Signal air warning battalion consolidated history of the

A. The following is a schedule of all locations of units as of 1 February 1945:

(1) FDP

1 Feb 1945 to 28 Feb 1945 VK 802303

1 Feb 1945 to 28 Feb 1945 VK678185

(3) GROUND OBSERVER POST "HOW"

1 Feb 1945 to 12 Feb 1945 VK898085

12 Feb 1945 to 24 Feb 1945 VK990009

B. The following is a record of events that took place between 1 February 1945 and 28 February 1945:

(1) The month of February 1945 was one of the best months "Disco" has had since landing on the Continent. The weather has been quite favorable and the present site, VK802203 very good. Well over a hundred missions were controlled during the month and in most instances, the results were very satisfactory.

(2) The station performance as far as the equipment is concerned can be summarized as excellent. Some emergency maintenance was needed, but the technical Officers and Radar Technicians did a fine job of repairing and getting the unit back on the air. The Type 13 and Type 14 were given some needed modifications which improved their efficiency an enabled them to compete favorably with the Type 15 and FCC.

(3) The scope operators and plotters kept up their usual high standard of work. They take pride in seeing that no information dies on the tubes and that all information gets into the F.C.C. in the shortest time possible.

(4) Communications for the month were satisfactory. Some troubles were experienced with the land lines going out, but they were repaired speedily. A teletype was installed on 12th February. It is a great help to the Controllers, because it enables them to get mission assignments and changes in the bomb line earlier.

(5) "Frontier Baker's" LW continued to give superb reporting on Buzz Bombs, and so the rate of Buzz Bombs fell off, they kept up their usual good work by sending in reports on tracks, which were not seen by the FDP's Radars, due to PE's or the Ground Ray. Tracks were called in up to fifty miles away from their station with very good continuity. In some instances the Type AN/TPS 3 saw and reported tracks before the Type 15 reported them.

(6) The Ground Observer team moved to their new site of Monchau and continued to send reports of enemy aircraft.

(7) Summary of missions:

3 Feb. Controlled one mission of three Squadrons, each Squadron flew two sorties. The targets were chiefly Tanks and Marshaling Yards, a Tunnel bombed, and Motor Transports strafed. Excellent continuity of tracks

were maintained, despite jamming due to Window being blown into the target area.

4 Feb.   An armed reconnaissance mission was controlled. The Squadrons contacted the Ground Support station "Forger" before the attack was carried out. Results were good.

7 Feb.   Even though the weather was not too good, both missions "Disco" controlled were able to inflict severe damage on the enemy around the vicinity of Euskirchen and Leacher.

9 Feb. Controlled two missions, but actually handled 22 separate flights. Much damage was inflicted on the enemy, chiefly on Marshaling Yards, Tanks, Trains, and Motor Transports.

10 Feb.   Controlled three missions as well as handled night fighters. Results were unknown.

14 Feb.   Was one of the heavest days we have experienced. A total of 23 missions were controlled. While the target areas were in some instances covered with a 10/10 overcast, results were reported as being excellent.

15 Feb.   Very heavy activity all day. Nineteen missions were handled, but all of them successful. There was some friendly Window, but it did not hamper

operations. Some enemy operations was reported.

16 Feb.   The weather was bad in the morning both over the targets and at the bases, but during the afternoon four missions with very good results were

controlled.

17 Feb.   Thirteen missions handled, including one Leaflet mission.

20 Feb.   Four missions controlled. One direct hit on target was reported, and one of our A/C was hit with flak.

23 Feb.   Four missions bombed Marshaling yards and trains. One of our A/C was hit with flak, but was believed to have gotten home alright.

24 Feb.   A total of 19 missions controlled. Bombing and strafing targets were marked by Ground Support station "Thinboy". Very successful day, although several of our planes were hit with flak and were forced to crashland.

26 Feb.   Five missions controlled, working with Ground Support station "Thinboy". Results of damage done to Motor transports and Trains was reported as being very good.

