Research Service Records
MacArthur Museum Brisbane does not hold service records or unit diaries for personnel or units which formed part of SWPA.
After the Japanese surrender the South-West Pacific Area command was abolished and the numerous buildings around Brisbane vacated. Records were culled and divided between government archives and service departments in Australia and the United States.
Consequently, by July 1946 the SWPA command had vacated the site, and it had reverted to the Australian Mutual Provident Society (AMP).
How do I find out about Australian service personnel?
Department of Veterans Affairs Nominal Roll contains basic information about everyone who served. Full service records are available through the National Archives. For a comprehensive guide to finding service records, visit this page at the National Archives of Australia.
How do I find out about US service personnel?
US National Archives and Records Administration holds the draft records of US service personnel, which are held separately from veterans’ records.
The draft records for US service personnel provide basic information such as date of birth, home address, level of education and civilian occupation for those men who registered for the draft.
US veteran records can be researched by visiting the Veterans Service Records at the US National Archives.
Specific details on how to request US military service records online, by mail, or by fax can be found by visiting this page at the US National Archives
Between 12 and 16 July 1973 a fire in the Military Personnel Record Center destroyed 80% of US Army records covering the period November 1912 to January 1960. US Navy lost a very small number of records at the same time.
The draft records for US service personnel provide basic information such as date of birth, home address, level of education and civilian occupation for those men who registered for the draft.
US veteran records can be researched by visiting the Veterans Service Records at the US National Archives.
Specific details on how to request US military service records online, by mail, or by fax can be found by visiting this page at the US National Archives
Between 12 and 16 July 1973 a fire in the Military Personnel Record Center destroyed 80% of US Army records covering the period November 1912 to January 1960. US Navy lost a very small number of records at the same time.