It seems they needed to replace the man who did the calculations during the surveys and the review of my schooling made me their choice. After a couple of days back, the men I was serving with and myself figured something was going on. He died in 1984. Artillery, Regimentat Combat Team. In a postwar study, the Army noted that the group command structure was one of the keys to success during the war because it permitted the commanders to shift artillery battalions from army to army, corps to corps or even to support individual divisions. Each battery had about 100 men, which broke down into five officers and 95 enlisted of various ranks. I know that Corps Artillery Units are hard to trace and that units were disbanded and soldiers with low points were transferred to other units. Thx. That is the most likely reason your dad was moved to the 196th. As you might expect, a number of these personnel turned out to be considerably less than desirable, and caused no end of problems. With this information, knowing the rules of engagement and the restricted areas, the battery control officer determines the most advantageous time to fire the round. The use of artillery reached its zenith in World War II. This depended on how it was turned. Also from my research, I discovered the CIB was only awarded to Infantry men in combat but after the war in 1946, an exception was made for other soldiers who fought in direct combat did earn the CIB and thus awarded the Bronze Star. I actually have several L-4 pics (not great ones), but I put the best one in another article, the Artillery Innovations article. The locations are correct for the unit. We are still trying to get hold of the full copy so if anyone out there who can help then please get in touch. FA Bn (280mm Gun), 59th The other officers could be assigned to a variety of tasks, which included motor officer, daily maintenance, firing officer or forward observer. The trip to Germany was an experience. COL Mundinger (deceased) was the commander of the Honest John missile battalion (3rd MSL Bn, 79th Arty). frameset, 868th In 1965 it was re-designated as 8th Battalion, 15th Field Artillery and inactivated in 1971 in Homestead Air Force Base, FL. I use the word approximately because once combat operations began, it was rare for any unit (Division, Battalion, Regimental, etc.) After 5 you could pick up a pass to go to town. When we returned to Bad Kreuznach I was called to the Battery Commanders office. Life was routine and good. In November 1944 the division arrived at Camp Shanks, New Jersey, its final stop before being shipped overseas. Maj. Robert White is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. The jungle environment created unique problems for observers because of the tree canopy. The people I remember were our CO Capt. Service or Relationship: Army Veteran. So now I'm on to more official information. We did learn the story of when he was wounded by a landmine near Monchau while looking for a break in the wire. The aiming circle was a small scope graduated with 6,400 mils as opposed to the usual 360 degrees (a mil is 1/6400 of a circle). The 26th Field Artillery Battalion fired 5000 rounds at Sejnane, Tunisia in one day in 1943! Orders are transmitted by the computer to the missile through the missile tracking radar. My dad volunteered for Vietnam in 1968 and we stayed in Munich, Germany while he was there (Central Highlands, Pleiku, Da Nang, Nah Tran, etc). My email is jhuston1440@wavecable.com Much thanks!!! Thank you for any other sources that I can be directed to. Looking for more information from military/civilian Born in March 1920 in Flagstaff, Arizona, Mr. Mendoza enlisted into the United Army and joined the 264th Field Artillery Battalion saw action in the European Theater in the following battles and campaigns: Northern France, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland, Central Europe and Battle of Hrtgen Forest. You can either email me, friend me on Facebook or my Red Legs page. We used to drive there in our White 1966 Volkswagen 1300 (1.3L) which my Dad bought when we first arrived. Click here to open 'USArmyGermany' Goodman was FDC section chief. Many times I would climb the fence (8ft with three lines of barbed wire atop it). This great weight makes detailed route, and especially bridge, reconnaissance extremely important. About once a week you pulled guard duty from 5pm to 6am. Rank was hard to come by because the 280s were being phased out and the battalion seemed to be a place for Officers who were being phased out. The two tracking radars feed target and missile. Any information you have would certainly be appreciated. Im especially curious as to why he changed units. Their job was to lay, repair, and pick up telephone line. For the larger caliber units and the armored field artillery, the number of guns per battalion differed from those of the standard infantry division artillery. Its commander, Major General Herman F. Kramer, continued with the division until August 1945, when he was relieved by Major General Walter F. Lauer. 