467th AAA AW Battalion (SP)

 

THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN
15 September 1944 - 21 March 1945

The German resistance stiffened as they found themselves backed up against the Siegfried Line and the borders of the Fatherland. At the same time the Allied logistics lines became longer as nearly all fuel and ammo had to be trucked from ports still in the Normandy area. The 467th took part in the battles along the Siegfried Line and the capture of Aachen.

In early March 1945 the 467th was rushed into the bridgehead around the captured bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany. Finally across the Rhine in force, General Eisenhower began his final push through Germany.

The 467th was in combat for 148 days during the Rhineland Campaign with a 6-week diversion in December and January for an advance toward the town of Bastogne, Belguim. During the Rhineland Campaign, the 467th supported the capture of Aachen and then moved south to defend Luxembourg City. Following the Ardennes Campaign, the 467th again moved to support the push into Germany. They provided air defense at the Remagen bridgehead and then joined the final advance toward Czechoslavokia. They engaged 72 enemy aircraft and captured 3 POWs. The Battalion had 2 men wounded.


Historical Record

War Diary for September '44
17 September Operation MARKET GARDEN starts in Holland.
28 SeptemberBattle of Arnham ends in disaster for British airborne troops.

15 September 1944 - Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 65th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Bruyere de Mechelen. In position at 1730. Battery "D" moved into bivouac in the vicinity of Oupeye. In position at 1800. Second Platoon of Battery "C" moved to defense of bridge at Neerharen. In position at 2000. Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Battery moved to the vicinity of Kesselt. Established Battalion Command Post at 1645.

16 September 1944 - Battery "D" moved to new bivouac in the vicinity of Glons. In position at 1200. First platoon of Battery "C" moved into bivouac in the vicinity of Scharn. Arrived at 1600. First platoon of Battery "A" moved with 62nd Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Krapoel. In position at 1600. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved with "CCB" trains of the 2nd Armored Division to the vicinity of Heer. In position at 1515. Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 65th FA Bn to the vicinity of Onder den Berg. In position at 1735.

17 September 1944 - First platoon of Battery "A" moved into bivouac in the vicinity of Heer. Arrived at 1200. Second platoon of Battery "A" engaged one ME-109 and fired 30 - 37mm and 1050 - .50 caliber rounds at 2230. No claims.

18 September 1944 - First platoon of Battery "B" moved with "CCA" trains of the 2nd Armored Division to the vicinity of Cadier-en-Keer. In position at 1200. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved with "CCB" trains of the 2nd Armored Division to the vicinity of Moorveld. In position at 1800.

19 September 1944 - Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 65th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Nierven. In position at 0040. First platoon of Battery "A" moved to defense of the 2nd Armored Division "B" trains in the vicinity of Bemelen. In position at 0800. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved with "CCB" of the 2nd Armored Division trains to the vicinity of Neerbeck. In position at 0800. Battery "D" moved to defense of 258th Field Artillery Battalion (attached to 30th Infantry Division) in the vicinity of Heerlen. In position at 1000. Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 65th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Merkelbeck. In position at 1540. Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with the 65th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Schinveld. In position at 1930. Battery "C" moved to defense of the 62nd Field Artillery Battalion (attached to 30th Infantry Division) in the vicinity of Waubach. In position at 2130.

20 September 1944 - Battery "D" moved with 258th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Waubach. In position at 1600. Battery "C" shelled by counter-battery artillery fire from 1900-1915. One 2 and a half ton truck damaged. No casualties. Truck repaired at Battery Command Post. Battery "A" moved to defense of XIX Corps Command Post operating in a ground role. Guns were so placed to be able to lay fire on roads coming from vicinity to Aachen, Germany. Battery "A" Command Post located at Gulpen. In position at 2100. Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Battery moved to Wylre, Holland. Established Battalion Command Post at 1500.

21 September 1944 - Second platoon of Battery "D" captured two enemy troops at 0800 in the vicinity of Waubach. Evacuated by 258th Field Artillery Battalion. Battery "D" was shelled by enemy artillery at 1000. One M-15 half-track damaged. No casualties. Battery "C" shelled by enemy artillery at 1000. One M-16 half-track damaged and evacuated to Ordnance for repairs. No casualties.

22 September 1944 - M-15 half-track of Battery "D" back into action at 1200. Second Platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense of 959th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Nuth. In position at 1500. First platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense 978th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Kakert. In position at 1600. Battery "B" Command Post in the vicinity of Hulsberg, Holland.

23 September 1944 - No change. No enemy planes engaged.

24 September 1944 - Battery "A" engaged one JU-88 at 1110 and fired 9 - 37mm and 200 - .50 caliber rounds. No claims. No damage. Plane was bombing area.