28 Feb.   Controlled five missions through very heavy flak, results unknown.

(8) the domestic site was given a through cleaning both inside and out, and the problem of mud was solved by hauling slag and cinders. Some new furniture was installed in the Enlisted Men's Day Room, which gives it a very pleasant and home like atmosphere.
For the Commanding Officer:
/s/ H. L. Thygerson

/t/ H. L. THYGERSON

2nd Lt. Signal Corps

Personnel Officer.

HEADQUARTERS

COMPANY B

555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION

APO 595 US ARMY

SUBJECT: Unit Journal.

Battalion, APO 595, US Army.

A. The following is a schedule of all locations of units as of 1 January 1945:

(1) FDP

1 Jan 1945 to 11 Jan 1945 VK720323

(3) GROUND OBSERVER POST "HOW"

1 Jan 1945 to 16 Jan 1945 VK753275

16 Jan 1945 to 31 Jan 1945 VK898085

B. The following is a schedule of events that took place between 1 January 1945 and 31 January 1945:

(1) January 1, 1945 "Disco" was located just outside the town of Batiste at VK7232. The site was very unsatisfactory. There was a blind spot in the area in which most of the activity was located, and permanent echos covered most of the scopes in other directions. Heights were unreliable, and there was little or no continuity of tracks.

(2) Many missions were assigned to "Disco", but the Controllers were unable to see them on the scopes. Even though they could get D/F bearings on them, they had to refuse the missions. No effective controlling was possible from this site.

(3) On 10 January 1945, "Sweepstakes" granted us permission to move the technical site to VK8030 just North of Eupen. This site was nine miles away from the domestic site and necessitated transporting the crews to and from the Unit.

The station performance was so much better than the previous site. The permanent echo pattern was better, heights more reliable, and the continuity of tracks was greatly improved.

(4) Summary of Missions:

13 Jan   Controlled three missions, two in the St. Vith area where many Motor Transports were bombed and strafed, and one in the Prum area.

14 Jan   Controlled a total of 14 missions, bombing and strafing troops and Motor Transports. The results were good.

20 Jan   Controlled a dive bombing mission. Bombed a train and several hits were made.

22 Jan   Nine missions controlled. Bombed and strafed in the area around Euskirchen. Fires were started and many Motor Transports were destroyed. A train was also strafed with good results.

23 Jan   Mission located Motor transports at F 1010 and successfully accomplished its mission.

30 Jan   Three missions were completed. The Red Leader of the 22nd Sq was hit by flak and forced to bail out. The third mission was directed to the Prum area and successfully carried out its mission.

(5) During the month of January "Frontier Baker's" LW was located at VK678185, a few miles Southwest of Verviers. It was primarily interested in early Buzz Bomb, V 1 warnings. It was able to send in a warning of an approaching Buzz Bomb, sometimes several minutes before the Buzz Bomb could be seen or heard. They were highly commended for their early warning of Buzz Bombs on the city of Liege. Of over a thousand Buzz Bombs headed toward that city, only three got by without warning.

For the Commanding Officer

/t/ H. L. THRGERSON

2nd Lt., Sig. C.

Personnel Officer.

HEADQUARTERS

COMPANY B

555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION

APO 595 US ARMY

4 January 1945
SUBJECT: Unit Journal.
TO : Commanding Officer, 555th Signal Aircraft Warning

Battalion, APO 595, US Army.

A. The following is a schedule of all locations of Units as of 1 December 1944:

(1) FDP

1 Dec 1944 to 19 Dec 1944 VK926017

27 Dec 1944 to 31 Dec 1944 VE720323

(2) LW & T 8

1 Dec 1944 to 23 Dec 1944 VK894092

23 Dec 1944 to 31 Dec 1944 VK651183

31 Dec 1944 VK678185

(3) GROUND OBSERVER POSTS

KING

5 Dec 1944    Disbanded

LOVE

1 Dec 1944 to 5 Dec 1944 VK927312

JIG

5 Dec 1944    Disbanded

GEORGE

1 Dec 1944 to 5 Dec 1944 VK893294

HOW

5 Dec 1944 to 19 Dec 1944 VK937312

19 Dec 1944 to 31 dec 1944 VK753275
On December 5, 1944 the GO Posts, KING, LOVE, JIG, and GEORGE was disbanded and returned to the Company Headquarters for Company duty. Post HOW stayed out in the field and continued to give reports on hostile planes as well as Buzz Bombs to the Fifth Corps.

