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CARL
THOMAS THORNTON
526th
Armored Infantry Battalion
Headquarters
Company
Intelligence
& Reconnaissance
History
in Words and Photos
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04/13/14
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THORNTON
GENEALOGY PROJECT 2011
HOME
PAGE
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526th
Armored Infantry Battalion
Headquarters
Company
Intelligence/Reconnaissance
Platoon
Left
to Right
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Back
Row
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Middle
Row |
Seated,
Front Row |
A
- Steve Zazula
B
- Thomas Brewer
C
- Tommy Williams
D
- Clint Tabor
E
- Lewis J. Schumann
F
- Joe Borowy
G
- Donald Shoffstall
H
- Albert L. Kiefer
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I
- Leonard Cerda
J
- Richard Wurm
K
- Glenn Damron
L
- Okla D. Sloan
M
- Norman J. Owens
N
- Louie Lopez
O
- Carl Thornton
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P
- Walter Hees
Q
- Edwin Carpenter
R
- Larry Stiglbauer
S
- James L. Goddard
T
- Roy Boehm
U
- Peter Jagunic
V
- Bob Stevenson
W
- Isadore J. Anderson
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Not
Pictured
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Leon
Briggs and T. H. Welch |
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Shield:
Azure,
a chevron, between in chief a
battleaxe
fesswise and in base
three bugle horns stringed, all argent.
Motto: Validi Milites
(Valiant Warriors). The Chevron is
used to represent the line shield
at Malmedy, Belgium,
in World War 11. The 526th Armored
Infantry Battalion,
on its first combat mission, was
the first combat force
to reach Malmedy. The three bugle
horns are taken
from the coat of arms of the
province of Liege in Belgium,
where the town of Malmedy is
located. The battleaxe,
an ancient Infantry
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526th Armored
Infantry Battalion
Lineage
Constituted in Army
of United States 26 February 1943
as 526th Armored
Infantry Battalion.
Activated 20 March
at Fort Knox, Ky.
Inactivated 25
November 1945 in European Theater.
Campaign Streamers
- World War 11
Northern France,
Ardennes-Alsace,
Rhineland, Central
Europe
Decorations
Cited in the Order
of the Day, Belgium Army,
for the ARDENNES
(DA G) 43, 1950)
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The
Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is the U.S. Army
combat service recognition decoration awarded to
soldiers—enlisted men and officers (commissioned and
warrant) holding colonel
rank or below, who personally fought in active
ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry
or a Special
Forces unit, of brigade size or smaller, any time
after 6 December 1941. The CIB and its non-combat
analogue, the infantry skill-recognition Expert
Infantryman Badge (EIB) were simultaneously
created during World
War II as primary recognition of the combat
service and sacrifices of the infantrymen who would
likely be wounded or killed in numbers
disproportionate to those of soldiers from the
Army’s other service branches. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Infantryman_Badge
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The
526th Armored Infantry Battalion Association WWII
Newsletter:
Published quarterly
March - June - September - December
The
Sole, Separate and Remaining Combat Armored Infantry
Battalion of World War II
Volume 20
December 2000
Issue
4
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"OUR JET"
By Glenn Damxon
Walt Hees and Norman Owens
I & R Platoon
Hdqs Company
On
July 25, 1944 there appeared in the embattled skies over Europe,
a type of aircraft powered by engines so revolutionary that it
would open a whole new era of aerial warfare and aerial
transportation.
Manufactured
by the Germans, the plane was the Messerschmitt ME 262 nicknamed
Swallow. These were the only jet planes used in combat in World
War 11.
The
two engines that powered it were jets, the first on any
operational aircraft. With these engines, the plane could fly
higher at 37,664 feet and faster at 540 miles an hour than any
other fighter aircraft then in existence.
With
a range of 660 miles and armed with four 30 MM cannons, with a
total of 360 rounds of ammo, it was a deadly fighting machine.
Twenty four unguided rockets could be mounted in racks under the
slightly swept back wings. By comparison the allies' fastest
aircraft, the P51 Mustang and the P47 Thunderbolt, could only go
about 450 miles an hour.
The
new airplane was not invulnerable, however. Some of the
approximately 300 that were operational were shot down in aerial
;ombat, some were blown from the sky by ground fire. Of the more
than 1,400 of these craft that were produced, most were
destroyed on the ground by bombing and strafing.
How
the 526th AIB became involved.
March
26 was a beautiful clear day in the early spring of 1945.
Headquarters
Company of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion was in convoy
coming from Koblenz, Germany enroute to Frankfurt, Germany. They
were traveling on the Autobahn and should have been able to make
good time but care had to be taken. The Germans were fighting
hard and the roadway was fringed by trees and dense underbrush.
For this reason the convoy was moving cautiously with at least a
fifty yard interval between each vehicle and greater intervals
between platoons.
The
526th was the fighting part of a tack force who's mission was to
capture and hold assigned German personnel or buildings until
the targets could be interrogated, the building secured and
documents processed.
The
lead two jeeps from the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon
were a good distance ahead of the rest of the convoy. In the
first jeep was asst. squad leader Cpl. Walter Hees and driver
Joe Borowy with lead scout Leonard Cerda. The second jeep
contained driver Carl Thornton and scout Richard Wurm. There may
have been a third soldier in the second jeep.
Things
were going well. There was no immediate apparent danger although
shooting could be heard in the distance. The warmth of the sun
felt good. The scouts and the asst. squad leader scanned the
trees and brush with their eyes, their guns ready for trouble.
Suddenly
Wurm in the second jeep shouted, "Hees, look over
there." In the trees and underbrush, faintly discernible
was the outline of a large, well camouflaged piece of machinery.
They radioed the convoy that they had found something and
stopped to investigate.
They
approached the object cautiously on foot. As they came closer ,
the outline of an airplane took shape. An airplane? By the
Autobahn?
After
checking the surrounding area for guards or booby traps and
finding none, they carefully approached the plane. Unbelievable!
What they had found was a complete, undamaged, two engine
airplane with no propellers, and on the ground just waiting for
them, this had to be the latest German secret weapon.
Unfortunately
they couldn't inspect it as closely as they would have liked.
They couldn't even uncover it. After making their report, they
had to continue leading the convoy to Frankfurt. (It is not
known by this writer who took photos of them them, but I have
seen pictures of the plane with the camouflage still on it and
after it had been removed.)
Others
in the convoy stopped, removed the camouflage cover and examined
the plane thoroughly. After securing it they were relieved and
continued on to Frankfurt.
The
ME 262 was next to the Autobahn because German airports had been
considerably destroyed and they were using the highway for a
runway. Besides, who would ever think of looking there for it?
Another
curious twist occurred in 1970. Here is an excerpt from a letter
Walt Hees wrote to Glenn Damron.
Quote:
"1 was attending a General Atomic lunch meeting in San
Diego. I was there as an Automotive Representative and still
stationed in Detroit. One of the other representatives there was
Jack Edgemond, the Engineering V. P. for Emerson Electric during
WW11. Jack was (now deceased) a man of many interests - boating
(he owned a yacht) and aircraft - a couple of his associates
owned jets. Jack flew them.
During
the lunch Jack started to talk about his jet flying experiences.
I commented that during the war I was in an outfit that
discovered the first intact Messerschmitt". Jack stopped me
and said, "Yes, I know about that. That plane was taken by
rail to Paris under top priority, disassembled and flown
directly to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio." I was floored!
Jack than explained that he didn't know anything about the 526th
(like everyone else we never did get any credit for our part.)
What Jack did know was that a close friend of his during the war
was the one at Wright Field who did all of the initial
testing of "Our Jet".
Photos
and stories of finding the jet has been on TV, CNN, The History
Channel but the 526th A.I.B. was never mentioned.
Walt
continued saying, "I don't expect you to use all this Jack
Edgemond stuff in your story; it's minor to the point of the
story. I just wanted to give you all the background to what I
always considered a very unusual incident." unquote.
Ed
comment: At the outset of operations on continental Europe, it
was realized in the higher intelligence echelons of the Theater
that existing organic intelligence agencies would be inadequate
to the mission of exploiting fully the larger and more important
cities and areas containing intelligence and counterintelligence
targets. It was therefore decided at Supreme Headquarters,
Allied Expeditionary Force to organize intelligence collecting
units known as "T-Forces", designed to operate at army
group level with the mission of seizing, safeguarding and
facilitating the exploitation of important intelligence and
counterintelligence targets in the larger cities and in
designated areas which would be uncovered in the course of the
advance of the Allied forces across Europe. As a result, this
operation and names of units involved became classified
information. This classification status was not lifted until the
early '50's.
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Malmedy
Survivor Statement
December
20, 1944
Sworn
Statement
The
following
article appeared in THE
PEKAN NEWSLETTER of October 2007 which is the newsletter
of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion. And in
THE
BULGE BUGLE, February 2008.
Battery
"B", 285th Field Artillery Observation
Battalion, in convoy going south three miles from Malmedy,
stopped the convoy at 13h00 when motor fire and machine gun fire
was heard.
We
got out of the truck and jumped in a ditch beside the vehicles.
Some men took off when they saw we were being captured.
They took watches, gloves and cigarettes from the
prisoners then they put us inside a barbed wire fence.
Tanks
passed for 15 minutes. Everything
was alright until a command car turned the corner.
At that time an officer in the command car fired a shot
with his pistol at a medical officer who was one yard away to my
left; then he fired another shot to my right.
At
that time a tank followed the command car and opened fire on the
175 men inside the fence. We
all fell and lay as still as we could.
Every
tank that passed from then on would fire into the group laying
there. At one time they
came around with a pistol and fired at every officer that had
bars showing. (One
officer put mud on his helmet to cover the bars).
The
tanks stopped passing about 14h45.
At 15h00 someone said let's go.
At that time 15 men got up and started to run north from
where we were laying on the side of the road.
Twelve
of the men ran into a house (northwestern part of the crossroad)
and three of us kept going. There
was a machine at the crossroads plus four Germans.
When
we got in back of the house they could not fire the machine gun
at us. They burnt the
house down into which the 12 men ran.
When the three of us were in the back of the house we
played dead again because a German in a black uniform came
around with a pistol looking over us.
We lay there until dark, when we rolled into a hedgerow
where we weren't under observation.
Laying
there was a S/Sgt from the 2nd Division shot in the
arm. We started to walk
but stayed 200 to 300 yards from the main road.
In about a quarter of a mile we met a medic who was shot
in the foot and a fellow from my outfit.
The four of us came into Malmedy.
All
I got was a scratch on my fingers from a machine gun.
Source:
Battle of the Bulge February 2008
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526th Armored Infantry Battalion
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526th A.I.B. Battleaxe Patch
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2197
"I have very little information on this unit.