12 midnight curfew and you had to wear Class As or a jacket and tie. The Rings lived in our apartment building (behind a motor pool which was at the Army shopping complex (PX, Snack Bar, Magazine store, Library, Movie Theatre, etc) which was located some distance from Rivers Barracks. Wondering who had done this, I was surprised to find a 12 year old Polish boy had done it. The Firing Battery is composed of two platoons each of two sections. Nor Would . His discharge papers list 274th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B Let me explain - His name was Willis L. Henry and was drafted in 9/44 and discharged in 1946, He trained in Fort Sill, OK and arrived as a replacement in a camp in Charleyville, France sometime in late February or early March 1945 and joined his unit shortly after. 256th Field Artillery Battalion (8", Trac-D) 265th Field Artillery Battalion (240mm How, Trac-D) 26 9th Field Artillery Battalion (240mm How, Trac-D) 281st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm How, Trk-D) 411th Field Artillery Group, HQ/HQ Battery 548th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm gun, Trk-D) 686th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm how, Trac-D) The B Battery commander was 1st Lieutenant Flash Gardner, a man who received a battlefield commission in Korea and still had the enlisted man at heart. 264th Infantry Regiment HHB Division Artillery 721st Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 870th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 871st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 872d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 66th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized 266th Engineer Combat Battalion 366th Medical Battalion 66th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment Organization [ edit] I still have a 5 cent bill. I will keep at it. All of these units, regardless of their group or assignment, were considered Corps artillery. I believe. There were instance after the Bulge were survivors who were in units wiped in the battle were farmed out to other battalions until their original units were reformed or the war was over. The entire battalion is 100% mobile. I remember Rivers Barracks. I know he also went to Edgewood Arsenal at some point (I don't know my own history!). Also, using my Red Leg FB page to turn something up. All possible measures must be taken to preclude identification of the CORPORAL position area. But overall, no, the guys rarely moved if the unit was intact. But I'll keep trying. That is what I had when I arrived and a year later what I had when I left. So i just wanted some info even if vaguely describes the 282 during the war. He was in Normandy, northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Prewar service The 65th Territorial Rifle Division was formed in May 1931, based in Tyumen, Kamyshlov, and Ishim. Charles (Mac) Armstrong 283nd. After arriving at Cherbourg the 66th Division regrouped and headed for the LOrient and St. Nazaire sectors in Brittany to relive the 94th Division which had been guarding the German submarine base pockets that were left after the D-Day invasion. I do mean Service Battery. A 155mm battalion had approximately 550 enlisted men with 30 officers, with each battery having around 120 men. (Everyone who wasnt GI was "Comrade.") Although the shells were shipped semi-fixed with the fuse already installed, it was the powder that provided the punch, so that had to be added to the shell. '44/'45. After 1st formation we had about a half hour to do section chores. Low level wind measurements are obtained from the wind measuring set, converted to firing data and applied to the launcher immediately prior to firing. All three and another 8" SPH battalion (according to your page)were members of the 42nd Group which was commanded by Col. Wallace [not Walter] C. Magathan. We had gone to Grafenveer to fire the guns; we couldnt go to Baumhilder because the range was not long enough, and so we drove to the FO cement bunker on the range to observe the firing. The galley crew quickly informed me to never miss a meal and to eat all the time. They may have been detached, but these are the assigned battalions. Sorry about that, I've been receiving one request per day lately. the World War II years (1942-45). The fire direction center computes the mission and sends firing data to the weapons. 264th Medical Battalion (210)221-0047/0030 After Hours Duty Phone: (210) 834-7725 2745 Harney Path, Bldg. during WWII ], [ 20th Infantry Division - Did not exist The Division has an excellent veterans association which is very helpful to families, see americal.org. Although this concept was much more limited in the artillery branch than in other branches, in practice each batterys CO had great autonomy on officer assignments. The gunner and one canoneer set the firing deflection and elevation and stand by to apply final low level wind corrections. Any sources would be appreciated. Obtaining information and reports from non-divisional battalions is extremely difficult as the National Archives has not formally cataloged their after actions and daily rosters. Can you help me to find anything about where they went and what they did? 