Significant Events: Jan ’43 to Nov ’45
25 Jan 43 - 270th Field Artillery Battalion constituted in the United States Army. Initial compliment of Cadre personnel came from the 177th F.A. Bn FT Leonard Wood MO.
15 Mar 43 - (Letter Order# A-169 2 Army File AG322.012-5 GNMBF) Unit activated as a 105mm Howitzer unit at Camp Butner NC. Lt Col James C Gabriel assumed command.
Officers assigned to the Bn at time of activation: CPT Stone Harris, CPT Robert Hannah, CPT Howard Kingston, CPT Robert Ray, 1LT George Howze, 1LT Bernard Adams, 1LT Howard Fillmer, 1LT Thomas Snyder, 2LT Arthur Larsen, 2LT Fred Perry, 2LT Louis Fulop, 2LT Charles Rothaermel, 2LT William Battin.
The initial compliment of enlisted men were assigned to the unit from the following:
177th NCOs assigned to A Btry: 1SG Velvecates, CPL Parsels (Orderly Rm) SSG Raitz Survey Section) SSG Totsch, SGT VandeVelde, SGT Hollebeek and SGT Cummings (Chief of Gun Sections) SSG Uel (Supply) SSG Slaughter, Tec5 Oprzadek and Tec4 Wadzinski (Mess/Kitchen) SSG Carberry and SGT Nickels (Motor SGT) SGT Demercy (Wire) Tec4 Cormendy Gun Mechanic)
100ea Camp Wolters TX (My Grandfather included), 119ea Camp Sam Houston TX, 70ea Camp Beauregard LA, and 99ea Fort Sill OK.
29 Sep 43 - Master Training Plans (MTP) tests for the unit were held by HQ XIII Corps in preparation to certify the Battalion “Combat Ready”. MTPs began with individual soldier skills and moved thru collective training at each echelon. Concluding with Combined Arms exercises at Regimental or Division level.
8-11 Nov 43 - Battery tests were taken with the 105s.
8-14 Dec ’43 - Battalion moved to Fort Bragg NC and MTP Bn level tests were taken.
1 Jan 44 - Reorganized as a 240mm Howitzer Battalion (War Dept File AG322 (OB-I-GNNGCT-M)
Jan-Feb 44 - MTPs started over, this time with the 240mm Howitzer
Apr 44 - Advanced Detachment in Bewdley Worcestershire England AKA Camp Burlish.
2-5 Apr 44- Transit from Fort Bragg NC to Fort Slocum NY
6 Apr 44 - Deployment Ship: RMS Aquatina NYC to Scotland
13 Apr 44 – Arrived Firth of Clyde, Greenock Scotland
30 Apr 44 – Stationed at Pontllanfraith, Monmouthshire Wales
30 May 44 - Gen Patton addresses the 270th
31 May 44 – Stationed at Packington, Warwickshire England
Jun/Jul 44 - Warwickshire England finalizing prep for deployment into theatre.
8-14 Jul 44 - 77ea pax detailed to Ross Camp to fix and make it inhabitable again.
21/22 Jul 44 - Waterproofing equipment and loading onto landing crafts at Weymouth England.
24 July 44 - Landed on/near Utah Beach near Carentan France D+48
1 Aug 44 - Bivouac at Bricquebec on the Cherbourg Peninsula Awaiting combat assignment
2Aug 44 - Attached to 40th FA Grp Supporting XV Corps Falaise Gap sector. S2 immediately departed to Grp HQ to await orders.
3 Aug 44 - Advanced party (Asst S2 and Survey Section) departed for Grp HQ to link up with S2
5 Aug 44 - Attached to 144th FA Grp. Departed bivouac traveled to village of St. Germaine and established overnight bivouac. B Btry 456th AAA Bn assigned.
6 Aug 44 - Departed bivouac and traveled to rendezvous area near Bourgeneuf. Frago and Bn established overnight bivouac near St. Ouen-des-Toits.
7 Aug 44 - Departed bivouac and commenced travel to Les Chenes Sec. Established an overnight bivouac at this location
8 Aug 44 - Bn moved to rendezvous area appts. 2km from Cosse-en-Champagne. First POWs captured. CPT George Howze (Asst S3) captured 8 POWs while on Recon mission.
9 Aug 44 - Established bivouac near St. George Du Bois
10 Aug 44 - Departed bivouac moving to Chanteloup and established overnight bivouac
11 Aug 44 - Moved to rendezvous area near the village of Sables. Moved into firing positions near Morreles-des-Baults.
12 Aug 44 - 1129hrs The first rounds were fired. A &B Btry fired Btry 1 round and C Btry #1 gun firing 1 rd at a separate target.
12 Aug 44 - Departed Morreles-des-Baults for bivouac area near Barville. Strafed by enemy bombers, no casualties or damage.
15 Aug 44 - Departed Barville for bivouac area near La Loupe.
16 Aug 44 - Multiple strafing runs by Luftwaffe on bivouac area. AAA fire and machine guns drove off the attack. Resulting in 1ea German ME109 being shot down. Pilot was recovered unhurt, but plane was destroyed.
