Signal air warning battalion consolidated history of the
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| PART IV
SPECIAL SERVICE: Appreciation of Special Services soared to unprecedented eminence this month. The unusual upswing was due primarily to the restriction placed upon the organization by alert movement orders. But aside from this fact, the selection of moving pictures shown was remarkably superior. "Song of Bernadette" proved to be a significant event in this catalog of movies. This was true not only because it was an extraordinary type. But also for the profound resurgence of long dormant religious emotions which it caused to be experienced. The audience evidenced a marked reaction. The true and beautiful story had the effect of lifting one completely out of the present turmoil of War Living into a plane of quiet rest. The deep and lasting impression conveyed by the power of simple faith and love of God produced a spiritual benefit for all fortunate enough to be present. The entertainment of a USO show on Sunday, 14 May 1944, was very well received by the Men of this Command. A few books, movies, occasional USO show, a single loanable phonograph and the limited facilities with which the Special Service Officer. Lt. Albert J. Wunsch, is doing an admirable job. PART V PHYSICAL RECREATION Up until 30 May 1944, when daily physical training periods were instituted under the direction of Lt. Sidney Turenshine, physical exercise was practically non existent because of the great concentration of men in a limited space preparing for Rapid Movement. Bicycling is a recent innovation and combines much needed exercise with an opportunity to see more of the beautiful countryside. PART VI
ADDENDA Major General Quesada, Colonels Garland, McCauley, Richards, McNitt and Nelson inspected Forward Direction Post No. 2 of Company "B" on 9 May 1944. The inspection was of a technical nature and consequently only the technical site was viewed. At the time, all equipment was in operation and the Controller was tracing an actual flight of planes on the Filter Board. General Quesada expressed his pleasure and satisfaction with the preparedness and efficiency of the outfit. PART VII APPENDIX
Evidently this outfit is on the pedestal of high estimation in the eyes of authorities to be so singularly honored by the assignment of Captain Edwin C. Andress, LOM, MBE, to its technical Officer personnel. In addition to the "Legion of Merit" award, He is one of the few American Officers to be invested as a member of the British Empire. The 555 can, now throw out its chest and boast of another decorated person, twice Decorated Officer on the staff. Assuming him to be the unapproachable, Intellectual type, bulky Radar manuals under one arm, head in the clouds of cogitation pondering some theory akin to Einstein's Relativity, this reporter heaved a sigh of relief when He was pointed out. "Captin Andress? There He is." There He was standing on a pile of lumber talking with two Filter Officers. Other illusions vanished as introduction to this congenial. modest individual was concluded, "Bullshooting" is one of his commendable traits. a definite redemption from the awesome mantle of dignity which has been thrown about him. This is one thing in common placed the interviewer at ease, and the conversation opened. Captain Andress arrived in the United Kingdom two and a half years ago, and, as a member of the Electronics Training Group on British Radar. He was assigned as Technical Officer of an Experimental Station on the Southern Coast of England in charge of crew of sixteen Royal Air Force Men. To quote his own words: "The primary intension was to improve the general Radar information over the Pas de Calais area. While engaged in this work, We realized that the picture We were getting was so good in comparison to the filtered picture which was being produced by dozens of stations that We felt We could control Day Fighter aircraft to an advantage. And it took just eight months to convince people that We could." The variable elevation beam, which Captain Andress designed, provides a single source of information and GAP free coverage. The method of operation is simplicity itself. The confusion resulting from needless duplication of tracks and an abundance of other complications is eliminated. The Air Commodore was finally convinced