Here are a few comments from a website. Apparently
they were the only Armored Infantry Battalion to get
overseas. Their campaigns were Ardennes-Alsace,
Central Europe, Northern France, Rhineland. Left the
US 19 March 1944, Arrived England 12 April 1944,
Arrived France 24 August 1944, August 1945 in
Wiesbaden, Germany (Order of Battle US Army WW2 by
Shelby Stanton)"
526th Armored Infantry Battalion
From http://history.sandiego.edu/news/article.p...021101103106880
"The battalion was the only American armored
infantry battalion that trained with top secret Canal
Defense Lights, a British armor-infantry tactic. They
trained in one of the camps of General George Patton's
Desert Training Center, and in Rosebush, Wales. The
lights were never used in battle. Before and after the
Battle of the Bulge the battalion was part of
"T" Force, a 12th U.S. Army Group unit that
would move into captured towns in Europe and seize
material of intelligence value. They would take over
factories, police stations and other government
buildings. At times they would escort scientists and
intelligence agents to pre-selected targets.
"One company of this battalion served as an
honor guard for top Allied Generals. The battalion
also guarded Nazi military and civilian officials in
Weisbaden after the war."
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WW2 526TH ARMOR INFANTRY BATTALION
THEATRE MADE PATCH
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http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/usarmy/infantry.aspx
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In addition to the
divisions, there were also a large number of separate infantry,
parachute infantry, and glider infantry regiments and
battalions. Most of them were utilized as garrisons or for guard
lines of communication. For example, only a single separate
armored infantry battalions (the 526th) saw combat, the
remaining fourteen were disbanded or converted to other units.
In the ETO; the 3rd,
29th, 65th (Puerto Rican), 118th, 156th, 159th (arrived March
1945 after service in the Aleutians) 442nd (Nisei), 473d
(organized by the Fifth Army in Italy on 19 December 1944 from
three AAA battalions), and 474th (organized in France on 6
January 1945, with the 99th Battalion and remnants of the 1st,
3d, and 4th Rangers and 1st Special Service Force), and 517th
Parachute regiments; and the 1st-5th Ranger, 99th (Norwegian),
100th (Nisei, which in mid 1944 replaced the old 1st/442d which
was disbanded -- the 100th retained its original designation),
509th Parachute, 526th Armored, 550th Glider, and 551st
Parachute battalions.
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HQ
Company
526th
Armored Infantry Bn
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Campaigns
Battle
of the Bulge,
Belgium
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http://www.battleofthebulgememories.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=501:the-526th-armored-infantry-battalion-in-the-bulge&catid=1:battle-of-the-bulge-us-army&Itemid=6&lang=fr
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The
526th Armored Infantry Battalion
in
the Bulge
On
October 26, 1944, the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion,
assigned to the 10th Armored Group, was located in the
vicinity of Granville, Normandy, France.
This battalion claimed the distinction at that
time, and still does, of being the only separate armored
infantry battalion in the Army.
On that day orders came in for the battalion to
move to Verdun and become a part of Special Troops of
12th Army Group. From
Verdun the battalion departed for destination in Belgium
and Luxembourg.
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From
October 30 to December 17, 1944, the battalion was
“permanently” stationed with the headquarters at
Harze, Belgium.
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It
was here that the battalion received its first taste of
Buzz bombs and V-2’s. In
one incident a bomb landed 500 yards away from the
battalion C.P. and broke windows and damaged the
building.
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At
1600 hours, Sunday December 17, the battalion was
ordered by First U.S. Army to move to Malmedy, Belgium,
with Company “A” 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion
attached, and to join the 99th Infantry Battalion
(Norwegian) at Remouchamps en route.
At 1900 hours the battalion was formed on the
Aywaille-Remouchamps road and waiting to fall in with
the 99th Infantry Battalion at Remouchamps.
The 99th Infantry Battalion failed to show up by
2100 so this battalion was ordered to move alone at
once, picking up Company “A” 825th en route at La
Reid, Belgium. It
was during this period that the Luftwaffe suddenly came
to life, strafed and bombed roads between Spa and
Malmedy.
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The
battalion plus Company “A”, 825th Tank Destroyer
Battalion, then proceeded on to Malmedy.
Road conditions were bad and it was exceedingly
difficult to maintain control in the blackout.
En route one rifle squad half-track and one
half-track with a towed 57mm AT gun dropped out of the
column as a result of accidents.
The 57mm AT gun and half-track, in following,
took position at Trois-Ponts and engaged an enemy column
of 18 tanks (Kampfgruppe Peiper), knocking out the lead
tank which blocked the advance.
However, the 57mm was, in turn, knocked out and
four men killed and one wounded.
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Shortly
after midnight December 17-18, a message was received
from First U.S. Army that enemy tanks were approaching
Stavelot and ordered one rifle company and one platoon
of tank destroyers dispatched there to form road blocks
and hold the enemy. Company
“A” with 1st Platoon, Company “A”, 825th Tank
Destroyer Battalion attached was selected for this
assignment, and the executive officer was placed in
command of the task force.
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3rd
Squad: AT 57mm gun “B” Company, 526th AIB
First
row – left to right: Edward R. Berdine, Doyle Isaacs,
Donald D. Hollenbeck (KIA), John H. Surdo, and Albert
Smith.
Second
row: Dallas N. Buchannan (KIA), Ralf J. Bieker, Donald
J. Devoto (transferred to another Company few days
before the battle), Lillard B. McCollum (KIA) and James
L. Higgins (KIA). (Document:
The Pekan)
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The
balance of the force continued on to Malmedy.
On arrival, it immediately began to set up road
blocks and defensive positions.
This battalion, plus the tank destroyers, were
the first combat unit to take up positions for the
defense of Malmedy. The
99th Infantry Battalion arrived immediately following
the arrival of the 526th and took positions in and
around the town. The
117th Infantry began to arrive about daylight on the
morning of December 18.
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Company
“A” plus the platoon of tank destroyers, reached
Stavelot at 0400 hours, and two rifle platoons with one
section of tank destroyers were sent across the river (L’Ambleve)
to set up road blocks. At
0500 contact was made with the enemy, and, in the
ensuing fight, the town of Stavelot changed hands
several times. As
a result of this engagement, the enemy was prevented
from going on into Spa or accomplishing his mission.
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At
Stavelot was a gasoline dump with an estimated three
million gallons, and in his drive to the west, Rundstedt
had relied heavily on capturing gasoline and other
supplies for his forces.
Some of this gasoline was destroyed by the task
force to prevent it from falling in the hands of the
enemy and to form a road block, and the Germans never
got beyond this block which was covered by fire of
Company “A” weapons.
Spa was only about 11 miles away and with no
other combat troops to stop the enemy, this one company
with the attached platoon was possibly the only force
that saved First U.S. Army Headquarters from capture by
the Germans. The
casualties for this small force were heavy, but the
mission was accomplished.
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Meanwhile,
the situation in Malmedy consisted of strong enemy
reconnaissance in force and by fire, but all attacks
were repulsed with heavy losses.
The Germans were attempting to take Malmedy in
order to complete a road net for their spearheads into
Liege, but never succeeded in getting more than a few
patrols into the city, and they were either captured or
annihilated. The
assault gun, machine gun and mortar platoons of
Headquarters Company were on the lines continuously and
fired thousands of rounds.
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On
January 3, 1945, the battalion was ordered to make a
limited objective attack on the high ground (Houyire's
hill) a few thousand yards to the front.
This attack was to be made by one rifle company
supported by a platoon of tanks and artillery with a
rifle platoon protecting the flank at Baugnez.
It was to be made in conjunction with a general
attack by the forces on the northern side of the Bulge.
Since the battalion was near the hinge of the
Bulge, it was a diversionary attack to draw the
attention of the enemy from the main attack farther
west. The attack
was successful in that the enemy drew his reserves away
from the main effort in order to meet the push of this
point. However,
the cost of the attacks was high, and out of
approximately 250 men who participated, 65 were
casualties. Nineteen
were killed and eighteen were missing.
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On
January 17, 1945, the battalion was relieved from First
U.S. Army. The
battalion had been in the line for 31 days.
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During
the period of combat at Malmedy and Stavelot, casualties
were: 33 killed, 58 wounded, and 24 missing.
The orders were to hold Malmedy and Stavelot at
all costs. The
two towns were held and the enemy did not gain use of
the road nets offered by them.
Losses in vehicles were as follows: for the
526th, 2 half-tracks, one ¼ ton truck and three 3-inch
towed tank destroyer guns.
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Source:
Article written by George L. WENDT on December 27, 1989.
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http://www.526th.org/
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For information about the
526th Armored Infantry
Battalion, please contact:
Sherrie Morrison
Pekan Editor - Secretary / Treasurer
P.O. Box 456
Yolo, CA 95697
e-mail: 526aib@sbcglobal.net
Ph: 530-662-8160
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http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=29211
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The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion
World War II
By Bill Kirchner, March 14, 201
1. The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion
Marker
Inscription. In
honored memory of those soldiers of the battalion who trained
here at Camp Bouse and gave their lives in combat to preserve
the freedom of the United States and to set the Peoples of
Europe free.
Headquarters Company
Donald D. Hauger, Harry J. Moyles, Robert R Sullivan
"A" CompanyHarland S Bittinger, Raymond R.
Dukes (Kia, Korea), Jack W. Ellery, James A. Evans, Lloyd E
Fisher, Dale B. Nelson, Ralph Quesenberry
"B" CompanyDonald J Banks, Gordon I Blaisdell,
Warren Blankenship, Hugo G. Brossman Dallas W. Buchanan, Harry
B. Burlile, John C. Bush, Sam Colosi, James Coslett, Robert B.
Craven, Leo J Day, William C. Duncan, Joe G Farina, William D
Ferguson, David J. Heron, John A. Hess, James L. Higgins, D. B.
Hollenbeck, Ralph L Iverson, Delbert J. Johnson, Warren H
Knoelke, Rosco Lively, John Lopez, Oliver I. Love, Ralph G.
Manis, Lillard B. McCollum, Moises A Moreno, Ralph, C. Russell,
Warner Schuster, Francis L Snyder, Bernard J Ward
Medical Detachment
Joseph A Ricks
They did not grow old, as we that were left grew old, age did
not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the
sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Erected 2005 by
The Citizens of Bouse, The Lost Dutchman and the Billy Holcomb
Chapters of E Clampus Vitus and the 526th Armored Infantry
Battalion Association.
Marker series. This marker is
included in the E
Clampus Vitus marker series.
Location. 33° 55.888′ N,
114° 0.289′ W. Marker is in Bouse, Arizona, in La Paz
County. Marker is on Broadway Avenue (Arizona Route 72 at
milepost 27) south of Main Street, on the right when traveling
west. Click
for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bouse AZ 85325,
United States of America.
By Bill Kirchner, March 14, 2010
2. The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion
Marker
The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion Marker is
second marker from right in photo.
