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The Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) was established in 1921, but its predecessor entities date back to 1911.
Between 1949 and 1965 it was combined with the Bureau of Ordance to form the Bureau of Naval Weapons, but emerged as the Naval
Air Systems Command (NavAir) in 1966. Throughout their existence, these agencies created and published manuals
concerning aircraft, blimps, missles, avionics, and aviation related activities. Pilots handbooks, parts lists, and assembly
and maintenance manuals were created for aircraft produced for or used by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aviation units.
Both production and experimental aircraft are covered. Many aircraft primarily associated with the U.S. Army Air Corps/Air
Forces and the U.S. Air Force are also covered, especially if those types were used or tested for use by the Navy or Marines.
The publications covered in this finding aid are roughly two types, either pilot's
handbooks and flight manuals, or assembly (erection) and maintainence manuals, and various parts lists. Most manuals
are illustrated with photographs and drawings of the aircraft, subassemblies, parts and procedures being described.
They are generally arranged by Navy or Department of Defense designation, although in a few instances USAF or manufacturers
designations are used. Experimental or prototype aircraft designation are often prefixed ith 'X", and files separately
from the production aircraft. Similar aircraft with diffferent functions that are designated differently are files separately,
as are aircraft that were given redesignated, whether by the introduction of the unified DoD designation system or for other
reasons.
The earliest publications date from 1917, but coverage is sporadic untll the late 1930s, when they become
more inclusive and systematic. Coverage of the from late 1930s until the mid-1960s is extensive and through.
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