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion command sergeant major Command Sgt. One of the keys to the success of the artillery branch in World War II lays in the structure of the battalion and its personnel. The 66th Division was part of the Sixth Army Group and participated in the Northern France campaign. There were 1,098 battle casualties and 849 non-battle casualties. Museum of the Kansas National Guard . This happened in March in Germany which can be and was quite cold. Because my Mom didn't want to go back to the States, we lost our PX privleges and had to live "on the economy". Home Counties Division 44th (Home Counties) Division 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division There was even an instance within the 106th ID when a battery commander was actually manning an observation outpost at the time of the initial attack during the Bulge. Our uncle, Richard V. Fritts, was a Technical Fourth Grade in the 993rd Field Artillery Battalion, in the Pacific Theater in 1944 and 1945. The collection is comprised of organizational and operational records and miscellaneous historical material from the files of army units that served in World War II. These documents are provided for by Dave Curry, historian of the 83rd Infantry Division Association. He served in the U.S. Army, 264th Field Artillery Battalion, in Germany. The other calibers were the 8-inch, the 240mm, and the 4.5-inch gun. On 16 August 1987, HHB, 1st Bn, 333rd FA was reorganized and redesignated as Battery A, 333rd FA and assigned to the 1st Cav Div. 416th Support Units . The position of aiming posts could vary depending on the unit and terrain. I am especially interested in his duties, but also how the battery functioned as a whole. Thx. Hopefully the pictures I have attached are self explanatory. CORPORAL position areas constitute a prime target and will be the subject of diligent search by enemy intelligence and target acquisition agencies. 1125th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 8.54 KB: 999th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 9.14 KB: 991st Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 9.28 KB: 987th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 8.53 KB: 978th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 9.02 KB: 977th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 8.88 KB I have often wondered how that boy turned out, since at the age of twelve he spoke fluent Polish, English, German, and French. This capability is useful in engaging targets of opportunity to the flanks or rear, and in those situations in which the direction of fire is such that transporters could not set the gun down and have room to move away. Stay well. I emailed you about information on his unit. It is impossible to know what will be in a given AAR. On October 1st, 1940, the three battalions of the 26th Field Artillery were re-designated as three separate battalions under the Commanding . Field Artillery in the European Theater I would love to talk to anyone connected with the 908 FAB B Btry, if there are any descendants who have pictures to share, or stories, if you come across any. You can contact their historian (Dave Curry) or visit their website at: Here is a link from the site: https://83rdinfdivdocs.org/units/908th-fa-bn/. One of the pictures on your site (3. who had been a college math instructor but drank too much and ended up in the Army. It referred to Unionists in the State. Also, if you have a photo your dad, that would be great. If your frostbitten hands were not already cut up from separating the silk powder bags with a knife, you got soaked kneeling down in the puddles and mud that formed around the gun pit. Battalions were also formed into field artillery groups of various calibers. My father was a member of the 264th FA Bn, Btry B. FA Bn (280mm Gun), 265th The lineage and honors of 2/20th is in the link. The 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (264th CSSB) is a U.S. Army support battalion stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. You can contact several folks there. Bet you cant guess the name of the Battalion Commanders daughter. My father taught at Ft. Sill right after the war, and again at various times over the years for shorter stints (summer camp?) They were also charged with conducting topographical surveys, which during combat operations were carried out rather infrequently. Hi lions44 -- Somewhere below I saw that you hoped Ft. Sill would still come through for you. From there, they would splice into the line with their own EE8A telephone, and crank it to ring back to their starting place. In Europe, having one FO for each infantry battalion was unacceptable since it was the infantry company