25 September 1944 - No change. No enemy planes engaged.

26 September 1944 - Deserter from 53rd German Infantry Division accompanied by a Dutch girl apprehended by Dutch police at 1400 in Wylre, Holland. Turned in to XIX Corps Prisoner of War Enclosure.

27 September 1944 - No change.

28 September 1944 - Battery "B" moved to defense of 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion in the vicinity of Mechelen. In position at 1130. Battery "D" shelled by light fire from heavy artillery in vicinity of Waubach at 1620. No damage. Battery "C" shelled by light fire from heavy artillery in the vicinity of Waubach at 1750. One enlisted man slightly wounded. No damage.

29 September 1944 - Battery "C" moved with 62nd Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Lichtenberg. In position at 0700. Battery "B" moved with 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion to the vicinity of Zomern. In position at 2330.

30 September 1944 - Battery "B" moved to the vicinity of Oploo, Holland with 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion and began moving south along with 7th Armored Division. Boundries being Maas River on east and Peel Swamp on west.

War Diary for October '44
1 OctoberCanadians capture Calais, taking 5,000 prisoners.
14 OctoberBritish and Greek troops take Athens, Greece.
19 OctoberLanding made at Leyte in the Phillipines.
20 OctoberAachen finally falls to Americans after a 7-day battle.
23 OctoberJapanese lose 2 Battleships, 4 Carriers, 9 Cruisers, and 9 destroyers in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

1 October 1944 - No change. No enemy planes engaged.

2 October 1944 - Battery "C" shelled by light artillery fire at 1315 in the vicinity of Waubach. No damage. Battery "D" received letter of commendation from HQ, 234th Engineer Combat Battalion, with indorsements by 1115th Engr C GP; Commanding General, XIX Corps; Commanding Officer, 12th AAA Group, and Commanding Officer, this unit, for services rendered between the period 6 September 1944 to 13 September 1944. (See attached copy of "Letter of Commendation".)

3 October 1944 - No change.

4 October 1944 - Battery "A" moved to defense of 2nd Armored Division trains to the vicinity of Vassrade. In position at 1900. Battery "D" moved to defense of 65th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Lichtenberg. In position at 1900. Battery "C" moved with 62nd Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Grach. In position at 2000.

5 October 1944 - Battery "D" changed mission to attachment to XIX Corps Reserve Task Force. No change in position. Battery "A" engaged 4 FW 190's straffing at 1440, firing 21 - 37mm and 650 - .50 caliber rounds. One hit claimed. No damage to personnel or area. Battery "D" engaged several planes circling dropping flares and bombs at 1900, firing 58 - 37mm and 750 - .50 caliber rounds. No hits. No damage to personnel or area.

6 October 1944 - Battery "C" moved to ground defense mission with 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division. 1st Platoon attached to 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 116th Infantry Regiment. 2nd Platoon attached to 247th Engineer Combat Battalion in the vicinity of Keverberg.

7 October 1944 - Battery "B" engaged two ME 262's (jet-propelled type plane) and fired 10 - 37mm rounds at 0730. No claims. No damage.

8 October 1944 - Battery "B" moved with 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion to Debult, Holland. In position at 1300.

9 October 1944 - Battery "B" relieved of attachment to 7th Armored Division and moved with 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion to the vicinity of Haasdal. In position at 1345. 1st Platoon of Battery "A" relieved of attachment to 2nd Armored Division trains and moved to defense of bridge in the vicinity of Palenberg. In position at 1700.

10 October 1944 - 2nd Platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense of 62nd Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Palenberg. In position at 1700. 1st Platoon of Battery "B" moved into bivouac in the vicinity of Wylre, Holland. In area at 1700. Battery "C" relieved of attachment with 2nd Battalion of the 116th Infantry Regiment. Battery now with 247th Engineer Combat Battalion, same location at 1200.

11 October 1944 - Battery "A" moved into assembly area in the vicinity of Locht at 0930 for ground defense mission with 172nd Engineer Combat Battalion. Moved two sections into position in the vicinity of Bocholtz, Holland at 2000.

12 October 1944 - Six sections of Battery "C" moved into position in the vicinity of Bocholtz at 1200.

13 October 1944 - First platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense of 65th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Ubach, Germany. In position at 1600.

14 October 1944 - No change.

15 October 1944 - Enemy shelled area 1200 yards from Battery "A" Command Post at 1015. No damage. Section 8 of Battery "A" stopped ground attack in the vicinity of Raren, Holland at 2255. Fired 14 - 37mm and 400 .50 caliber rounds causing four casualties to the enemy. The casualties were retrieved by the enemy.

16 October 1944 - No change.

17 October 1944 - Section 8 of Battery "A" encountered enemy patrol 200 to 400 yards from position. Fired 200 - .50 caliber and 50 - 37mm rounds. No damage. Battery "C" moved all sections south with 247th Engineer Combat Battalion to the vicinity of Bank, Germany. In position at 1000.