18 Aug 44 - Departed La Loupe for firing positions near Tertre St Denis. Conducted fire missions from this location until 21 Aug.
21 Aug 44 - Departed Tertre St Denis for new firing positions near Mantes-Gassicourt. In support of the Seine River Crossing. Lots of enemy air activity but no damage or casulaties
22 Aug 44 - William Harvey, Wayne Lidgard, John Siepieranski and Elliot Smith WIA by Aircraft strafing. Enemy air activity most of the day
23 Aug 44 - Lots of enemy air activity but no damage or casualties
29 Aug 44 - Departed Mantes-Gassicourt for assembly area near Boissey
31 Aug 44 - Departed Boissey for bivouac area near Gastins.
Month of August 1944, Battalion traveled apprx. 600km with no serious mechanical issues
1 Sep 44 - Detached from 144th FA Grp and attached to 33rd FA Bde. B Btry 456th AAA Bn detached and replaced with D Btry 551th AAA Btry
5 Sep 44 - Detached 33rd FA Bde and attached to XX Corps
6 Sep 44 - Departed Gastins enroute to bivouac area vicinity Ft De Landrecourt. Assigned XX Corps Artillery.
7 Sep 44 - Arrived Ft De Landrecourt bivouac area
8 Sep 44 - Departed Ft De Landrecourt established bivouac area near Puxieux. Strafed by enemy air No damage or injuries.
9 Sep 44 - Departed Puxieux for firing positions vicinity Buxieres. D Btry 551th AAA Bn was replaced with A Btry 455th AAA Bn.
9-30 Sep 44 - Supported 5th ID (Crossing of the Moselle River at Arnaville) as part of the 203rd FA Grp XX Corps
13 Sep 44 - One gun (C Btry #2 gun) was moved to Batilly with the mission to fire on bridges over the Moselle River near the city of Metz
14 Sep 44 - C Btry was attached to 195th FA Grp
Month of September 1944, Battalion traveled apprx. 210km with no serious mechanical issues
8 Oct 44 - Butner Btry assigned to Bn. (Butner Btry was captured enemy guns used by Allied forces. Welcomed addition due to rationing of American ammunition)
18 Oct 44 - Tec4 Wayne Lidgard, Tec5 William Harvey and Tec5 Wayne Smith awarded Purple Heart. for wounds sustained 22 Aug.
22 Oct 44 - A Btry 455th AAA Bn was replaced by their sister battery B Btry
26 Oct 44 - A Btry was assigned to 90th DIV Arty and moved to Set Marie-aux-Chenes. Mission was to support the forthcoming attack on Metz
29 Oct 44 - Inspection team from Office of the Artillery Officer, HQ TUSA arrived. No corrections needed.
30 Oct 44 - Detached from 203rd FA Grp and reassigned under HQ III Corps Artillery.
Month of October 1944, Battalion hampered by US ammunition shortages and opened the way for the use of captured guns and ammo. HQ and B Btry was with BN CP, A Btry was attached to 90th Inf Div Arty and C Btry was still with the 195th FA Grp.
2 Nov 44 - Relieved from 203rd FA Grp control and assigned to 195th FA Grp.
3 Nov 44 - Butner Btry equipment was passed to the 277th FA Bn. B Btry 455th AAA Bn was relived of duty with this Bn. Bn departed for bivouac area vicinity Bois D’ Ottange. A and C Btry rejoined Bn at this time.
6 Nov 44 - Fortress Imerhof taken over from 241st FA Bn. with the mission to support the crossing of the Moselle River by the 95th Div.
15 Nov 44 - John Hummer (Asst Bn S2) KIA by enemy mortar fire appts. 1430hrs just south of the city of Thionville on the East bank of the Moselle River.
16 Nov 44 - Departed Fortress Imerhof and assembled near Thionville
19 Nov 44 - Departed Thionville and assumed positions near the town of Bousse.
20 Nov 44 - A Btry was detached to 193rd FA Grp
21 Nov 44 - Departed Bousse enroute to Hunting
23 Nov 44 - Bn moved from Hunting to Kirsch-les-Sierck
24 Nov 44 - A Btry rejoins Bn. At 1643hrs First rounds fired that landed in Germany. Sinz Germany was the target and Prince Felix of Luxembourg pulled the lanyard of A Btry gun.
26 Nov 44 - Departed Kirsch-les-Sierck and established firing positions near Lacroix. Mission was interdiction fires on several enemy held towns.
30 Nov 44 - Departed Lacroix and established positions near Colmen. B Btry 551st AAA Bn in support
Month of November 1944, Battalion traveled apprx. 225km with only minor mechanical issues. Bn plagued by extremely poor weather conditions in Nov.
Dec 44 to Jan 45 - Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes)
5 Dec 44 - Departed Lacroix and established CP in Furweiler Germany. First Bn CP established in Germany.
16 Dec 44 - Using High Performance Aircraft to adjust fire, B and C Btry fired upon a rail yard near Korprich
21 Dec 44 - Departed Furweiler GE and established firing positions near Waldweistroff GE with the mission of counter-battery and harassing fire ISO 90th Inf Division. A/C Ground ID Code 48 on tail of L4.
