Hello,
I recently went through alot of my grandfather, John K. Carlson (358th FG, 365th FS) (deceased) old war stuff..lots of paperwork, including a large stack of what I think are mission orders, or something along those lines that were totally foreign to me. All in abbreviation, probably code.  I don't have those with me but maybe sometime in the future someone can help me figure those out.
However I am wondering about some other things that are written in ways I don't understand.  Maybe someone can help me figure out what any of this means:
 
1. "Date of Rank 2nd Lt: F/O 2/8/44 per par 5 SO# 32 Hq Foster Field"
I'm assuming F/O is Flight Officer?  2/8/44  is the date he graduated from Foster Field.  Not sure what the "per par 5 SO #32" means or if it is even important.
 
2. "Date rated pilot 2/8/44 per par 24 PO# 3 Hq A.A.F.C.F.T.C."
Again, 2/8/44 is the date that he graduated from Foster Field. Not sure what the rest of it means.
 
3. "1055 Figher Pilot SE"
I think SE stands for Single Engine?  Not sure what the 1055 is.
 
4. "F/O  AC.  AUS 72nd  FW Ind  Unit  H/F  La."
This was written on a line and underneath the line it said what each part corresponded to, like Grade (F/O), Company, regiment or arm of service, Place or APO.  I think F/O is Flight Officer?  AC = Air Corps?  AUS I know is Army of the U.S. 
 
Thanks so much for any help! 

FO is flight officer

per paragraph 5 special order #32.

per paragraph 24 PO #3 Army Air Force Central Flying Training Command.

That's all I know.

14th AAF 23rd FG 118th TRS

Renee,
   1055 is the MOS for single engine fighter pilot.
H
 

Skyguy5: What is MOS?  Sorry, I'm very new to this.
 
Thank you so much for your help!

Renee -
MOS - Military Occupation Specialty.
See MOS DB , top left this page
Mike

One more...
Anyone know what APO 141 means?  As in
"O-1995936 AUS 358th Ftr Gp APO 141"

Renee,

APO 141 = Army Post Office 141 (see return address on the envelope at attachment)

Cmt: several reasons for an APO to have a number designation e.g. APO 141 vs. a geographical place name designation like in the civilian world e.g. APO Bordeaux, France:

1) Logistics - seems in-theater APOs moved around a lot from location to location for some reason; much easier to keep the mail flowing to a moving around numbered APO (which the Adjutant General Corps knew and could keep track of) than forwarding a letter from post office to post office when a unit moved.

2) Intelligence - combining an in-theater place name e.g. Bordeaux, France with an individual's name i.e. PFC Woods and unit i.e. 4th Tactical Air Communications Squadron and a date i.e. July 12 is intelligence that can be gathered and used by an enemy to great effect for them and against us; think 'loose lips sink ships' - same idea.
 
OBTW - Navy's counter-part to the Army's APO is the Fleet Post Office (FPO).

Andy

Attached Image(s)

I have for 1944 APO-141
APO-141 370th Fighter Group Aldermaston England Great Britian

APO-141 373rd Fighter Group  Aldermaston England Great Britian

APO-141 406th Fighter Group  Chalons Sur Marne France 

APO-141 438th Troop Carrier Group 
Aldermaston England Great Britian

APO-141 Headquarters XIX Tactical Air Command 
Aldermaston England Great Britian

APO-141 HQ XIX Air Support Command Aldermaston England United Kingdom

APO-141 HQ XIX Tactical Air Command  Force France 


Terry T.

sure what the "per par 5 SO #32" means or if it is even important.

This is the authority for his promotion.  It was announced in paragraph (par) 5 of Special Orders (SO) number 32 (the series of orders begins at the beginning of the year), issued by authority of Headquarters, (Hq) Foster Field.
His rating as a pilot was made by order of the next higher headquarters (AAF Central Fly Tng Cd).  Again, the authority for this is cited, although I have no idea what kind of order a PO is.  Again the paragraph, order number, and issuing hq are given.

Yes, AC is Air Corps for his branch of service.  72 FW would be the 72nd Fighter Wing, a replacement training hq at Peterson Fld, CO assigned to Second AF

Bernie Shearon
Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)

Thanks!!!