and equipment was authorized. While on detached service with the Eighth Fighter Command, Captain Andress induced American authorities to accept the invocation. Captain Andress and his RAF Crew of the Experimental Station formed the nucleus for training other personnel in its operation. At this point, another Captain joined in the interview and technical terms flew right and left. Real stuff. Too rapid to take notes. Confused and abashed by the un grasped whirl of shop talk, this reporter withdrew back again into the shell of blissful ignorance. MAJOR ALBERT J. GILARDI Major Albert J. Gilardi, 0350271, Sig C., is reld fr Asgmt W/Hq IX Fighter Comd WP 555th Sig AW Bn......... (Par 3 SO 63 Hq IX Ftr Comd dtd 16 May 1944) This customary formal announcement heralded Major Gilardi's entrance into the good ol' 555. Replacing the likeable. bombastic, gun totin' Major William V. Rettger, this mite of a man assumed the office of Executive Officer. His quiet, unobtrusive manner, unhurried air of assurance, and his valet firmness of command lend height and dignity to his stature and inspire the confidence that the destiny of the Battalion is in good, efficient hands. Major Gilardi is an old hand at Radar and his assignment to this outstanding Aircraft Warning Unit is no coincidence but a part of a well design ed plan to spearhead the invasion. Affiliated with the Army's finest Aircraft Warning Company of two Radar sets. the Major engaged in the first maneuvers in the history of Radar at Cape Cod, Mass. in September 1940. Recognized as one of the very few Radar experts at the time. The War Department sent him on a mission to Iceland in 1941. The purpose of the assignment was to lay out a complete Aircraft Warning System for the island. The first few months were spent in reconnaissance and mapping. After concluding the preliminaries, Major Gilardi joined in the work of developing the selected sites. From a Radar standpoint, Iceland was an extremely difficult place for operations. Road limitations rendered the transportation of equipment too laborious a process; consequently, in many cases, it was necessary to install fixed Radar stations on remote, isolated beachheads. The installing of equipment and supplying of the personnel in the face of poor, or no, landing facilities as well as the extremely adverse weather conditions which normally prevail proved to be a job of the first magnitude. Platoons were isolated for months at a time by the heavy blizzards. The Operation of the normal type of American Radar Equipment was sometimes handicapped by the very high wind velocity experienced during the winter season. In one particular storm, the wind velocity approached 150 miles per hour. Damage was severe during such periods. Because of the lack of replacement parts, it required great ingenuity on the part of the Station Commanders to put Radars back into operation again. Major Gilardi served as Company Commander and Battalion Radar Technical Officer during his last year in Iceland. In May 1943, he left Iceland for Orlando, Florida, and the AAFSAT to instruct in Radar Tactics in the Aircraft Warning Division. In June 1943, the Major assumed Command of an Aircraft Warning Squadron and remained in that position until January 1944. At that time, Overseas Orders brought him to England to serve as Radar Officer on the staff of the Ninth Tactical Air Command from the latter part of January 1944 until early May 1944. His assignment to the 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion occured on 16 May 1944. In recognition of his splendid services in the pioneering field of Radar as well as for the establishment of a Radar System in Iceland, Major Gilardi was awarded the "Legion of Merit" (section 3, General Order 21, War Department, dated 6 May 1943). For the Commanding Officer: /s/ Stanley M. Cowan STANLEY M. COWAN 1st Lt. Sig. C. Adjutant
314.T 1st Ind. BL 13 HEADQUARTERS 70TH FIGHTER WING, APO 595, US Army, 16 June 1944. TO: Commanding General, IX Tactical Air Command, APO 595, U.S.Army Forwarded for your information. For the Commanding Officer: /s/ Leonard E. Lockert LEONARD E. LOCKERT, Captain, Air Corps Adjutant