21 Dec 44 - CPT Michel (Bn Surgeon) whom was a Obstetrician and Gyneocologist in civilian life delivered a baby boy which the parents named Roger Michel Dessault in his honor.
25 Dec 44 - 1830hrs First firing of the Posit fuse.
26 Dec 44 - D Btry 455th AAA Bn was replaced with B Btry 455th AAA Bn
?? Dec 44 - 1ea pax from the attached AAA unit was KIA due to enemy artillery barrage. name is unknown
Month of December 1944 saw minimal enemy air activity until last week the month. 1ea KIA and 3ea WIA from the supporting AAA Bn due to enemy air bombing.
1 Jan 45 - Eugene Anspach (Motor Officer and Liaison Pilot/Observer) and LaVerne Emberts (Asst Bn S2 and Liaison Pilot/Aerial Observer) shot down over Germany (WWII Map coordinates: wQ220882 / Modern day LAT/LONG 49.23.20N / 6.39.43E Vicinity of the town of Beckingen. ) Both KIA
13 Jan 45 - C Btry was strafed by “Friendly” Aircraft
14 Jan 45 - PFC Gerhard Steppke WIA,
21 Jan 45 - C Btry displaced to Betting continuing to support 94th Div
Month of January 1945 saw the assignment of 4ea additional officers to cover duties as Liaison Pilot, and various other firing Btry assignments
1 Feb 45 - Mission is to support 94th Inf Div and 3rd Cav Grp
17 Feb 45 - S/SGT Edward Raetz receives a battlefield commission to 2LT
19 Feb 45 - Bn moves to the vicinity of Ritzing to support 94th Inf Div and 10th Armored Div
22 Feb - Battalion moves to Dittlingen GE
28 Feb - Battalion (-) minus B Btry moved forward to vicinity Saarburg GE. B Btry stays at Merzkirchen
Month of Febuary 1945 consisted mostly of harrasing fires in support of the 94th Inf Div
2 Mar 45 - C Btry was attached to 243rd FA Bn
7 Mar 45 - Battalion moves to Wawern GE
15 Mar 45 - Battalion moves to Ober-Zerf GE, Part of the 195th FA Group for the uncovering of the Siegfried line and the pursuit thru the Palatinate
17 Mar 45 - Chasing a retreating enemy, the Battalion moves to Bergen GE
18 Mar 45 - Battalion moves to Nunkirchen GE
19 Mar 45 - Battalion again relocates to Lebach GE
21 Mar 45 - Battalion displaces to Mackenbach GE
24 Mar 45 - Battalion moves to Odenbach GE
26 Mar 45 - Battalion moves to Volxheim GE
27 Mar 45 - Still with the 195th FA Grp for the crossing of the Rhine river, Battalion moves to Ober-Olm GE
29 Mar 45 - Final rounds fired vicinity Barstadt Germany appts. 0600hrs. Relieved of duty with XX Corps Artillery
30 Mar 45 - Reassigned to the 3rd Army. Motor marched to Bad-Kreuznach GE and ordered to prepare equipment for indefinite storage and assigned Line of Communication duty
?? Mar 45 - 3ea pax listed as KIA this month in the medical reports. Names and unit is unknown. No mention in the AAR covering this time period.
Month of March 1945 saw a lot of movements while chasing a rapid retreating enemy.
1 Apr 45 - Relived of defense of the Rhine bridge 270 (Boppard) and 271 (St. Goar) by the 276th Inf, 70th ID
Apr thru June 45 - Assumptions being that the unit was assigned to the TUSA Provost Marshal for Lines of Communication defense and POW guard duties at 3rd Army’s PW Enclosure No. 26.
8 May 45 - V-E Day
14 May 45 - A Btry moves to Regensberg GE
June 45 Deactivation of the 270th Linz, Germany ( Allied POW Camp much like Camp Butner where they were activated at)
Some GIs were sent home and others with not enough points, were re-assigned to other units (mainly the 177th FA Bn).
Jun - Sep ’45 Assumption is that the remaining members of the battalion were at a Cigarette Camp awaiting transportation back to the U.S. Mainly Camp Lucky Strike and Pall Mall.
1 Oct 45 – Remainder of the main body departed Le Havre on troopship (? Possibly USAT Edmund B. Alexander or General Alexander E. Anderson, maybe even the Kingston Victory, but there are other possibilities)
24 Oct 45 - Arrived Boston Port of Embarkation
25 Oct 45 - Inactivated at Camp Myles Standish, MA
13 Jun 46 - Redesignated as the 198th Tank Battalion, Mississippi National Guard
Rounds fired by month/year.
1944 = 3780ea 240mm and 709ea rounds of captured enemy ammo (Butner Battery)
Aug; 834ea, Sep; 1059ea, Oct; 311/709ea, Nov; 428ea, Dec; 1148ea
1945 = 3512ea 240mm
Jan; 563ea, Feb; 1357ea, Mar; 1592ea
No comments:
Post a Comment