Overland, MO: Fire destroys military records
On July 12–16, 1973, a massive fire at the National Personnel Records Center in Overland, Missouri, destroyed 16–18 million U.S. military personnel files, including 80% of Army records from 1912–1960 and 75% of Air Force records from 1947–1964 after a specific name.
Background
Event Details
A severe fire erupted shortly after midnight on July 12, 1973, on the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Missouri, near St. Louis. It escalated to nine alarms, burning until July 16, with firefighters from 42 districts battling intense heat and smoke for days. The blaze collapsed the roof and ruined the entire floor, causing water damage below.
Impact on Records
Approximately 16–18 million official military personnel files were lost or damaged, with no duplicates or microfilm backups available, and no prior index existed. Affected files included 80% of U.S. Army discharges from November 1, 1912, to January 1, 1960; 75% of U.S. Air Force discharges from September 25, 1947, to January 1, 1964, alphabetically starting after James E. Hubbard; and some Army Reserve training records from the late 1950s to 1964. Navy and other branches were less impacted.
Cause and Aftermath
The fire's origin remained undetermined, though a custodian admitted smoking and discarding a cigarette on a shelf. No sprinklers were installed to avoid water risks. Recovery efforts continue, using alternate sources for reconstruction. In UFO research contexts, this event raises questions about lost historical military data.
Connections
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