B. The following is a record of events that took place between 1 December 1944 and 31 December 1944.

(1) On 16th December word was received from Captain Cowan to keep in close contact with the AAA outfit "Magpie". At 2130 hours Captain Miller contacted "Magpie" and found them moving out. In view of the situation the order was given to pack up and move to an alternate site near Faymorville. The night was dark and bitterly cold. The radar equipment had been set up and operating from the same position for several months, and as a result, bolts and nuts were rusted and hard to turn. Cables were frozen and hard to handle. In spite of the fact that the Men were working under a strain, not knowing how far away the enemy were, and not being able to use lights, they did a remarkable job of getting the equipment down and packed away ready for moving.

(2) Shortly after the technical convoy moved out the Type 21 Operations Van was forced off the road by oncoming vehicles, and turned over. It was impossible to right the van by manpower, and would have taken too long to get a wrecker, so the van was demolished. Gasoline was poured on it set on fire with incendiary bombs.

(3) Transportation was so limited that it was necessary to shuttle the men's personal equipment and Company supplies to the LW site. This would have worked out very well except that the roads were so jammed with traffic that was a lmost impossible to get a truck back to Company Headquarters. A trip that ordinarily could have been made in a few minutes, now took several hours. By 0500 hours on the 17th the technical convoy and all the loaded trucks were on

the road. Thirty Men and two Officers were left behind to load the empty trucks, that would be arriving from the LW. All these Men were ordered to stay in the Headquarters building. At 0730 hours Lt. Dilley arrived with four empty trucks. As he was coming in the Orderly Room gate, an Infantry Sergeant wanted to know why the hell we were still in town. He said the Germans were on the ridge South of the building not more than a hundred yards away. The Men grabbed

whatever they could get quickly and ran for the trucks. a quick check was made and no one was reported missing. As the trucks drove off, small arms fire could be heard in front of Headquarters building.

(4) The LW Platoon moved to "C" Company to help in its defense, should paratroopers be dropped.

(5) On arriving at Faymorville, VK8602, at 0900 hours a complete check was made and three Men, Privates Harris, Wingate and Emerick, were missing. The situation was not much better than that at Bullingen, so instead of staying we moved on past Malmedy to Francorchamps VK7410 arriving at 1700 hours. This night we spent in a large unheated frame building.

(6) Next morning, 18th December, the situation as still not favorable, so we moved further West to Namur VJ9611 arriving at 2400 hours. That night we were billeted in the beautiful Chateau de Namur. At 1600 hours 19th December we moved 7 miles to Champion VJ9814, and we were quarters in a Catholic School. The radar equipment was set up and we went back into operation. The site seemed to be quite good, except for the fact that we were so far behind the front that we couldn't track targets over the bomb line to any great distance.

(7) On 27 December the Company moved to Henri  Chapelle VK7232, the former site of "C" Company. Due to the nature of the technical site, little could be done in the way of controlling missions.

(8) On 5 December the Ground Observer Post KING, LOVE, JIG, and GEORGE was disbanded and returned to Company Hq. for Company duty. The Ground Observer Post HOW at VK753275 stayed out in the field and continued reporting to 5th Corps.

(9) Summary of Missions

Dec. 1   Controlled four missions, two on Brandenburg and Nidecoen, one on Euskirchine, and one on Railroad tracks between Cologne and Duren. One enemy

aircraft was shot down and one of our planes was reported missing.

Dec. 2   Dived bombed the Marshaling yards at F2320. Results were partially obscured by clouds but were reported as good.