Other nearby markers. At
least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this
marker. In
Memory of Eight Ball - Morale Officer (here, next to this
marker); Camp
Bouse (here, next to this marker); Monument
Row (a few steps from this marker); 738th
Medium Tank Battalion, Special (a few steps from this
marker); 739th
Tank Battalion (SP) (ME) (a few steps from this marker); a
different marker also named Camp
Bouse (a few steps from this marker); a different marker
also named Camp
Bouse (a few steps from this marker); George
L Wendt (within shouting distance of this marker). Click
for a list of all markers in Bouse.
By Bill Kirchner, March 14, 2010
3. Monument Row, Bouse, Arizona
Credits. This
page originally submitted on March 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of
Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 711 times since then.
Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 28, 2010, by
Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor
who published this page.
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Camp Bouse The 526th A. I. B. - Canal Defense Light Project
Quick Description: Monument Row in Bouse
Arizona is dedicated to the various battalions that trained at
Camp Bouse. Camp Bouse was established in 1942 by Gen George
Patton as one of the eleven bases of his "Desert Training
Center". 9000 GI's were housed there.
Long Description:
"Camp Bouse
The 526th A. I. B.
Canal Defense Light Project
Desert Training Center
California – Arizona Maneuver Area
Camp Bouse was established in Butler Valley 30 miles behind this
monument in Sept. of 1943. It was one of twelve such camps built
in the southwestern deserts to harden and train United States
troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The
desert training center was a simulated theater of operations
that included portions of California and Arizona. The other
camps were Young, Coxcomb, Granite, Iron Mountain, Ibis Clipper,
Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder and Rice.
Camp Bouse was the home of the 9th tank group which consisted of
six tank battalions, one armored infantry battalion, an ordnance
company and a station hospital. The group trained in absolute
secrecy mainly at night. The light device consisted of a high
powered search light, mounted in an armored housing on a tank.
Its purpose was to temporarily blind the enemy at night. The
role of the 526th infantry was to defend the operations of the
CD tanks and attack if security of the tanks was being
threatened.
The 526th AIB was separated from the 9th tank group in France,
August 1944 and was assigned to the 12th Army group HDQ under
command of Gen. Omar Bradley, "C" Company became a
security unit for Gen Bradley in Luxembourg. The remainder of
the battalion was heavily involved during the Battle of the
Bulge, fighting the enemy in the Belgian towns of Trois-Ponts,
Stavelot, Malmedy, Hedomont, Bougnee, and Geromont.
After the Bulge and until VE Day the 526th became part of
"T" force. The purpose of "T" Force missions
were to seize, safeguard and process enemy documents, archives
and material of intelligence or counter-intelligence and capture
enemy agents, military officers and key collaborators.
This monument if dedicated to all the soldiers that served here
and especially for those who gave their lives in battle, ending
the Holocaust & defeating the armed forces of Nazi Germany.
Plaque placed by the Lost Dutchman, Billy Holcomb, John P.
Squibob Chapter of the Ancient & Honorable order of E
Clampus Vitus, The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion Assoc and in
Co-operation with the Bouse Chamber of Commerce.
January 18th, 1997"
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http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/super-rare-526th-armored-battleaxe-ike-jacket-idd
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The 526th is truly a unique and elite unit.
The 526th Battleaxe was the only Armored Infantry Battalion
to get overseas. Their campaigns were Ardennes-Alsace, Central
Europe, Northern France, Rhineland. They left the US 19 March
1944, Arrived England 12 April 1944, Arrived France 24 August
1944, August 1945 in Wiesbaden, Germany (Order of Battle US Army
WW2 by Shelby Stanton)
526th Armored Infantry Battalion
From /news/article.p...021101103106880
"The battalion was the only American armored infantry
battalion that trained with top secret Canal Defense Lights, a
British armor-infantry tactic. They trained in one of the camps
of General George Patton's Desert Training Center, and in
Rosebush, Wales. The lights were never used in battle. Before
and after the Battle of the Bulge the battalion was part of
"T" Force, a 12th U.S. Army Group unit that would move
into captured towns in Europe and seize material of intelligence
value. They would take over factories, police stations and other
government buildings. At times they would escort scientists and
intelligence agents to pre-selected targets.
"One company of this battalion served as an honor guard for
top Allied Generals. The battalion also guarded Nazi military
and civilian officials in Weisbaden after the war."
|
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/megarare-german-silk-526th-armored-150989641
|
The BATTLE AXE of the 526th Armor Infantry Battalion, was the
attack unit of “T” Force for the 12th Army Group. Not only
was in NOT a Tank Battalion, but it was in one ASMIC article
stated well as… rather a separate Armored Infantry Battalion,
the ONLY one to serve in the European Theatre” The 526th was
also instrumental in the St Lô, Avranches, Operation Cobra and
on into the Ardennes. In Stavelot there is a memorial to the
526th Armored Infantry Battalion!
Now, as to a lengthy history:
The 526th AIB is the sole remaining, separate armored
infantry battalion from World War II, whose soldiers defended
the Belgian villages of Stavelot and Malmedy on December 16TH,
1944, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge. The 117th
Infantry, first of the 30th Division regiments to be fed into
the line, had been deploying on the morning of 18 December
around Malmédy. Its 1ST Battalion (Lt. Col. Ernest Frankland),
under orders to occupy Stavelot, circled through Francorchamps
to approach the town from the north.
On the road Colonel Frankland met officers of the 526TH
Armored Infantry Battalion who told him that the enemy was in
Stavelot. Although without artillery support, Colonel Frankland
launched his attack at Stavelot. On the slope north of the town
a platoon of 3-inch towed tank destroyers from the 823RD Tank
Destroyer Battalion made good use of positions above the Germans
to knock out a brace of Mark VI tanks and a few half-tracks.
The two leading companies of the 1st Battalion had just
reached the houses at the northern edge of the town when ten
hostile tanks, returning in haste from Trois Ponts,
counterattacked.
It might have gone hard with the American infantry but for
the fighter-bombers of the IX Tactical Air Command and XXIX
Tactical Air Command, which opportunely entered the fray. During
the afternoon the American planes had worked east from the La
Gleize area, where the little liaison planes had first signaled
the presence of German columns, and struck where-ever Peiper’s
tanks and motor vehicles could be found.
Perhaps the trail provided by the rearward serials of
Kampfgruppe Peiper led the fighter-bombers to Stavelot; perhaps
the 106TH Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which broke through
the clouds to make one sweep over the town, tipped off the
squadrons working farther west. Before the German tanks could
make headway, planes from the 365th Fighter Group, reinforced by
the 390TH Squadron (366TH) and the 50TH Squadron (404TH),
plunged in, crippled a few enemy vehicles, and drove the balance
to cover, leaving the infantry and tank destroyers to carry out
the cleanup inside Stavelot on more equitable terms.
By dark the two American companies held half of the town, had
tied in with the 2d Battalion between Stavelot and Malmédy, and
were On the morning of 21 December the American forces in and
around Malmédy were substantial: the 120TH Infantry (minus a
battalion in division reserve); the “Norwegians,” that is,
the 99TH Infantry Battalion; the 526TH Armored Infantry
Battalion; a company from the 291st Engineer Battalion; and a
tank company.
|
http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/bulge/5.html#526thArmoredInfantryBattalion
|
526th Armored Infantry
Battalion
Carl
Smith (526th Armored Infantry) "The Gas Dump at
Stavelot." Pursued by a Panzer tank, they set a gas dump
alight.
Vic
Brennan (526th Armored Infantry Battalion). A vain attack on
a German Tiger.
Private
Walker Fields (526th Armored Infantry Battalion) on
destroying a German fuel dump near Stavelot.
John
V. Pehovic (526th Armored Infantry Battalion), "12
Hours in Stavelot". Gripping narrative.
"The battle at Stavelot erupted with such quick dynamic
force that it almost defies description. A full pitched battle
developed and was underway as soon as the task force arrived.
We knew nothing of the terrain, there were no lines of
communication, we had no idea what troops were in the area,
nor what this disposition was — we moved into a complete
vacuum with no time to evaluate the situation nor time to
develop a plan of resistance."
"I confirm that the 526th AIB, and especially Company
"A", while they may bow their heads in deference to
other famous units in the Army, they never have to bow in
humility."
Charles
A. Mitchell (526th Armored Infantry) "Action at
Stavelot: 17-18 December 1944"
|
http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/bulge/10.html
|
"The German attack of 16 December
1944"
|
http://www.9thdivision.com/Members_Only_Pages/membersonly_callsigns.htm
|
RADIO CALL SIGNS
526th Armored Infantry Battalion (Hq 526th
Arm’d. Inf. Bn.)
BATTLEAXE
World
War II
Phonetic Alphabet
|
World
War II
Phonetic
Alphabet
|
|
NATO*
Phonetic
Alphabet
|
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Able
|
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A
|
Alpha
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B
|
Baker
|
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B
|
Bravo
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C
|
Charlie
|
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C
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Charlie
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D
|
Dog
|
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D
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Delta
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E
|
Easy
|
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E
|
Echo
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F
|
Fox
|
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F
|
Foxtrot
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G
|
George
|
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G
|
Golf
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H
|
How
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H
|
Hotel
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I
|
Item
|
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I
|
India
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J
|
Jig
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J
|
Juliette
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K
|
King
|
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K
|
Kilo
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L
|
Love
|
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L
|
Lima
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M
|
Mike
|
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M
|
Mike
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N
|
Nan
|
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N
|
November
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O
|
Oboe
|
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O
|
Oscar
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P
|
Peter
|
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P
|
Papa
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Q
|
Queen
|
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Q
|
Quebec
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R
|
Roger
|
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R
|
Romeo
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S
|
Sugar
|
|
S
|
Sierra
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T
|
Tare
|
|
T
|
Tango
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U
|
Uncle
|
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U
|
Uniform
|
V
|
Victor
|
|
V
|
Victor
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W
|
William
|
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W
|
Whiskey
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X
|
X
Ray
|
|
X
|
X
Ray
|
Y
|
Yoke
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Y
|
Yankee
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Z
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Zebra
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Z
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Zulu
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Army
Song Book from WWII
|
http://www.9thdivision.com/Members_Only_Pages/membersonly_cadences.htm
|
THE
CADENCES WE USE
SO YOU
CAN LEARN THE WORDS
Jody
Cadence
She
Wore A Yellow Ribbon
My
Girl
The
Infantry, The Infantry
|
http://www.eucmh.com/tag/stavelot/
|
Stavelot Photos
|
http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Bulge/default.htm
|
Video of the Battle of the Bulge.
|
http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Bulge/default.htm
|
Video made
by AFN (Armed Forces Network) during one of my tours with the
Dutch Army. Special Guest was Rolf Odendahl, German veteran of
the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division. He told his story about the
fightings in January 1945 and how he - after being captured -
was being interrigated by US Troops. (his complete story is in
the book 'Operations of the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division'
during the Battle of the Bulge).
|
http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Bulge/default.htm |
Parts of the Battlefield Detectives in which we
see several veterans and myself plus others giving their opinion
on the BoB.
|
Bronze
Star
The Bronze Star Medal was officially installed by Executive
Order 9419 on 4th February 1944. It was based on the idea of
Colonel Russell P. “Red” Reeder in 1943. He had launched the
thought that it was good for moral of the military if there was
a decoration that could be awarded by Captains of a Company or
Battery to the personnel who served under their command. Colonel
Reeder saw this medal as the ground version of the Air Medal and
first introduced the name “Ground Medal”. At first the
decoration was to be instituted with the U.S. Navy to be given
to ground and surface personnel for heroic or meritorious deeds.