HEADQUARTERS 555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION APO 595 US ARMY 1 July 1944 SUBJECT: UNIT HISTORY TO : Commanding General, Ninth Tacticl Air Command APO 595, US Army Transmitted herewith Unit Historical Report for the period 1 June 1944 through 30 June 1944. PART I STATISTICS A. Organization (e.g., changes effected by transfers of the unit or by new T/O's. NEGATIVE. B. Strength 2400, 30 June 1944: Officers Warrant Officers Enlisted Men 70 4 929
C. Date of arrival and departure from each Station occupied in the ETO; Station being named: Ground Observers Platoon of Company "A" under the Command of 2nd Lt. James R. Thompson moved from AAF Station 347 to an undisclosed point, 5 June 1944. Ground Observers Platoon of Company "C" under the Command of 2nd Lt. Joseph G. Raibley, Jr., moved from AAF Station 347 to an undisclosed point, 5 June 1944. Forward Direction Post of Company "B" under the Command of 1st Lt. Alton B. Sisson moved from AAF Station 347 to an undisclosed point, 11 June 1944. Company "B" Headquarters under the Command of Capt. Archie B. Miller moved from AAF Station 347 to an undisclosed point, 12 June 1944. Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company "C" Headquarters under the Command of Capt. William P. Quantz moved from AAF Station 347 to an undisclosed point, 27 June 1944. D. Losses in action (killed, wounded, missing, or POW) by name, with identification of place (or mission), circumstances and date. 2nd Lt. James G. Raibley, Jr., ASN 01640842, Pvt. Roy (NMI) McClure, ASN 38468605, PFC Donnely J. Edwards, ASN 31312373, and PFC James W. Toffton, ASN 34669980, from a reconnaissance mission near the front line in the vicinity of St. Germain de Pert on 17 June 1944 and have been reported missing in action. Sgt. Richard A. Togni, ASN 32471517, Company "A", was wounded in the abdomen by shrapnel while in a foxhole during action near St. Laurent on 9 June 1944. He has been removed to a hospital in England for treatment.
PART II
ADMINISTRATIVE PHASE A. CHANGE OF COMMANDING OFFICER After seven and a half months in Command of this Battalion, Lt. Col. Roy T. Richards, well liked veteran of World War I, was relieved of Command and was assigned to Headquarters, IX Tactical Air Command, per paragraph 8, Special Order 55, Headquarters, IX Tactical Air Command, dated 13 June 1944. His future reassignment will be a post of importance in the United States. Major Albert J. Gilardi, Executive Officer, assumed Command of the Battalion per General Order No. 4, Headquarters, 555 Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, dated 13 June 1944. B. ARRIVAL OF CHAPLAIN It looks like the Chaplain Corps have not yet given up hope of reforming this outfit. A second try is announced in the person of 1st Lt. John R. Himes, Chaplain, who comes to the 555 per pargraph 8, Special Order 58, Headquarters, IX Tactical Air Command, dated 16 June 1944. Chaplain Himes had been a member of the 555 sometime prior to its reorganization. PART III TECHNICAL PHASE Further improvement in operational equipment was accomplished on 1 June 1944 by the exchange of four British Light Radar units for the two American SCR 582 "Water Tower" Radar units. Personnel of Company "C" who had been assigned to the British units were formed into two Platoons to operate the new equipment. PART IV SPECIAL SERVICES Two USO stage shows and several moving pictures evidenced the appreciated efforts of Special Service for the month of June. For the time being, the War obviates the pssibility of a planned program of entertainment. Sporadic entertainment will be triply appreciated as a result. PART V PHYSICAL RECREATION Calisthenics continued throughout June. Hikes and field problems completed the conditioning process. PART VI ADDENDA
Performing a public function with a vigor and enthusiasm as becomes Americans and Officers of the United States Army, Major Thomas A. Munns, Medical Corps, and 2nd Lt. James H. Manns, Signal Corps served as Judges in the "Salute to the Soldier" held at Fordingbridge in Hants, England, on 8 June 1944. The two specialties in this assignment were the afternoon Baby Contest (too young) and the evening Costume Party (um m m not so bad). Sounds insignificant, yet these little things provide a pleasant diversion from the serious business of War. The situation in the case of these two Officers doubtless had its satisfying aspect apart from its contribution to the improvement of Anglo American relations, if that, indeed, was the original intention of the obliging Judges.