that was basic to infantry operations and each needed to call directly for artillery support. After firing, the breech was opened by the #1, and the shell casing would drop out automatically, where it was picked up by one of the loaders to be tossed aside. I cannot find either a towed 155mm Howitzer or Long Tom 155mm battalion (non-divisional) designated as the 274th. Within an infantry division, there were four artillery battalions, three M2A1 105mm howitzer battalions and one 155mm battalion. The fire control area must be a minimum distance of 1,000 yards from the launching area, and there must be line-of-sight between the two areas. M7 Self-propelled 105mm ("The Priest") near La Gleize, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. World War II By the end of World War II, the U.S. Army had established several hundred temporary burial grounds around the world. Change for me! I remember going to Grafenwoehr for some sort of Family weekend and my Dad was wearing his .45 cal Colt M1911A1 and ear plugs. Shortly after I was there, orders came down to remove the names from the guns, so they were painted over. There are lots of photos of guns and crews, but not one L-4 and pilot. The medical section, in addition to performing the normal functions of such a unit, is specially trained in the treatment of injuries resulting from exposure to nitirc acid, aniline and electric shock. After firing, the rocket becomes a missile immune to countermissile electronic interference. TACTICAL USAGE CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on October 22, 2019: Hi Mr. Schulte, great to hear from you. We bowled, played softball, went to the library or just tried to look busy. Thanks! He apparently has a lot pics, etc. Those howitzers were big, firing "small bombs" that weighed nearly 50 pounds each,. 419th CSB Sponsorship; 406th Army Field Support Brigade. I had always thought that he had 175mm SPHs there. There is an active Div Association. US Marine artillery crew on Guadalcanal operating a 75mm pack howizter. No Frozen Chosan for him again. These battalions were directly under the command of their respective Corps, which had its own commanders and staff to coordinate all its elements. Let me know if you have trouble, and I can just list them here. The supply and cooks sections rounded out the unit. 2791 JBSA-FSH, TX 78234 U.S. Army Element (USAE) After Hours Duty Phone: (210). Information on this unit has been hard to come by, do you have any notion of how I might find out more about the 689th? Some after the war. If you didnt go to town the EM club at The Depot was first rank. OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS The 1-151 FA provides combatant commanders with a trained and ready force to destroy, defeat or disrupt the enemy with timely, accurate and integrated fires; additionally, the 1-151 FA is prepared to support the State of Minnesota with troops capable of assisting in a disaster. He only spoke of the war on a few occasions. The 280mm Gun Battalion is composed of a Headquarters, and a Headquarters and Service Battery, which directs, administers and furnishes logistic support, and three firing batteries of two guns each. The communications platoon had the wire and radio section which was provided with over 30 miles of telephone wire and 4 radio sets. William Oakley was a Forward Observer for Battery A. The target is initially picked up by the acquisition radar. Because he was an officer, there was a lot of paper work that mentioned him, but much of it was repetitious, mostly lists of soldiers in the B Battery as they changed over time. Others were graduates of rigorous artillery ROTC programs from around the country. While in Brittany the 66th Division carried out daily reconnaissance patrols along the one hundred and twelve mile front and conducted periodical artillery fire on the pockets of resistance. The size of the battalion depended on its main weapon. Explore regimental histories, soldier rosters, morning reports, and reports of casualties to better understand the combat experiences of your WWI veteran. The fuses were shipped in crates, about 25 per box. Reported to the 265th FA Bn on 16 Jan 56 We were not the first unit he had befriended. If you have any Empty shell casings near gun section, Elsenborn Ridge, 1944. H&HQ as well as A Btry were there in April 1958 and B & C Btry were at Rivers Barracks. Should have something for you in a few weeks. He's to the right of the breech responsible for elevating the gun and attaching the firing pin. The shift of several large caliber artillery units, particularly segregated African American battalions, to Bastogne during the first 48 hours of the battle helped save the city from capture. I don't remember if I got to fire one. I also drove a Gamma Goat. The command element of the groups was structured very similarly to that of a divisional artillery HQ with such features as a fire direction center, H&H battery and service battery.
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