For not known reasons the institution did not occur. The idea
was picked up by General George C. Marshall who wrote a
memorandum to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The president
installed the medal the very next day.
The decoration could be awarded to any military who, serving
within or together with the army of the United States after 6th
December 1941, decorating himself by heroric or meritorious
deeds during the acting as military, not participating in air
operations, during military operations against an armed enemy or
during an armed conflict in which the United States was not
participating as belligerent. The decoration could be awarded
for the described heroic actions, not sufficient to be awarded
the Silver Star of for meritorious actions or meritorious acting
of service which did not qualify for the Legion of Merit. In
1947 the possibilities for awarding were enlarged. From that
moment on the medal could also be awarded to any member of the
United States Army that were mentioned in orders after 6th
December 1941 or who had received a certificate for exceptional
service in ground-battle against an armed enemy between 7th
December 1941 and 2nd September 1945 or who’s merit could be
proven by documents dated before 1st July 1947. This made it
possible to award the Bronze Star to any person who had received
the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge.
The Bronze Star can also be obtained by veterans or next of kin.
Military that took part in the struggle on the Philippines
between 7th December 1941 and 10th May 1942 could receive the
medal when the action took place on Luzon, the Bataan peninsula
or the Harbour Defences on Corregidor Island and were entitled
to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Military who had
received the Purple Heart during the early days of the Second
World War specifically for merit and not for wounds could in
some occasions also exchange the Purple Heart to the Bronze
Star. The rule that any soldier that fought together with the
American Army, the decoration could also be awarded to foreign
military.
The Bronze Star Medal was designed by Rudolf Freund of Bailey,
Banks and Biddle who also designed the Silver Star. The
decorations measures 1,5 inch (38 mm) over all. In the middle
can be found another bronze star with a diametre of 3/16 inch
(4,8 mm). All radials in the centre of both stars continue in
one each other. The back bears the inscription “HEROIC OR
MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT” and a space to engrave the
recipient's name.
The medal hangs on the ribbon with a square loop with rounded
corners. The ribbon measures 1 3/8 inch (35 mm) wide. Left and
right can be fond a 1/32 inch (1 mm) wide white line, followed
to the inside by a scarlet 9/16 inch (14 mm) broad band. In the
middle can be fond an ultramarine blue band measuring 1/8 inch
(3 mm) flanked by two 1/32 inch (1 mm) lines.
For additional awards, every next decoration was to be shown by
a bronze oak leaf cluster (US Army, Air Corps and Air Force) or
a golden star (US Navy, Marines and Coast Guard). At every fifth
award, the bronze and golden were replaced by a a silver oak
leaf cluster or silver star. A bronze “V” for “Valor”
was awarded when the Bronze Star was received for heroism in
battle, thus distinquishing the award from the Bronze Stars
warded for merit. This “V” was introduced in 1945. The
action it was to be awarded for had to be of significant value.
Only one “V” was permitted to be worn on the ribbon.
http://www.ww2awards.com/award/245
|
http://www.ww2awards.com/picture.asp?url=http://www.ww2awards.com/images-award/8071070118002640p.jpg&fototekst=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Star_Medal
|
|
|
Personal
Stories - 526th Armored Infantry Battallion
|
PFC
Joseph G. Farina - 526th Armored Infantry Battallion
|
Stavelot
- Belgium
http://www.theblitz.org/scenarios/Campaign-Series/Return-to-Stavelot/action=scenario_details&sid=780&ladder=2&venus_nav_page=2
|
WWII
veterans wind up reunion
|
Willard
S Ingraham |
Stockton
man spent years trying to forget his war experiences |
|
Side profile of army soldiers with
military tanks, Company A, 526th Armored Infantry
Battalion |
|
On Monday December 18 1944, Headquarters
Company, US Armored Group, received orders from Lt Col
Lowell S. Love, Armored Section, 1st US Army, to take up
defensive positions south of the gas dump in the vicinity of
Stavelot and provide radio security net for 1st Army. The
company have never been in action before.
|
|
|
-
1 – Crossroad Bagatelle
where the Peiper Task Force turned left to Baugnez
-
2 – Baugnez (Five
Points Crossroad) Massacre Flield
-
3 – Malmedy (Center of
the City)
-
4 – Malmedy (Exit Pont
de Warche direction to Stavelot)
-
5 – Malmedy (Exit to
the North – Hockay – Mont Rigi)
-
6 – Hédomont (Town
will be takeover from US troops)
-
7 – Thirimont (Town
where the Peiper Task Force came from)
-
8 – Falize (Town where
the German into American outfit came from)
-
9 – Chôdes Another
exit from Malmedy (Robertville – Ovifat)
|
Joachim Peiper (SS #132) was born in
Berlin, Germany, on Jan 30, 1915. His father, Waldemar
Peiper, was a career Army officer in German’s Imperial
Army who fought in East Africa during World War I. He
married, in 1909, Charlotte Marie Schwartz from Berlin.
Joachim Peiper had two brothers, Hans-Hasso and Horst (both
in the SS, one drowned with the Bismark while the other was
‘suicided’ in Poland for obscure reasons. Peiper was
just 18 when, in 1933, he decided to join his brother Horst
in the Hitlerjugend. In order to learn riding, he first
enlisted in the 7. SS Reiterstandarte, on Oct 12. In 1934 he
caught the attention of SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler
who convinced him to enlist with the SS Verfügungstruppe.
In 1935, Peiper attended the SS officer’s training school
(Junkerschule) in Braunschweig and was commissioned the
following year.
On Apr 1, 1936, he was transferred to the Leibstandarte,
where he was later appointed adjutant to Himmler. He held
this position until Aug 1941. During this period, he
temporarily left his duties and actively took part in the
Battle of France. In August 1941, he returned to the front
lines and commanded various infantry and panzer units within
the Leibstandarte, by now expanded to a full division. While
on Himmler’s staff, Peiper also met and married his wife,
Sigurd ‘Sigi’ Hinrichsen, (she war working in Himmler’
General Staff) with whom he had three children : Heinrich,
Elke, and Silke. Himmler was particularly fond of Peiper and
took a keen interest in his ascension towards command. By
age 29, Peiper was a full colonel of the Waffen-SS, well
respected and a holder of one of wartime Germany’s highest
decorations, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak
Leaves and Swords, personally awarded to him by Adolf
Hitler. |
|
|
Battle of the Bulge: Hell at Bütgenbach/
Seize the Bridges
By Hans Wijers
http://books.google.com/books?id=XJ2oJQhr0-wC&q=thornton#v=onepage&q=thornton&f=false
|
Roll
of Honor - 526th Armored Infantry Battalion -
Ardennes Campaign. |
|
ROLL
OF HONOR
526th
Armored Inf. Bat.
ARDENNES
CAMPAIGN
|
|
|
'Only
those are dead who are forgotten.' |
'Gob
bless and
rest
their spirits'
Created
: January 08, 2002
Updated
: October 19, 2008
Copyright
© 2001-2011 Eddy LAMBERTY
Please
send your comments, WWII accounts, anecdotes,
pictures to:
Eddy
Lamberty
Avenue
Joseph Lejeune 45
4980
Trois-Ponts
Belgium
|
|
|
Name |
A.S.N. |
Rank |
Cpy |
Date
& place of death |
Brl.
Place |
ALFANO
Humbert F. |
01012642 |
Capt |
- |
11-21-1944 |
H-C |
BANKS
Donald J. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
BITTINGER
Harland E. |
-- |
-- |
A |
-- |
-- |
BLAISDELL
Gordon L. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
BLANKENSHIP
Warren |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
BROSSMANN
Hugo G. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
BUCHANAN
Dallas W. |
-- |
-- |
B |
KIA
12-18-44 Trois-Ponts |
-- |
BURLILE
Harry E. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
BUSH
John C. |
39127193 |
Sgt |
B |
KIA
01-03-1945 |
H-C |
COLOSI
Sam |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
COSLETT
James C. |
35798454 |
Pvt |
B |
KIA
01-11-1945 |
H-C |
CRAVEN
Robert E. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
DAY
Leo J. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
DUNCAN
William C. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
ELLERY
Jack W. |
-- |
-- |
A |
-- |
-- |
EVANS
James J. |
-- |
-- |
A |
-- |
-- |
FARINA
Joe G. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
FERGUSON
William D. |
39696018 |
PFC
|
B |
KIA
01-15-1945 |
H-C |
FISHER
Lloyd E. |
35700616 |
PFC |
A |
KIA
12-18-1944 |
H-C |
HAUGER
Donald D. |
-- |
-- |
Hq |
-- |
-- |
HERON
David J. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
HESS
John A. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
HIGGINS
James L. |
39041885 |
Pvt |
B |
KIA
12-18-44 Trois-Ponts |
H-C |
HOLLENBECK
Donald E |
39695978 |
Cpl |
B |
KIA
12-18-44 Trois-Ponts |
H-C |
IVERSON
Ralph L. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
JOHNSON
Delbert J. |
39288520 |
Pvt |
B |
KIA
01-03-45 |
H-C |
KNOELKE
Warren H. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
LIVELY
Rosco |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
LOPEZ
John |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
LOVE
Oliver L. |
39289795 |
Pvt |
B |
KIA
01-03-45 |
H-C |
MANIS
Ralph G. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
McCOLLUM
Lillard B. |
-- |
-- |
B |
KIA
12-18-44 Trois-Ponts |
-- |
MORENO
Moises A. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
MOYLES
Harry J. |
-- |
-- |
Hq |
-- |
-- |
NELSON
Dale B. |
-- |
-- |
A |
-- |
-- |
QUESENBERRY
Ralph |
-- |
-- |
A |
-- |
-- |
RICKS
Joseph A. |
-- |
-- |
Medic |
-- |
-- |
RUSSELL
Ralph C. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
SCHUSTER
Warner |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
SNYDER
Francis L. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
SULLIVAN
Robert R. |
-- |
-- |
Hqs |
-- |
-- |
WARD
Bernard J. |
-- |
-- |
B |
-- |
-- |
H-C:
Henri-Chapelle Cemetery (Belgium) |
|
|
Action
at Stavelot |
Vice
President's Remarks to Veterans and Friends of the 526th
Armored Infantry
National World War II Memorial
Washington, D.C.
|
9:35 A.M. EDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: At ease, please. Well, thank you
very much. And I want to wish all of you a good morning.
It's a little damp out here this morning, I recognize.
But I'm honored to be invited to join in your ceremony,
and want to welcome all of you to the nation's capital,
as well as to this very special place, our National
World War II Memorial.
