YOUR SSN ON THIS SLIP! Reason for separation would be the military branch you are joining.
WAC Enlistment Letter – Headquarters Southern New York Recruiting And Induction District Women’s Army Corps Section 480 Lexington Ave, New York 17, NY. This is an enlisted letter WACs may have gotten. The date is 28th Sept 1943 so you may need to use Photoshop to adjust the date. Hilariously, that location is now a Mexican Restaurant.
How To Use Smith-Corona Portable Typewriters: Floating Shift Models – Likely from 1947 but describes how to use this type of model from that brand. The “float” machines operate quietly thanks to the Smith Floating Shift used in the machine (note the cursive word “Floating” above the shift key). When the shift key was invented, it originally shifted the cylinder, or platen, to be struck in a new position by the capital letters on a typebar. The floating shift moved the typebars up and down instead, allowing for a smoother typing action. You can also download the 1938 version here.
Print first page on a light brown paper, single sided. Print pages 2-7 double sided, flip on long side. Best paper used is a light ivory.
United States Army Color Card of Standard Shades for Slide Fastener Tapes: Dated 1945 and is a supplement to US Army Specification No.100-31. Issued by the Textile Color Card Association (TCAA) of the United States and describes US Army shades for fasteners. The TCCA was created in 1915 as a color consulting, standardizing, and forecasting industry group as the US was cut off from such ideas due to WW1. The TCCA formed close relationships with the US Military and also helped set the standard colors for the US Flag. I dropped the color slide below as it’s kinda neat to see all the colors available –
Temporarily Appointed Officer Certificate – Print on ivory legal paper, meaning 8.5″ x 14″.