Dec. 3   Bombed and strafed targets, results were not too good. Dec. 4   Weather forced Armed Recco to jettison bombs at about F 4010

Dec. 5. One mission reported a Tank battle in Bergsteich, one reported a heavy concentration of Motor trnsports at F 5030. The other mission dropped their bombs on a woods and two more bombed and strafed targets. Results were not known due to a heavy overcast.

Dec. 11   Controlled six Ground Support missions with Instand and Card Club. Ground haze made it difficult to observe results but one mission reported at least four out of a formation of ten Tanks were destroyed.

Dec. 12   Bombed the town of Butch. Weather was bad over target.

Dec. 13   Two missions blind bombed the town of Zulpeck.

Dec. 14   Four missions were controlled, Y21 4 "Disco" told Zenith to jettison few remaining bombs and chase after Bandits on a vector of 140, while still 20 miles from target "Marmite' took over. Reported two kills, three

probable’s and one damaged.

Dec. 15   Worked with Ground Support and bombed a town in F square. Second mission went after a railroad, but due to a heavy overcast, were unable to see

results.

Dec. 16   Two blind bombing missions were controlled with "Disco 1". No results were obtained. Since 18 December, we have not controlled any planes,

due to the fact we were so far behind the front that we couldn't track targets over the bomb line to any great distance.

For the Commanding Officer:

/s/ H. L. Thygerson

/t/ H. L. THYGERSON

2nd Lt., Sig C.

Personnel Officer
HEADQUARTERS

COMPANY B

555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION

APO 595 US ARMY

4 December 1944

SUBJECT: Unit Journal
TO : Commanding Officer, 555th Signal Aircraft Warning

Battalion, APO 595 US Army.

A. The following is a schedule of all locations of Units as of 1 November 1944:

(1) FDP

1 Nov 1944 to 30 Nov 1944 VK926017

(3) GROUND OBSERVER POSTS

KING

1 Nov 1944 to 30 Nov 1944 VK964056

1 Nov 1944 to 3 Nov 1944 VK910173

3 Nov 1944 to 30 Nov 1944 VK927312

JIG

HOW

2 Nov 1944 to 30 Nov 1944 VK916196

GEORGE

1 Nov 1944 to 3 Nov 1944 VK824144

B. The following is a record of events that took place between 1 November 1944 to 30 November 1944:

(1) Summary of missions:

Nov. 2   Bombing and strafing mission, flight returned because of lack of

ammunition.

Nov. 4   Mission Y21 4 scored five direct its on Railroads. "Disco" controlled Night Fighters.

Nov. 6   Night Fighters controlled. The ceiling closed in before all of

missions Y2 1 3 could return to base. One aircraft had to crash land, because of damaged landing gear.

Nov. 7   "Disco" controlled armed reconnaissance. No Bandits reported.

Nov. 9   Rail cutting mission, very successful.

Nov. 11   Y21 5 Mission scored four direct hits on primary targets. Rails

cut in several places.

Nov. 22   Controlled Night Fighters

(2) During the month of November, 56 missions were assigned and controlled by "Disco" Controllers. The majority of the missions being bombing and strafing. Our missions were very successful   Rails were cut, Trains and Tanks were bombed, and columns of vehicles shot up.

(3) Due to technical failures at "Marmite", "Disco" took over the control of missions and Night Fighters on several occasions. A few missions had to be canceled because of bad weather.

(4) The majority of "Disco's" missions have been turned over to front line Air Support Controllers, who directed the aircraft on to the target by means of smoke and flames.

(5) The Ground Observers Posts have been very good in reporting Buzz Bombs.

(6) Communications by radio and wire was established November 25th with Army A.A.A. for passing advanced information on Buzz Bombs. The plotter teller on

the Filter Board is able to pass information directly to each Battery over the "Loop" wire circuit. When the A.A.A. is first to obtain information, it is passed back to the FDP Filter Board. The radio is in the Group Net of the A.A.A.

for standby communications. The system has been very beneficial to both the Air Warning and A.A.A.

/s/ A. B. Miller

/t/ A, B, MILLER

Capt., Sig. C.