I count it a privilege to stand in the presence of
men who were sent into battle by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt, and who, by your courage and your honor and
your devotion to duty, helped win a war and change the
course of history. To the soldiers, widows, and family
members here today, I bring personal regards from
President George W. Bush.
More than six decades ago, after training in the heat
of the Arizona desert, members of the unit ended up
fighting in the intense cold of the Ardennes. As very
young men, you experienced the hardest aspects of war --
ferocious combat and the loss of comrades. There must be
times when you think back on it all and wonder how you
made it through. Some of the recollections, also, must
be a little tough to dwell on. Yet I hope you'll carry
with you always the memory of the nations you helped
liberate, the images of the people you freed, and the
feeling of accomplishment that is uniquely yours, for
you served honorably in a desperate hour for our
country. And in the pivotal hours of the Second World
War, the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion was a valiant
unit and earned a permanent and respected place in the
story of liberty.
One of the great strengths of this country is the
unselfish courage of the citizen who steps forward, puts
on the uniform, and stands ready to go directly in the
face of danger. It is that quality, more than any other,
which has kept us free for more than 200 years. Yet
Americans are a peaceful people. And so, as this very
memorial testifies, we number the casualties of war not
as a statistic of history, but as an enduring,
irreplaceable loss to our country. For some of the men
in the 526th, there was to be no homecoming. These men,
last seen on duty so long ago, are still loved and
remembered. How wonderful it is, how American it is,
that more than 60 years after the end of the war, you
should be here today, honoring their service and
speaking their names.
Your group has gathered over the decades, and you have
brought into your circle of friendship family members of
different generations. Your ranks have naturally grown
smaller with time, but the spirit of these reunions
never changes. You are patriots and loyal friends. You
are a credit to the uniform you once wore, and an
inspiration to the young Americans who wear that uniform
today.
Many years ago you proved yourselves to be selfless
men. Today, at this place of reflection, I hope you will
permit yourselves a moment of pride. Be proud of the way
you have lived your lives. Be proud that you were good
soldiers, faithful and true, when the nation needed you
most.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 9:39 A.M. EDT
|
Vice
President Dick Cheney talks with veterans of the 526th
Armored Infantry Battalion Friday, Oct. 7, 2005, after
delivering remarks during a wreath-laying ceremony at
the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
"...You served honorably in a desperate era for our
country. And in pivotal hours of the Second World War,
the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion was a valiant
unit...One of the great strengths of this country is the
unselfish courage of the citizen who steps forward, puts
on the uniform, and stands ready to go directly into the
face of danger," said the Vice President during his
remarks. The ceremony was in honor of the 526th Armored
Infantry Battalion which is the sole remaining, separate
armored infantry battalion from World War II, whose
soldiers defended the Belgian villages of Stavelot and
Malmedy on December 16, 1944, the first day of the
Battle of the Bulge. White House photo by David Bohrer
|
|
Vice
President Dick Cheney shakes hands with veterans of the
526th Armored Infantry Battalion Friday, Oct. 7, 2005,
after delivering remarks during a wreath-laying ceremony
at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
"I count it a privilege to stand in the presence of
men who were sent into battle by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt...and who, by your courage and honor and
devotion to duty, helped to win a war and change the
course of history ," said the Vice President to the
soldiers, widows and family members who attended the
ceremony. The 526th AIB is the sole remaining, separate,
armored infantry battalion from World War II whose
soldiers defended the Belgian villages of Stavelot and
Malmedy on December 16, 1944, the first day of the
Battle of the Bulge. White House photo by David Bohrer
|
|
|
PEKAN_p.01_MAY09 |
|
Description
Men from the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion rest a
moment during a reconnaissance mission in the Ruhr
Pocket near Frankfurt, Germany, Spring 1945. From left
to right, Saba Herrere, Jack Mocnik, Chris Breuninger,
Louie Belezzuoli and Harlan Baker.(rudeerude)
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First
Across the Rhine: The 291st Engineer Combat Battalion in France
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Mario
Estrada |
Ardennes
30th Inf Div 16-25 Dec 1944 |
526th
Armored Infantry
Battalion Association
Address: PO Box 456 Yolo, CA
95697 USA
Contact Name: Morrison, Sherrie
Phone: (530) 662-8160
Email: 526aib@sbcglobal.net
URL: http://www.526th.org
Founded: 1976
Members: 620
Membership dues: individual, $30
annual; exchange, $30 annual.
Staff: 2
Languages: English, French,
German.
Description:
Veterans who served in the 526th armored
infantry during WWII. Promotes
comradeship among the surviving members and their families and
friends. Informs members of social events and disseminates
historical information on 526th infantry
battalion. Conducts research programs;
maintains speakers' bureau.
Publications: The
Pekan (in English and French), quarterly. Newsletter. PRICE:
included in membership dues. CIRCULATION: 710. ALTERNATE FORMATS:
online. * Directory, quarterly. ALTERNATE FORMATS CD-ROM.
|
Warren
Watson |
US
CDL in Wales
Churchill
was impressed, as doubtlessly was his daughter Mary. The
machines had fought their way to within twenty yards of
his position on the top of the heather clad hill in the
midst of a dark December night in the Lakes of Cumberland
and not a single one had been seen. The cloak of
invisibility had hidden the tanks from the gunners and the
great British leader was sure that the army had a war
winning weapon. The generals and other cabinet members in
his entourage were likewise persuaded that the
demonstration they had just seen was the start of
something big, something that would help defeat the German
foe.
It was
thus that the British army committed itself to the project
known as Canal Defence Light (CDL). It was to involve the
expenditure of millions of pounds and the occupation of
some of the most technically minded and highly trained
tank crews in the war time army. Almost total paranoia was
achieved in the preservation of the secrecy of the device.
It would also play a role in the life of war time
Pembrokeshire.
An earlier demonstration in
front of United States Army officials had been equally
convincing and it was decided that First Lieutenant John
Savage should take details of the device with him to the
United States as a matter of urgency so that the
industrial might of Britain’s closest ally could build
them in their hundreds for the use of her own troops.
So
what was this secret device? How did it work? The idea was
glaringly simple. A powerful carbon arc lamp was housed in
the armoured turret of a tank. The light was so arranged
that it shone through a narrow slot in the front of the
turret (2 inches wide and 24 inches high), producing a
beam which fanned out at an angle of nineteen degrees and
reached forward for a distance of over 1000 yards with the
brilliance of thirteen million candle power. The slot
through which the light shone also had a mechanical
shutter which could be opened and closed rapidly to give a
very disorienting flicker effect, just like the strobe
lights in a discotheque. Experiments had shown that
unsuspecting troops, advancing in darkness towards a line
of CDL tanks, would be temporarily blinded by the painful
intensity of the lights once they were switched on. The
flickering of the beam induced sickness in some and a
general feeling of nakedness as the cloak of darkness was
swept away.
However, the ability to cut through the darkness of the
battlefield at night was only part of the theory behind
CDL.
We have all experienced it. Whether on the stage or behind
the wheel of a car at night, the dazzling effect of the
stage lights or the lights of oncoming vehicles makes all
else behind them invisible. It was this that was felt to
be the greatest advantage of CDL. During a night assault
attacking troops could advance behind the bright glare of
the lights and be safe from the aimed fire of the
defenders.
It was quickly realized
that if the Germans got to know about this secret device,
they would find ways of countering it, so absolute secrecy
was vital, at least until it could be used in some
decisive encounter. The degree of security surrounding the
CDL project was unprecedented. Ultimately this was to play
a role in its downfall.
The components for the
light projectors were built by different companies. One
company would build one of the mirrors from inside the
turret, another company the second mirror and yet other
engineering firms would build the electrical connectors or
the shutter apparatus. All the components would only come
together for final assembly in the secret confines of the
stables at Lowther Castle in the Lake District. In the
case of the American CDL tanks, final assembly took place
at the Rock Island Arsenal.
Following the demonstration
of the concept by the British in 1942, and Lieutenant
Savage’s high speed dash across the Atlantic, the United
States Army started to train six tank battalions in the
use of CDL as part of a project referred to as the Leaflet
Program. Members of each battalion were selected for the
project on the basis of their aptitude and, above all,
their discretion. The six battalions trained initially on
the Fort Knox military reservation in Kentucky, but due to
the visibility of the bright lights at night, more
advanced training took place at Camp Bouse in the middle
of the Arizona desert. Conditions were strict. When
granted night passes to the nearest towns, soldiers had to
remain in groups of up to seven “buddies” at all times
so that they were not tempted to talk about their training
to the outside world. All soldiers wore a special sleeve
flash designed to warn Military Police patrols that they
were operating the “buddy” system. They were even
obliged to “go to the John” in pairs!
With their training
finished, the units were ready, in March 1944, to move
overseas. And so they came to Pembrokeshire, a world away
from the warm, well wooded hills of Kentucky and even
further removed from the heat and dust of the Arizona
desert.
The first
battalions to arrive, in early May 1944, were camped in
pyramidal tents along the field edges to the north and
west of Trefach Manor and Capel-y-Fferm in Mynachlog-ddu
parish. These units were the 736th and 748th Medium Tank
Battalions (Special). The 526th Armoured Infantry
Battalion had moved into the camp at Rosebush in late
April, having guarded the secret “Gizmos” - as the
Americans called their CDL tanks - during their
transportation from Arizona to South Wales. Further west
the 701st and 738th Medium Tank Battalions (Special), set
up camp on the edge of Puncheston. Later, in August 1944
the 739th and 740th Tank Battalions took up residence
alongside the 526th at Rosebush.
The
historian of the 740th Tank Battalion said this of their
new camp site:
We
will never forget Rosebush. The camp was nothing more than
the windswept side of a rocky hill. It turned out that
when it wasn’t raining it was blowing, and that most of
the time both came together. When one or the other was
absent the camp was enshrouded in fog so thick you could
cut chunks out of it with a knife.
The
prevalent wet weather in the spring and summer of 1944
changed the camp sites into seas of mud. It proved
difficult to keep kit dry and both uniforms and tents soon
developed a rather greener hue than normal due to the all
pervasive dampness. Indeed the men of the 701st Battalion
at Puncheston were convinced that they had come to Wales
to undertake amphibious training!
It soon
became apparent that the Preselis were not an ideal
training area for CDL tanks. The ground was too boggy and
uneven in many places This prevented the crews from
practicing the large formation manoeuvres required by the
CDLs. It was envisaged that when attacking enemy positions
CDL tanks would advance in line abreast, about 50 yards
apart. The combined power of the intersecting beams of the
carbon arc lights would present a wall of light to the
enemy. Behind this, in the triangles of darkness between
beams, would be concealed other tanks and infantry in
armoured half-track vehicles. To increase the confusion
amongst the enemy, coloured filters could be placed over
the beam. On the command “Moon” a blue filter was
inserted over the light slot to give the illusion that the
light was further away and on the command “Sun” an
amber filter was fitted to make the light look closer than
reality.
