This collection concerns the establishment and organisation of the Air Observer Corps, which became Air Defence Command. It was headquartered in Dublin Castle, with further offices in Dublin. The files concern the establishment of a dedicated signals apparatus using the telephone exchange in coordination with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to ensure quick reporting of incidents and emergencies. It also concerned the organisation of the Anti-Aircraft Battalion and the Air and Marine Intelligence branch, along with cooperation with the Coast-watching service and An Garda Siochána.

The files cover the initial setup of the Command and the day-to-day administration of it, and the various posts reporting to it from around the country. The material concerns aspects of this administration such as personnel, equipment and ordnance in the form of reports, memoranda, daily routine orders, operational summaries, instructions, intelligence notes and reports, and correspondence. There are also a number of files concerning ongoing training during this period, along with reports on air and marine incidents around the country, the passage of all types of aircraft, whether transatlantic, belligerent or unidentified, the dropping of bombs in the Republic and operational activities of the anti-aircraft battalion.

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