Pierwszą komórką lotniczą o charakterze archiwalnym była Komisja Historyczna, powstała w Paryżu w marcu 1940 r., która nie podjęła działalności. Akta lotnicze zostały ewakuowane w czerwcu 1940 r. do Wielkiej Brytanii przez kancelarzystów i złożone w Blackpool. We wrześniu 1940 r. powstała Komisja Likwidacyjna aktów b. Dowództwa Sił Powietrznych w Paryżu, która istniała do marca 1941 r., po czym przeszła w stan wegetacji. Na jej strukturach w grudniu 1941 r. powołano Biuro Historyczne Lotnictwa, którego zadaniem było gromadzenie, opracowywanie i przechowywanie dokumentów. W styczniu 1945 r. Biuro weszło w skład Służby Archiwalno-Muzealnej, a w lipcu tegoż roku doszło do przeniesienia Biura do Dunholme Lodge, gdzie stacjonowało do zakończenia swojej działalności w 1948 r. W ostatnich latach istnienia Biuro Historyczne zajmowało się opracowaniem i selekcją zbiorów. Ostatecznie zachowane przez lotnictwo dokumenty oraz pamiątki trafiły do Instytutu Historycznego im. gen. Sikorskiego w Londynie.

Archival services of the Polish Air Force during the Second World War

The Historical Commission, established in Paris in March 1940, can be considered the first archival cell of the Air Force, however, it never became operational. Records of the Air Force were evacuated in June 1940 to the United Kingdom by office workers, and deposited in Blackpool. In September 1940, the Records Liquidation Commission of the former Air Force Command in Paris was established, and existed until March 1941. After that time, its activities came to a halt. Based on its structures, in December 1941, the Aviation Historical Bureau was established. Its tasks included gathering, processing, and storing documents. In January 1945, the Bureau was incorporated into the Archival and Museum Services, and in July, the Bureau was transferred to Dunholme Lodge, where it remained until 1948, when it terminated its operations. In the final years of its existence, the Historical Bureau mainly dealt with processing and classifying the collections. Eventually, the records and memorabilia kept by the Air Force were deposited in the Sikorski Historical Institute in London.

The Historical Commission, established in Paris in March 1940, can be considered the first archival cell of the Air Force, however, it never became operational. Records of the Air Force were evacuated in June 1940 to the United Kingdom by office workers, and deposited in Blackpool. In September 1940, the Records Liquidation Commission of the former Air Force Command in Paris was established, and existed until March 1941. After that time, its activities came to a halt. Based on its structures, in December 1941, the Aviation Historical Bureau was established. Its tasks included gathering, processing, and storing documents. In January 1945, the Bureau was incorporated into the Archival and Museum Services, and in July, the Bureau was transferred to Dunholme Lodge, where it remained until 1948, when it terminated its operations. In the final years of its existence, the Historical Bureau mainly dealt with processing and classifying the collections. Eventually, the records and memorabilia kept by the Air Force were deposited in the Sikorski Historical Institute in London.