The Merwin W. Vining World War II Collection is comprised of materials related to Vining's time in the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1935-1945. The bulk of the collection is from Vining's time as a cadet, including a large framed black-and-white group portrait of Vining's 1935 aviation cadet graduation. In this portrait, Vining is to the right of the "Aviation Cadets '35" banner in the 3rd row. Additionally there is a large framed black-and-white group portrait of the "C" Squad Detachment college training class in 1943, and a 1944 graduation announcement for Class 44-C pilots from Marfa Army Air Forces Pilot School in Marfa, Texas.

There is also a 1944 yearbook, Marfa Tower given to Class 44-C graduates. The yearbook contains portaits of faculty, staff, and cadets, as well as daily activities, training, and a small section at the end, "Co-Pilots" which is portraits of the cadets' loved ones, primarily wives or "sweethearts", though there are a few children.

Additionally, the collection includes a pilot log book, embossed in gold on the front right corner with "Merwin W. Vining," that begins in November 1943, when Vining is learning to fly. The log book continues through September 1945 and details Vining's war-time bombing runs in Germany, usually in a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.