Notes to Readers

1. I have coined the term MatCmd to represent the myriad names used over time for the agency responsible for researching, procuring and maintaining all air force materiel. In 1917 at McCook Field, an experimental engineering facility was established in Dayton, Ohio. When the U.S. Army Air Service was created in 1918, the organization became known as the Engineering Division and was expanded to include responsibility for the Air Corps' logistics system. It was redesignated the Air Corps Materiel Division in 1926. As the largest branch of the Air Corps, the Materiel Division was responsible for all aircraft and equipment research, development, procurement, maintenance, supply and flight tests. The research, development and logistics functions were separated during World War II. However, they were subsequently reunited for several years during the late 1940s under the Air Materiel Command and structured around the strengths of technological superiority and worldwide logistics support. In 1950, the Air Research and Development Command was broken out as a separate organization devoted strictly to research and development. In 1961, Air Materiel Command was redesignated Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC), while the Air Research and Development Command gained the added responsibility for weapon system acquisition and was redesignated Air Force Systems Command (AFSC). In cases where specific Materiel Command entities are mentioned (i.e., Power Plant Laboratory, Aircraft Laboratory, Propeller Laboratory) I shall refer to them directly. If multiple entities are being discussed and it is not clear which is responsible for an opinion or policy, I shall use the overriding term MatCmd.

2. The figure numbers used in these articles are easily confused with those that are part of referenced or quoted material, whose figures may or may not be present. Hence, figures referring to illustrations in the articles will always be prefaced by the article part, i.e., P01Fig001 = Part 1, Figure 001.

3. Citations of the form USNARA RG342 Prrffff are all shortened versions of U.S. National Archives Record Group 342, Finding Aid UD. Entry 1002-A, Box 5. Power Plant Laboratory Microfilmed Memorandum Reports. rr = reel number; ffff = frame number.

4. Engine run time and the abbreviation for hours (hr or hrs) appears in three forms – hh hrs = hours with no fractons; hh:mm hrs = hours and minutes; hh.ff hrs = hours and fractons of an hour.