1730 Hrs Company "A" echlon, 1 Officer, 42 Enlisted Men. 1830 Hrs Forward Direction Post Group, Company "A" Ground Control Interception, 4 Officers, 46 Enlisted Men. 8 June 1930 Hrs Company "A" Echlon, Capt. Pond and F/Sgt Hattabaugh. 9 June 0600 Hrs Company "A", Ground Observer Posts, 1 Officer, 30 enlisted Men. 1000 Hrs) Forward Direction Post, including one light Warning Unit, 7 Officers. 68 Enlisted Enlisted Men. 1500 Hrs) "A" Echoln. 10 Enlisted Men. 10 June Company "A" echlon, 1 Officer, 5 Enlisted Men. 12 June 1400 Hrs Company "C" Microwave Early Warning Radar, 13 Officers, 85 Enlisted Men. 14 June 1500 Hrs Company "B" Forward Direction Post, Ground Control Interception, 7 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 58 Enlisted Men. 16 June Company "C", 5 Ground Observer Post, 1 Officer, 30 Enlisted Men. 0200 Hrs "B" echlon Maru (Company "B"Headquarters). 1300 Hrs Company "B" Forward Direction Post, 2 Officers, 60 Enlisted Men. 1800 Hrs Headquarters Company Ground Control Interception unit, 71 Enlisted Men. The 555 Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion has the honor of being the only one of the two Aircraft Warning Organizations in France that is at present operating. It may be noted here that the Company "A" Ground Observer Group are credited with supplying information leading to the destruction of 3 1/2 German aircraft. PART VII APPENDIX
The following information is furnished by Major Albert J. Gilardi, Commanding Officer of the 555 Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, a vivid, invaluable contribution to the history of this organization. Written during the course of action on D Day and subsequently, these hastily jotted notes speak eloquently of this occasion of historical magnitude. Major Gilardi has the distinction of being the first man of the 70th fighter Wing to set foot on shore on D Plus One. Friday 2 June Left Bn Hq 1600 hrs. By motor to Middle Wallop. Arrived 1700 hrs. Left Middle Wallop by C 47. Arrived Plymouth 2030 hrs. Embarked on U.S.S. Bayfield at 2130. Saturday 3 June On ship all day. Moved out to center of Plymouth Harbor. Sunday 4 June All day in harbor. Monday 5 June 0945 hrs. Moving out of harbor. No enemy interference. Tuesday 6 June Dropped anchor near target area at about 0200 hrs. Terrific Aerial bombardment. Two Divisions of Paratroops lamded on Cherbourg Peninsula beginning 0120 Hrs. Except for AA no other enemy opposition H Hour 0630 with little opposition. Landing proceeded by heavy Aerial and Naval bombardment. At 0800 report over ship intercom said landings proceeding better than planned. First radio reports came about 0800 Hrs. concerning invasion. One Destroyer lost U.S.S. Cory. 0830, first casualties came alongside from shore. Also a boatload of survivors from Cory. 0840, returned to mess for coffee. It seemed so unrealistic that young fellows out there were fighting and dying while we in the wardroom everything is quiet except for the rumble of guns and the radio bleating out sweet soothing Jazz from BBC. Everyone seems relaxed and far removed from the conflict. War or no War, got some sleep this afternoon for several hours. Opposition bad in afternoon on both beaches. Jerry set up 88's and shelling landing crafts. Casualties heavier. Sat on deck of ship and watched Operations. Like a ringside seat at a ball game. No ticket of admission here except one pawns his life for privilege of watching. Warships continue heavy shelling of shore defensive positions. Very beautiful to watch, especially at night when one can watch the trajectory of the white hot 16 shells, muzzle blast and explosion of shell. Wednesday 7 June Went ashore at 1050 Hrs. Landing in center 7 June beach near St. Laurent sur Mer. Helluva rough ride ashore. Landing very dangerous due to Jerry beach obstructions, mines, rough sea and overlooking the beach. Missed a mortar or 88 shell by about 50 yards. Apparently landings on the previous day were brutal as there were bodies all over beach. Quite a site to one not previously initiated in the art of War. Spent all afternoon hugging foxholes and found a bivouac area. Snipers all around the place. Air raid that night. Thursday 8 June Found a few of My troops and set two LW Platoons into Operation reporting to AAA people. Set up a little camp in a farm pasture in St. Laurent. Hard to find rest of troops. Also located first portion of 70 Wing Hq Staff of the Wing. Severe fighting in this beach area. Casualties apparently were heavy due to German Defensive systems. Christ: Dead people all over. Getting to a point where one takes what he needs off dead guys due to equipment lost during landing. Last night slept on a bloody blanket from dead soldier. Snipers bad all around this area. The bastards are all over and try to find them! Got a good foxhole with straw and 2 blankets. Hear that other beachheads are going good; This one slow. Camped with 2 Officers and 43 Enlisted Men of "A" company, which I found this afternoon Friday 9 June