The
importance of maintaining formation was vital for the
success of a CDL supported attack and all members of the
CDL crew had to be trained to a very high level of
proficiency. The tank chosen by the Americans for mounting
CDL was the Medium Tank M3, otherwise known as the
“General Grant”. This tank was, in reality, already
obsolete as a normal fighting vehicle, but the advantage
it had over others was that it mounted two guns. One 37 mm
gun in a turret on the top of the tank and a bigger 75 mm
gun in a sponson on the right hand side of the tank. The
“Gizmo” tanks had the top turret replaced by one
carrying the light projector, but this still left the
Grant with the ability to use its 75 mm gun. The British
had originally used Matilda and Churchill tanks to mount
CDL, but these had no armament apart from a machine gun,
the light replacing their main weapon in the turret. By
late 1943 the British too had adopted the Grant as the
platform for CDL.
The
American tanks which came to the Preseli Hills had a crew
of 5. A driver, gunner, loader, commander and light
operator. The light operator in the CDL tank was able to
adjust the direction and elevation of the beam of light
within certain limits, but the rapid up and down motion
caused by the tank crossing the boulder strewn moors of
the Preseli Hills made keeping the light on the objective
almost impossible. However, night after night the
battalions continued their training, mainly on Mynnydd
Cilciffeth, Preseli Tops, and on the open moors to the
west of Crymych and around Brynberian.
The
command “Scatter” was the signal for the light
operator to set the shutter to open and close rapidly at
up to two or three times per second. This gave the very
disconcerting flicker effect. When the British had tried
flicker on the moors above Penrith in 1943, it had given
rise to rumours of a secret “Death Ray”, The War
Office did little to refute these rumours! The whole of
the Preseli Mountains area was put under restrictions that
included night curfews. Anyone entering the area could
only do so with a special pass and although the bright
lights shining over the hills must have been conspicuous,
the sleeping population seems to have paid little heed to
them. Clearly “Death Rays” held no fear for the
inhabitants of Maenclochog, Mynachlog-ddu and Puncheston -
they were made of sterner stuff!
D-day, 6
June 1944, came as a surprise to many of the American
units in the Preselis. They had all hoped that they would
be involved, but in talking about it in later years some
veterans believed that their involvement in the CDL
programme probably saved their lives, for whilst they
would later take their turn in the fight on the continent,
they had missed the blood bath on Omaha beach.
Whether
it was a celebration or not isn’t clear, but many men of
the 526th Armoured Infantry Battalion spent much time at
the end of D-day sweeping the roads around Rosebush,
whilst their comrades listened to the latest news flashes
on the radio. Discipline was clearly harsh at times, as
the locals at both Puncheston and Rosebush remember men
being confined to a low tent in some distant part of the
camp area for breaches of good conduct.
Then, in
mid-August, things were on the move. Three of the CDL
battalions, the 701st, 736th and 748th Tank Battalions,
along with the 526th Armoured Infantry Battalion, moved
with all their equipment to the South Coast and from there
to the beaches in Normandy. Mr Ryan John of Rosebush, then
a young boy, recalled taking time off school to see the
Americans leave his home village. For his pains he
received lines when he went back to school the next day!
Private Bill Yates and Corporal Harry Muhly from the
medical detachment wrote to Mr John’s family at Tygrig
once they had arrived in France. The bivouacking
conditions in Normandy were very basic and they missed the
comforts of eggs, fresh meat and milk left behind in
Wales. They were to spend much time sitting and waiting
over the coming months whilst the fate of CDL was debated.
The
remaining units in the Preselis moved to Castlemartin
Range towards the end of August and there found the
training conditions for CDL much more suitable. However,
the days of CDL were numbered. The decision was made in
late September to convert all the battalions to other more
conventional roles. By the end of September 1944 all the
units had left Pembrokeshire on their way to the battle
front in Europe, where they all distinguished themselves
in combat.
Opinion
amongst the Americans on the merits of the device were
very mixed. Those who trained with it almost unanimously
expressed relief that they never actually went in to
combat behind the glare of the bright lights. However it
could be said that this was a real case of familiarity
breeding contempt. Ironically it was probably the secrecy
surrounding the whole program that eventually led to its
downfall. No commanders in the field knew anything of its
capabilities. Many of the Gizmos never made it back to the
United States, with a large number of them being destroyed
in a huge fire at the ordnance dump at Cherbourg. Others
were lost in a collision between a tanker and a Liberty
ship carrying them to South Wales and a few were lost in
action on the Rhine. Whatever happened to the rest is
unknown, but today not a single example of the American
Gizmo remains extant.
The
British involvement with Canal Defense Light was very
similar to the experience of the Americans, but the role
played by Pembrokeshire was greater. That, as they say, is
another story!
And so
Pembrokeshire’s role in a little known, but highly
secret war time affair was ended. Some of the
“tankers” involved in what they called The Candle
Light Caper, have returned periodically to the county to
revisit old haunts. Some married local women and others
fathered local children.
Over
fifty years on the young people of Crymych act out the
stories passed down to them by their elders. The memories
of gum, bright lights and images of Hollywood in the hills
of North Pembrokeshire have been added to the rich patina
of folk lore on this beautiful, rugged landscape.
The truth
of what was played out in the hills is little known. At
the reunion of the 736th Tank Battalion -The Kid Battalion
- in Paris Crossing, Indiana in the Summer of 1998, the
men who had kept the secret of the Gizmos in the Preselis
spoke avidly of their time in Pembrokeshire. They recalled
the friendliness of places like Narberth, Cardigan,
Fishguard and Crymych and spoke of the wild adventures of
youth on the eve of the most momentous time of their
lives.
This
article originally appeared in "Pembrokeshire
Life" , December 1999 - January 2000 |
The American
Gizmos
and
The
Candle Light Caper |
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It might have been the greatest
lost weapon of World War II. |
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Matilda with CDL - Canal Defense
Light |
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Secret
Strobelight Weapons of World War II
It might have been the greatest lost weapon of World
War II. Major-General JFC Fuller, the man credited with developing
modern armored warfare in the 1920s, called failure to use it
"the greatest blunder of the whole war." He even suggested
that British and American tank divisions could have overrun Germany
before the Russians — if it had been deployed, that is.
I’ve been looking at a
new range of strobing weapons, which use flickering lights to
subdue criminals and insurgents. But it turns out that the
disorienting power of such lights was discovered decades before.
The secret weapon Fuller was referring to was the
Canal Defense Light — a powerful searchlight mounted on a tank,
with a shutter allowing it to flicker six times a second. The
13-million candlepower searchlight — intended to illuminate the
battlefield and dazzle the enemy — was described in a fascinating
article on the CDL
Tanks of Lowther castle:
The angle of
the beam dispersion was 19 degrees which meant that if the CDL tanks
were placed 30 yards apart in line abreast, the first intersection
of light fell about 90 yards ahead and at 1000 yards the beam was
340 yards wide by 35 feet high. This formed triangles of darkness
between and in front of the CDL’s into which could be introduced
normal fighting tanks, flame-throwing Churchill Crocodiles and
infantry.
A further
refinement was the ability to flicker the light. On the order given
for ‘Scatter’, an armour plated shutter was electrically
oscillitated back and forward at about six times a second. When
first produced it was thought that this flicker effect (similar to
the modern disco strobe lights) would have a damaging effect on the
eyes of any observer and might cause temporary blindness.
It was the flickering aspect that
made the CDL special. The makers found that when it was employed, it
was impossible to locate the vehicle accurately. In one test, a CDL-equipped
vehicle was driven towards a 25-pound anti-tank gun. Even as it
closed from 2000 yards to 500 yards, the gunners (firing practice
rounds, one assumes) were unable to hit the tank. When asked to draw
the route taken by the CDL tank, the observers drew a straight line,
while in fact the tank had been crossing the range from side to
side.
Spraying the area with machine-gun
fire would not work either; the armored reflector of the searchlight
kept functioning, even after being hit repeatedly
Although the CDL did not have the
kind of disabling effect that the light-based
personnel immobilization device currently being developed by
Peak Beam for the US Army has, the type of disorientation seems
quite similar. If it had been used at much closer range then more
dramatic effects — dizziness, loss of balance and the infamous
nausea — might also have been observed. However, with its
mechanical shutter, the technology was much more primitive than the
strobing Xenon light developed by Peak Beam. It produces a
’squarer’ pulse and is significantly more effective than earlier
strobes.
Over three hundred CDLs were built
— using Matilda, Churchill and Grant tanks — and might have
played a major role after D-Day. But instead, they remained unused.
There seem to have been two reasons for this. On the one hand, the
power of the CDL was kept extremely secret. "Even the Generals
who should have used it did not know what the tank could do,"
complained its inventor, Marcel Mitzakis. And those that had heard
of it had trouble believing that a simple flickering light could
have any effect. Fuller was one of the few who appreciated what the
CDL might have achieved.
Another use of flickering lights in
World War II was the proposal by Jasper Maskelyne, a stage magician
employed by the British military. (A very colorful account of
Maskelyne’s role is given in the book The
War Magician - reading it you might think he won the war
single-handed.) The magician was given the task of making the Suez
Canal invisible to enemy bombers. When the idea of constructing an
illusion using mirrors was rejected as impractical, another plan was
formulated, as this site
on Maskelyne describes:
Maskelyne came
up with the unorthodox idea of constructing 21 ‘dazzle lights’
along the length of the Canal. These powerful searchlights,
containing 24 different spinning beams, projected a swirling,
cartwheeling confusion of light up to nine miles into the sky. A
barrage of light to confuse and blind the enemy bombers, which
Maskelyne dubbed Whirling Spray.
Fisher claims
that this radical defensive shield of light was highly effective and
was a major reason why the Suez Canal remained open for the duration
of the war.
However, in spite of the book’s claims, the dazzle
light were never actually built (although a prototype was once
tested). Is the power of strobe lights just an illusion based on
hype, like Maskelyne’s whirling spray? Or a significant new weapon
that will be ignored or shelved because people are either ignorant
of it or don’t believe…?
By David
Hambling
May 17, 2008
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Canal Defense Light |
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Information Forwarded by Erik Brun
Here is a write up on T-Force for the 6th
AG
http://www.insigne.org/T-Force-I.htm |
I have seen offered for sale the triangular patch, with
BATTLE AXE tab, of the 526th Armor Battalion, which was
identified as the attack unit of "T" Force. The
526th did, in fact, play such a role, but for
"T" Force of the 12th Army Group, not for the
6860th. |
Thursday May 9, 2013 |
From:
erik brun
To: "osssociety@yahoogroups.com"
<osssociety@yahoogroups.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 3:17 PM
Subject: [osssociety]
T Force, 526th AIB
I
have been looking into
the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion, for its operations
during the Bulge and noticed that their main role as the
12th Army Group's Tactical Reserve. There they operated
as muscle behind the its T-Force. To train and be ready
to secure the "crime scene" of German
factories, research facilities and other targets
identified to them.