Commanding
HEADQUARTERS

COMPANY B

555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION

APO 595 US ARMY

4 November, 1944

SUBJECT: Unit Journal
TO : Commanding Officer, 555th Signal Aircraft Warning

Battalion, APO 595, US Army

A. The following is a schedule of all locations of Units as of 1 October 1944:

(1) FDP

1 Oct 1944 to 6 Oct 1944 VP840881

(2) SCR 582

1 Oct 1944 to 5 Oct 1944 VP640881

5 Oct 1944 to 8 Oct 1944 VP789578

8 Oct 1944 to 16 Oct 1944 VP972979

16 Oct 1944 Disbanded

(3) LW

1 Oct 1944 to 6 Oct 1944 VK925015

(4) GROUND OBSERVER POSTS

KING

1 Oct 1944 to 6 Oct 1944 VK989872

LOVE

7 Oct 1944 to 31 Oct 1944 VK910173

JIG

1 Oct 1944 to 6 Oct 1944 VP617617

HOW

6 Oct 1944 to 32 Oct 1944 VK928078

GEORGE

1 Oct 1944 to Oct 7 1944 D.S. 327th

7 Oct 1944 to Oct 14,1944 VK926118

14 Oct 1944 to 31 Oct 1944 VK924144

B. The following is a record of events that took place between 1 October 1944 and 31 October 1944:

(1) On October 1, 1944 both LOVE and JIG posts were within enemy shell fire range.

(2) October 2, 1944, 0900 hours, two Polish prisoners without guns, surrendered near, JIG post, to Pvt. Weirich and Pvt. Brudniak. Cpl. Ben Davis is in charge of JIG post.

(4) Summary of Missions

Oct. 7th   Bombing mission over Marshaling Yards. Mission was rail

splitting. Very successful.

Oct. 8th   Bombing strafing mission. Target hit.

Oct. 9th   Bomber escort mission.

Oct. 12th   Controlled 4 mission in Aachen area. Intercepted a flight of

ME 109's, destroyed 2.

Oct. 13th   Two dive bombing missions with armed reconnaissance.

Oct. 14th   Two rail splitting missions encountered heavy flak. Leader

of Red Leader was hit in the eye, but reached base ok.

Oct. 15th   Bombing mission.

Oct. 16th   SCR 582 (6th Platoon) disbanded.

Oct. 18th   Bomber escort mission.

Oct. 20th   Two dive bombing missions.

Oct. 21st   Two bombing and strafing missions.

Oct. 25th   Type 15 picked up Buzz Bomb at 1500 feet.

Oct. 26th   Controlled rail splitting mission. 3 Buzz Bombs picked up and put into operation Type 21.

Oct. 27th   Type 22 was added to equipment now in operation. Lt. Winfree

and 10 EM of 573 set up and put into operation Type 21.

Oct. 28th   Very successful Rail splitting mission.

(5) General:

The Ground Observer Posts were under shell fire several times during the month. For the month of October, we controlled 29 missions, destroyed 2 aircraft, and reported numerous Buzz Bombs.

For The Commanding Officer:

/s/ H. L. Thygerson

/t/ H. L. THYGERSON

2nd Lt., Sig. C.

Admn. Officer.

HEADQUARTERS

COMPANY B

555TH SIGNAL AIRCRAFT WARNING BATTALION

APO 595 U.S. ARMY

Battalion, APO 595, U.S. Army

(1) FDP

13 Sept 1944 to 28 Sept 1944 VP340916

28 Sept 1944 to 30 Sept 1944 VP840881

(2) SCR 582

1 Sept 1944 to 13 Sept 1944 VS330447

13 Sept 1944 to 28 Sept 1944 VP488728

28 Sept 1944 to 30 Sept 1944 VP830471

(3) LW

14 Sept 1944 to 28 Sept 1944 VK371765

28 Sept 1944 to 30 Sept 1944 VK925015

(4) GROUND OBSERVER POSTS

KING

1 Sept 1944 TO 6 Sept 1944 VS758622

SAW Bn, and came to Company Headquarters