Still sitting at St. Laurent. Air Raid during early hours of morning. Heavy flak. Two ships shot down. One man Sgt Togni wound ed by AA shell fragment, First Casualty. Found G.O. Platoon of Lt. Thompsom today and then proceeded to Cricqueville which by now has been cleared. The 70th Wing also moved there today. Found Capt. Pond today but his vehicles still not off the boat. Located Lt. Armstrong and balance of "A" Company. Men at a camp at Vierville sur Mer. FDP equipment still not off the boat due to priority of unloading Infantry troops. Lt. Barron moved to Original Tactical location at St. Pierre Du Mont. Horton staying at St. Laurent to report to AAA Brigade. Nothing more off boat. Stayed at St. Laurent with a relatively quiet night. Saturday 10 June "A" FDP getting off the boat. Two detachments of personnel moved to FDP site near Cricqueville. Three units of "A" G.O. moved out to field location W/ one NCS at Cricqueville Capt. Pond setting up Hq FDP site. Technical components of FDP still coming off boat. Sunday 11 June By 1130 Hrs. today all of "A" FDP and "A" Echelon had been located. Lt. Parry beginning to set up station for operation. NOTE: Company "A" set up Radar on 11 June and started reporting to 70th Fighter Wing on 12 June. D Day Notes Ashore on D Day and in Command of "A" Echelon which comprised the residue of the Forward Direction Post, four Officers and forty six Enlisted Men, Lt. Thomas R. Armstrong relates this running account of action in which his group was engaged. "We pulled into harbor of D Day. The fifty of Us were in one LCT and tried to land. While attempting to land, the Germans opened fire with 88's on the boats in the harbor. A charge LST behind our craft was sunk; in front lay a crippled assault craft with blazing barrage balloon. Two and a half anxious hours passed before a landing was effected because of the change in tide. We got off the LCT in armpit deep water about 35 yards from Omaha Beach". "Scrambling for shore and repeatedly hitting the sand for protection, We were covered with sand from head to foot. Confusion was everywhere. Nobody could direct us where to go. German Artillary had the range. An Air Raid was expected that night. An Air Corps Officer suggested that we take to the hills. Bunched up on the beach, our boys made an easy target". "Well, We didn't take to the hills as had been suggested. It was a bad suggestion at any rate since the hills had not been de mined. We would have blown to bits. Instead, Vierville was headed for. Better to be there than on the beach. The half mile long bech road was one long drag as German snipers forced us to cover among the dead". "On the way, we inquired at the 29th Division Command Post for directions. Approaching Vierville, We quickly learned that the Naval Guns had zeroed the town reducing it to shambles. The Germans evidently decided to destroy their ammunition dump there for there was a tremendous explosion and a sheet of flame. The town was a blazing furnace. Marching in behind a group of Engineers, the place was found untenable. We asked directions of Military Police along the line and finally wound up at personnel transit area No. 2 above Vierville. Here We parked for the night". "In this area tanks had the priorty and their constant rumble filled the night. We climbed into ditches partly occupied by dead GI and German soldiers. Catnapping in wet clothes, no blankets, covered with sand and a helluva cold night was certainly a combination for misery. Throughout the night sniper fire and sniper hunters of the 29th Division kept us on the alert and the blasts of the AA guns in the area during the Air Raid almost blew us out of our ditches. The night finally staggered through to dawn". "Early the next morning "D" rations and coffee were the prelude to further sniper hunting. Our boys captured three Germans asleep in a tree. The Rangers "got" one hidden in an inaccessible chimney". "There were plenty of trigger happy Engineers who blasted away at everything that moved. A weary and taut nerved Ranger Captain begged help to stop the reckless idiots who were slaughtering his men who were sniper hunting in the nearby woods. In no gentle terms We ordered them to cease firing or the first to fire would meet a damn speedy death. And no fooling. Only a small percentage of this group of Rangers emerged alive as a result of the incident". "Stripping to our underware, we spread our clothes out in the sun to dry. Cleaning our weapons while basking in the sunshine proved quite a luxury". "Time was spent in trying to locate other parts of the outfit. A check was made of the records at the Beach master's office. Lt. Cain of our outfit saw Lt’s. Hill and Gibson whose units had taken an opposite direction upon landing. Through them, Major Galardi and Captain Pond were contacted. It was thought advisable to keep our respective positions to avoid confusion. After a day or more, our group moved to Cricqueville where a Headquarters was shortly established".