&&&&&
From:
Jonathan Clemente
To: "osssociety@yahoogroups.com"
<osssociety@yahoogroups.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 3:33 PM
Subject: Re:
[osssociety] T Force, 526th AIB
OSS was very active in the T-Forces. The OSS
T-Force Section was attached to the ETO SI Section,
Technical Branch. These were all related efforts.
T-Forces were for rapid exploitation of captured enemy
material in newly liberated territory, followed by the
Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee (CIOS) and
British Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee (BIOS) in
the post hostilities phase. CIOS and BIOS fell under the
Technical Industrial Intelligence Committee (TIIC) After
VE-Day these were combined into FIAT (Field Information
Agency, Technical) OSS and then SSU were deeply involved
in targeting and site exploitation. Paperclip was a
separate but related effort. ALSOS mission was and
offshoot of T-Force and hence CIOS. ASUSZA (atomic
warfare intelligence ) and TOLEDO (biological chemical
warfare intelligence). I interviewed the members of the
ALSOS bacteriological warfare team and the only OSS
medical officer briefed on TOLEDO
Jon Clemente |
Friday May 10, 2013 |
Operations of T Force 12th Army Group in the Liberation and Intelligence Exploitation of Paris
The U.S. Army T-Forces- Documenting the Holocaust |
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 |
526th IPW report -1100 22 December 1944
This report contains information regarding German
soldiers dressed as American GI's infiltrating the
American lines.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOUND BY TCT
31 JANUARY 2014 |
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/2197-526-battleaxe-patch-us-armored-rare/
Side profile of army soldiers with military
tanks
Company A 526th Armored Infantry Battalion
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Posted
27
January 2007 - 06:35 PM
I have very little information on this unit.
Here are a few comments from a website.
Apparently they were the only Amored Infantry
Battalion to get overseas. Their campaigns were
Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Northern
France, Rhineland. Left the US 19 March 1944,
Arrived England 12 April 1944, Arrived France 24
August 1944, August 1945 in Wiesbaden, Germany
(Order of Battle US Army WW2 by Shelby Stanton)
526th Armored Infantry Battalion
From http://history.sandi...021101103106880
"The battalion was the only American
armored infantry battalion that trained with top
secret Canal Defense Lights, a British
armor-infantry tactic. They trained in one of
the camps of General George Patton's Desert
Training Center, and in Rosebush, Wales. The
lights were never used in battle. Before and
after the Battle of the Bulge the battalion was
part of "T" Force, a 12th U.S. Army
Group unit that would move into captured towns
in Europe and seize material of intelligence
value. They would take over factories, police
stations and other government buildings. At
times they would escort scientists and
intelligence agents to pre-selected targets.
"One company of this battalion served as an
honor guard for top Allied Generals. The
battalion also guarded Nazi military and
civilian officials in Weisbaden after the
war."
|
http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/nafziger/944ULAA.pdf |
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR PDF FILE |
Battleaxe
Forward: A
History of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion
http://books.google.fr/books?id=s9xNOAAACAAJ&hl=fr&sitesec=reviews
|
No content available: TCT |
http://harrellshistory.org:443/peresonal/vets/Danahy/links/ARMOR%20ASSOCIATIONS.htm |
526th
Armored Infantry Battalion Association
Mr. George Wendt
1420 Roosevelt Drive
Modesto, California 95350-4219
(The PEKAN)
(209) 524-4615 |
Men from the 526th Armored Infantry
Battalion rest a moment during a reconnaissance
mission in the Ruhr Pocket near Frankfurt, Germany,
Spring 1945. From left to right, Saba Herrere, Jack
Mocnik, Chris Breuninger, Louie Belezzuoli and
Harlan Baker.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/10505 |
Comments on page:
****
Either is was Frankfurt or the Ruhr pocket. The distance
between the two is 250 kilometers!
****
I think the photographer has the lineup incorrect. Harlan Baker
looks to be on the far left, not on the far right. Jack and Chris
look to be in the right lineup anyway.
****
I see what I think are at least 3 different weapons here. From
L to R: 1) An M1 carbine 2) A BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and
3) an M1 Garand. The rarest of these is the BAR, since I believe a
company only had a few guys armed with these.
****
|
http://www.scribd.com/doc/125190318/American-Independent-Infantry-Battalions-1941-to-45UXIC |
526th Armored Infantry Battalion: Raised 20
March 1943 |
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=29149 |
Camp Bouse
The 526th A. I. B. - Canal Defense Light
Project
— Desert Training Center - California –
Arizona Maneuver Area —
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By Bill Kirchner, March 14,
2010
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1. Camp Bouse
Marker
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Inscription. Camp
Bouse was established in Butler Valley 30
miles behind this monument in Sept. of 1943.
It was one of twelve such camps built in the
southwestern deserts to harden and train
United States troops for service on the
battlefields of World War II. The desert
training center was a simulated theater of
operations that included portions of
California and Arizona. The other camps were
Young, Coxcomb, Granite, Iron Mountain, Ibis
Clipper, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder and
Rice.
Camp Bouse was the home of the 9th tank
group which consisted of six tank
battalions, one armored infantry battalion,
an ordnance company and a station hospital.
The group trained in absolute secrecy mainly
at night. The light device consisted of a
high powered search light, mounted in an
armored housing on a tank. Its purpose was
to temporarily blind the enemy at night. The
role of the 526th Infantry was to defend the
operations of the CD tanks and attack if
security of the tanks was being threatened.
The 526th AIB was separated from the 9th
tank group in France, August 1944 and was
assigned to the 12th Army Group HDQ under
command of Gen. Omar Bradley, "C"
Company became a security unit for Gen.
Bradley in Luxembourg. The remainder of the
battalion was heavily involved during the
Battle of the Bulge, fighting the enemy in
the Belgian towns
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By Bill Kirchner, March 14,
2010
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2. Monument
Row, Bouse, Arizona
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This marker is
the 3rd from the left on monument row.
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of Trois-Ponts,
Stavelot, Malmedy, Hedomont, Bougnee, and
Geromont.
After the Bulge and until VE Day the 526th
became part of "T" Force. The
purpose of "T" Force missions were
to seize, safeguard and process enemy
documents, archives and material of
intelligence or counter-intelligence and
capture enemy agents, military officers and
key collaborators.
This monument is dedicated to all the
soldiers that served here and especially for
those who gave their lives in battle, ending
the Holocaust & defeating the armed
forces of Nazi Germany.
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Current Google
Earth Photo of the roads of the main camp area
http://www.azbackcountryadventures.com/bouse.htm |
A Ride Out
To Camp Bouse
A Top
Secret WWII Tank Training Base
In
Western Arizona
This
old WWII tank training base is located in the
desert of Butler Valley about 30 miles northeast
of Bouse in western Arizona.
The
most interesting features that remain of the old
camp are the stone markers left by the units that
were stationed there during the camp's active
period.
Other
features of the old camp that can be seen today
are a very large concrete reservoir, water well
placements, several concrete foundations,
sidewalks and rock-lined walkways.
Northwest
of the main camp site about a mile away is an
interesting grid of old roads.
Camp
Bouse was a top secret tank training base
established in August of 1943 by General George
Patton.
It's
purpose was to develop and test modified tanks
that carried "Canal Defence
Lights".
These
lights were 13 million candle power arc lamps that
were going to be used to light up battlefield
action at night.
The
light from these lamps passed through shutters
that opened and closed 6 times per second.
This
strobing effect was intended to disorient enemy
fighters. The concept was perfected, but very few,
if any, of the modified tanks actually saw any
battle.
There
were 5500 soldiers stationed at the base including
six tank battalions, one armored infantry
battalion, an ordinance company and a station
hospital.
The
base was abandoned in 1945.
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A Grant
tank with modified turret to accomodate
the CDL lighting system |
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CAMP
BOUSE
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/campbouse.html
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CAMP
BOUSE
NAME: Camp
Bouse
COUNTY: La Paz
ROADS: 2WD
LEGAL INFO: 1
CLIMATE: Hot Summer
COMMENTS: Top
Secret WWII Tank training base. Midway between
Swansea and Alamo Lake in the Butler valley north
of Bouse.
REMAINS: Foundations, roads footpaths,
Division insignia.
Established in 1942 by Gen George
Patton as one of the eleven bases of his
"Desert Training Center". 9000 GI's were
housed there. Training was conducted with the
secret "Canal Defense Light". Dismantled
and abandoned in 1945. A few foundations, Roads,
rock foot paths, rock decorations and the Division
insignia laid out in rock are all that remain.
Submitted by: Tim Manley
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http://apcrp.org/CAMP_BOUSE/Camp_Bouse_Text_072608.htm |
CAMP BOUSE, AZ
Camp
Bouse “Happy Valley” – August 1942 – April
24, 1944
“Bouse
World War II Desert Training Camp
Established in August of 1942
this camp was a top secret post for developing and
testing “Gizmo” – tanks
with modified turrets,
carrying a 13-million-candlepower searchlight that
passed through a narrow slot, using shutters that
opened and closed six times per second.
The tanks were designed to light
up the battlefields for nighttime frontal
assaults.
The flickering lights made it
difficult for the enemy to focus on the tanks.
Although successful, the tanks were never deployed
to the war.
The post was occupied by the 9th
Tank Group and the 526th Armored
Infantry Battalion.”
Today (March 6, 2008) little
remains that the creosote plants aren’t
reclaiming.
A patch work of graveled streets
laces the former camp with hand made stone
sidewalks leading to former tents for the
soldiers.
Some of the roads are still
drivable and the flag still flies high with honor
at this deserted desert outpost Northwest of
Wenden, AZ.
To locate Camp Bouse follow the
Alamo Lake Road
over
Cunningham Pass.
Within a mile of cresting the pass, look for the
Powerline Road
on the left –
as the name implies the road
follows the Powerline power wires.
Proceed NW for approximately
10.25 Miles. You will pass through one gate and
proceed only 2/10ths mile and watch for a road on
the right.
Turning to the North (right) you
are now at the main gate of the former top secret
facility. Follow this main road until you come to
the flag on your left about ¾ mile.
At this point you can walk the
desert and witness many remains of the former
Camp. Concrete sidewalks as well as footers and
building slabs are easily identified.
If you proceed to the Southeast approximately
¼ mile you will witness many stone walkways that
the soldiers made to identify their tent
homes.
There is a well stand painted Mann’s Well and
Mill and there is another spring slightly south on
this property.
Very interesting is a man made
circular depression approximately 150’
across.
We are told this was the boxing
ring for recreation for the soldiers that were
stationed there.
If you observe closely and
walk the perimeter of the circle you will see
eight equally spaced walkways of stone,
the soldiers used to get to the
center of this depression. We are told that each
pie shaped section had wooden bleachers
the soldiers could cheer on their
favorite boxer. All wood was disassembled and
burned before they decommissioned this camp.