/s/Stanley M. Cowan STANLEY M. COWAN 1st Lt. Signal Corps Adjutant
HEADQUARTERS 555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION APO 595 US ARMY 1 August 1944 SUBJECT: Unit History TO : Commanding General, Ninth Tactical Air Command, APO 595, US Army Transmitted herewith Unit Historical Report for period 1 July 1944 through 31 July 1944. PART I
STATISTICS A. Organization (e.g., changes effected by transfers of the Unit or by new T/O's). NEGATIVE. B. Strength 2400, 31 July 1944. Officers Warrant Officers Enlisted Men 69 4 935
C. Date of arrival and departure from each station occupied in the ETO; station being named. Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company "C" Headquarters consisting of 18 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer and 102 Enlisted Men (index No. 128B) arrived in Cricqueville, France, 1 and 2 July 1944. The residue of the Battalion, Echelon "D", consisting of 1 Officer, 1 Warrant Officer and 66 Enlisted Men (index 2355 B) moved from AAF Station 347, England, to undisclosed point of embarkation and arrived in Cricquevill e, France, 16 July 1944. D. Losses in action (killed, wounded, missing and POW) by name , with identification of place (or mission), circumstances and date. Pfc Donnelly J. Edwards, ASN 31312373, Company "A", Ground Observers, reporting missing in action since 17 June 1944, was found killed by 88 shellfire. The Graves Registration form received indicated the place of death as the St. Lo area, date unknown. His body was interned in the La Cambe cemetary at 0850 hours, 8 July 1944. Pfc John F. Ledbetter, ASN 34602063, Company "A", Ground Observers, was wounded in the chest and left arm while taking cover in a foxhole during an Air Raid on 28 July 1944 at Coubains, France. The wound in his arm was caused by a bullet while the chest wound was probably the result of flak. E. Awards to and decorations of members of the immediate Unit involved. NEGATIVE. PART II
ADMINISTRATIVE PHASE A. PROMOTION OF CHAPLAIN Shortly after the Unit's arrival in France, 1st Lt. (Chaplian) John R. Himes received promotion to the rank of Captain per paragraph 1, Special Order 188, Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, dated 1 July 1944. B. CRYPTOGRAPHIC OFFICER APPOINTED On 19 July 1944, CWO George D. Foley assumed the duties of Battalion Cryptographic Officer vice 1st Lt.Stanley M. Cowan. C. NEW TABLE OF ORGATION A new table of organization was requested to provide for 4 Ground Observer Platoons, one of which would be utilized for operation during the rest period of a withdrawn Platoon. Personnel was also requested to operate 1 Ground Control Interception Unit, 1 Forward Direction Post in Company "A" and 1 Forward Direction Post in Company "B", 1 Microwave Early Warning Radar in Company "C", 6 SCR 584 Platoons in Company "D", 1 SCR 582 and 1 SCR 602 T/8 each in Company "A" and "B". The request for reorganization was approved by the Signal Officer of the 70th Fighter Wing. Directory: Documents Documents -> Concept stage Documents -> Concept stage Documents -> The great global switch-off Documents -> Nonprofit grant application Documents -> The Truth about the Rwandan Genocide Documents -> Annual InStructional unit plan Documents -> Chaos equipment included Download 1.81 Mb. Share with your friends:
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