Camp Bouse Stadium – Flag in
upper left of picture
In 1950,
the military again returned to Camp Bouse
and “
Happy Valley
” this time to complete the policing of stray
ordnance.
Thirty-one tons of scrap were
cleared and warning signs posted at strategic
locations alerting visitors not to molest stray
objects or to do any sub-surface digging
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http://bousechamber.org/explore.htm
WWII troops trained at Camp Bouse to use a
top-secret new night-fighting weapon
they dubbed, "The Gizmo."
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Camp Bouse
Sequestered between rugged mountain ranges in the remote Butler Valley
is the site of a top secret WWII training
base,
Camp Bouse. New night fighting tactics and an ultra-secret tank-mounted
weapon designed to "change the course of the
war" necessitated complete secrecy.
The men named their new weapon "The Gizmo."
General George S. Patton, Jr. led a reconnaissance party through the
desert Southwest in 1942 and reported not seeing
one inhabitant in four days.
This led to the establishment of the Desert Training Center (DTC) and
California-Arizona Maneuver Area (C-AMA): 31,500
square miles, or 35 million acres,
of desert in southeastern California, western Arizona and southern
Nevada.
Camp Bouse was so extremely top secret, it was not listed with the dozen
other training camps of the DTC. To this
day,
historian/authors often miss Camp Bouse when writing about the DTC.
Come visit! The first full weekend in February, the Bouse Chamber of
Commerce hosts an annual Camp Bouse
Dedication
at the tank memorial site on Highway 72 Saturday, and a Camp Bouse tour
& picnic Sunday. Bring your ATV or 4-wheel
drive and join the fun.
How to get there from Bouse:
East of Hwy 72, drive north east on Main Street to the stop sign. Turn
left on Rayder, which turns into Swansea Road. Go
2.2 miles
to the Bouse Y trail head (look for the BLM information sign on the
left) and continue on the Swansea Road (left
fork).
Camp Bouse is approximately 25 miles from Bouse, accessible by
four-wheel drive or ATV. Passenger vehicles might
make the trip, but there is deep sand along the
way.
a brief history of Camp
Bouse
September 1, 1939 - World War II breaks out in Europe
December 7, 1941 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
1942 - Poston Japanese Internment Camp opens along the Colorado River
1942 - General George S. Patton, Jr. led a reconnaissance party through
the desert Southwest in the autumn of 1942 and
reported
not seeing one inhabitant in four days. This led to the establishment of
the Desert Training Center (DTC) and
California-Arizona Maneuver Area (C-AMA): 31,500
square miles,
or 35 million acres, of desert in southeastern California, western
Arizona and southern Nevada.
1943 - Fighting ends in North Africa
1943 - Desert Training Center annexes an additional 11,000 square miles.
August, 1943 - Troops begin arriving in Bouse, Arizona. One trooper
reported, "It was so hot, you could fry an
egg in your hand."
Paranoia and deep secrecy were the orders in Bouse. Camp Bouse was so
top-secret it was not listed
among the training camps of the Desert Training Center's (DTC)
California-Arizona Maneuver Area (C-AMA). Troop
movement was extremely restricted --
once in Camp Bouse, there was no chance of transferring out. Gold miners
working active claims in the mountains around Camp
Bouse were encouraged to evacuate --
usually a little over-their-heads target practice encouraged their
departure. Even all the dogs in Bouse, 25 miles
away, were rounded up and relocated.
To this day, researchers often miss Camp Bouse *.
Our Bouse troopers were deployed in Europe, but The Gizmo never got a
chance to prove its worth in battle --
the powerful light was used for night advances, stream crossing
and to identify and seek out the enemy. The tanks
were later exchanged for a different model.
One report said the Gizmo-fitted tanks sank in the mud in France
and were left to rot.
For more on Camp Bouse, read Where Heroes Trained, written by the troops
who were stationed here.
1944 1-Apr
Camp Bouse declared
surplus
1944 30-Apr
Desert Training
Center land returned to
Department of
Interior and private landowners
1945 8-May
Germany surrendered
1945 6-Aug
United States bombed
Hiroshima
1945 9-Aug
United States bombed
Nagasaki
1945 14-Aug
Japan surrendered
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http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/62070-battle-of-the-bulge/page-2 |
Here
one of my favorite item, he s acts of a bag model
(swit case) with a name and a registration number
that comes from the Ardennes
with
a superb history
Captain
Charles A Mitchell captain 526th armored
Here
is a small page of history
On
December 17, 1944, "A" Company 526th
Armored Infantry Battalion under Captain Charles
A. Mitchell, were ordered into combat in the town
of Stavelot, Belgium.
It
was near the Ambleve River that German soldiers
who were dressed in the American Military Police
uniforms of soldiers they had killed and left
their bodies stacked
on
top of one another alongside the road directed us
into Stavelot. We were in armored vehicles called
half-tracks with 50 caliber machine guns mounted
on the center of them.
We
had just crossed the bridge over the Ambleve
River, when Captain Mitchell was apprised that
German soldiers were in the area. Captain Mitchell
gave orders
to
dismount and dig in, but time did not permit us to
dig a foxhole. All hell broke loose at that time,
flares went up, small arms fire was everywhere and
our squad was scattered all about.
There
were four personnel from our squad and one
displaced Belgian person. The Belgian could speak
German and the area was familiar to him. I asked
him to show us
across
an open field so we could get back across the
river. The Germans had set up an ambush on this
side of the river. After we were across, we had to
go up a grade through some timber.
It
was here that I saw some German soldiers each
taking two 5-gallon cans of fuel from a fuel dump.
I informed Captain Mitchell of this activity and
he immediately ordered me
to
burn the fuel dump. I was able to use my bayonet
to quietly open a five gallon can which I splashed
onto the ground and someone had shot holes into
other fuel cans
which
had also leaked on the ground. I was pouring fuel
as I backed away and when I lit the fuel it was
only a matter of seconds that we had a huge fire.
I
credit the Belgian friend for saving my life
because of his knowledge of the terrain. I know
that others have been praised for burning the fuel
dump and that is okay,
but
Captain Mitchell and I know that the 526th Armored
Infantry destroyed that fuel dump, slowing the
Germans to a stop.
I
was just a young kid, scared to death, but our
trust in God is what defeated the Germans.
bag
captain charles a mitchell
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Camp Bouse Images
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=%22camp+bouse%22+images&qpvt=%22camp+bouse%22+images&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=4BB2E8126B77203E9A53B4F0EB6C528241641062&selectedIndex=5
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http://www.denix.osd.mil/perchloratesummaries/upload/AZ_Camp-Bouse.pdf |
Facility
and Location
Camp Bouse was
constructed as part of the Desert Training Center,
later known as the
California-Arizona
Maneuver Area (C-AMA). The C-AMA provided an area
for large scale
infantry and
armor maneuvers. The former Camp Bouse Maneuver
Area site is located
northeast of
the town of Bouse in La Paz and Yavapai Counties,
Arizona. The actual tent camp
was centrally
located in the maneuver area about 15 to 20 miles
from the town. The 352,300
acre training
site lies in a northeast direction about 35 miles
up Butler Valley and extends from
the western
side of the Harcuvar Mountains on the east to the
Bouse Hills and foothills of the
Buckskin
Mountains along the west boundary. The site is
remote desert north of Vicksburg and
Aguila,
Arizona. Camp Bouse and the C-AMA were declared
surplus February 1945.
Seven Army
tank battalions are known to have trained at Camp
Bouse, and numerous
munitions
usage areas (e.g., small arms, machine gun, tank,
grenade, mortar firing ranges)
were
established within the site boundary. Other army
improvements included dirt roads and a
large tent
city. Dedudding activities are known to have
occurred in certain sectors of the camp
during the
late 1940s and early 1950s, but munitions items
continue to be discovered on the
site.
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World War II
Desert Training Center
California-Arizona Maneuver Area
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needles/patton.html
Map
showing general overview of various camps
Detailed
area map of the training center camps |
World War II
Desert Training Center, California-Arizona
Maneuver Area
In the earliest days of World
War II, when this Nation was thrust into the
greatest global conflict the world has ever
seen,
the War Department realized
the necessity for troops well trained under harsh
conditions to withstand the rigors of battle
over rough terrain and in
inhospitable climates.
Thus, the Desert Training
Center, California-Arizona Maneuver Area (DTC-CAMA)
was created in 1942.
This simulated theater of
operation was the largest military training ground
in the history of military maneuvers.
These young troops would
carry that early training on to victory in the
sands of North Africa, the mud and mire
to Europe, the ice and
snow of Alaska, and even into the Pacific jungles
A site near Shavers Summit
(now known as Chiriaco Summit) between Indio and
Desert Center, was selected
as the headquarters of the
Desert Training Center (DTC). This site, called
Camp Young, was the world's largest Army post.
Map
showing general overview of various camps
Detailed
area map of the training center camps
Major General George S.
Patton Jr. came to Camp Young as the first
Commanding General of the Desert Training
Center.
His first orders were to
select other areas within the desert that would be
suitable for the large-scale maneuvers necessary
to prepare American soldiers for combat against
the German Afrika Korps in the North African
desert. Ten other camps were established in an
area stretching from Boulder City, Nevada to the
Mexican border, and from Phoenix, Arizona to
Pomona, California.
After General Patton was sent
to North Africa, the name of the training center
was changed to the California-Arizona Maneuver
Area (CAMA).
Twenty separate divisions
consisting of more than one million men trained
here.
When the direction of the war
shifted to the Allies' favor in 1944, the camps,
plagued by shortage of supplies and
equipment,
were closed, thus ending the
largest simulated theater of operations in the
history of military maneuvers.
Although most of the
structures were removed, much of the
infrastructure, including rock-lined streets,
staging areas,
flag circles, and tent areas
remain
THE CAMPS TODAY
Now the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), charged with managing the public
lands on which the camps lie,
is engaged in an effort to
protect and interpret them.
Camp Iron Mountain,
designated as an Area of Critical Environmental
Concern in 1980, is perhaps the best known
and certainly the best
preserved of all the camps. The area has been
fenced to provide protection from vehicular
traffic.
Despite the ravages of
time, a contour map, many rock mosaics, two
alters, and numerous rock alignments along roads
and walkways have survived.
Do´s and Don´ts - To
protect these resources, vehicle use within all
Camps, except Camp Pilot Knob will be
limited
to designated routes of
travel. Vehicle use in Camp Pilot Knob
will be limited to Sidewinder Road.
LOOKING TOWARD
THE FUTURE
The BLM has made a dedicated
effort in preserving the remaining features at
these historically significant sites
through protection and
interpretation for the benefit of future
generations. Much more was here, but
thoughtless
visitors have stolen the
remains which were easy to carry. When you visit
these or other historic sites in the desert,
please leave all historic
objects as you found them, so they can be enjoyed
by those who follow you. These sites
and artifacts are protected
by Federal and State law, with substantial
penalties for violators.
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WWII in color amd
B&W photos
http://www.ww2incolor.com/ |
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