18 October 1944 - Battery "C" moved all sections with 247th Engineer Combat Battalion to the vicinity of Richerich. In position at 1900. Battery "B" straffed and bombed by 6 unidentified aircraft at 2215. No damage.

19 October 1944 - Battery "C" moved all sections south with 247th Engineer Combat Battalion to the vicinity of Laurenberg, Holland. In position at 1400. Battery "A" moved east with 172nd Engineer Combat Battalion to the vicinity of Vaals, Holland. In position at 1800.

20 October 1944 - Battery "C" moved east with 247th Engineer Combat Battalion to the vicinity of Kohlscheid, Germany. In position at 1800. Battery "A" shelled with 15 rounds by enemy artillery at 1225 in the vicinity of Kalooster, Holland. No damage. First section of the 2nd platoon of Battery "C" engaged an infantry reconnaissance patrol of 25 - 40 men at 1115. Fired 70 - .50 caliber rounds and 6 - 37mm rounds. No damage to battery "C". Possible casualties to enemy. First platoon of Battery "B" was shelled with 20 rounds of 88mm from enemy. No damage or casualties.

21 October 1944 - First platoon of Battery "B" was shelled with 4 rounds of 105mm enemy artillery at 1735. No damage or casualties.

22 October 1944 - At 0300 Battery "B" shelled by enemy artillery from NE. One M-15 damaged, out of action. Battalion was relieved of attachment to XIX Corps and 12th AAA Group and attached to 49th AAA Brigade and 16th AAA Group per Troop Assignment No. 129, HQ, 1st U.S. Army, dated 22 October 1944. Battalion was relieved of all missions at 0600 and moved to assembly area in the vicinity of Gulpen at 1200. Left assembly area at 1300. Arrived at Foy, Belgium at 1900.

23 October 1944 - Departed Foy, Belgium at 0800. Arrived at the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg at 1200. Established Battalion Command Post. Batteries "A" and "C" were assigned mission of defending city. Battery "B" defending radio station Luxembourg at Junelmster. Battery "D" defending airfield in the vicinity of Sandweiler, Luxembourg. Batteries in position at 1600.

24 October 1944 to 27 October 1944 - No change. No enemy planes engaged.

28 October 1944 - Section 3 of Battery "C" shelled by large caliber railroad gun from NE. One M-16 damaged but remained in action. No casualties.

29 October 1944 - Battery "D" engaged one JU-88 at 1240. Fired 40 - 37mm and 1090 - .50 caliber rounds. Claim plane shot down. Battery "B" placed new M-16 in position ready to fire.

30 October 1944 - No change.

31 October 1944 - Battery "A" engaged one enemy plane and fired one round 37mm. No damage.

War Diary for November '44
7 NovemberRoosevelt elected to fourth term.
20 NovemberPatton's Third Army enters Metz, France.
24 NovemberTokyo bombed by Saipan based B-29s.
25 NovemberAmericans break through the Hurtgen Forest.
28 NovemberThird Army penetrates the Saar Basin.
30 NovemberCanadian First Army invades Germany from the Nijmegen in Holland.

1 November 1944 - Battery "C" replaced M-16, half-track, damaged 28 October 1944 with new M-16, half-track. Battery "B" replaced M-16B, half-track with new M-16, half-track. Battery "A" moved their Command Post north approximately one mile in the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

2 November 1944 to 17 November 1944 - No change. Batteries "A" and "C" defending city of Luxembourg, Battery "B" defending radio station Luxembourg at Junelmster. Battery "D" defending airfield in vicinity of Sandweiler, Luxembourg. Luxembourg

18 November 1944 - One V-2, flying bomb, observed traveling over the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg at 1720 on SW course. Not engaged. No damage.

19 November 1944 - One V-2, flying bomb, observed over city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg at 1124 on NW course. Not engaged. No damage.

20 November 1944 - No change.

21 November 1944 - V-2, flying bombs, observed over city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg at 1515 and 2024 on NW course (high). One V-1, flying bomb, observed over city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg at 1754 on NW course (low). Not engaged. No damage.

22 November 1944 - Battery "A" engaged one enemy plane at 0200, fired 10 rounds 37mm (barrage fire). No claims. No damage. Battery "C" engaged one enemy plane at 0230, fired 2 rounds 37mm. No claims. No damage.

23 November 1944 - One V-2, flying bomb, observed flying over city of Luxembourg, luxembourg at 1754 on NW course (high). Not engaged. No damage.

24 November 1944 - No change.

25 November 1944 - Ten V-1 and V-2 flying bombs over city of Luxembourg from 1740 to 260145 Novemebr 1944 at various altitudes on NW course. Not engaged. No damage.

26 November 1944 - Commendation for Batteries "A" and "C" received from HQ 1104th Engineer Combat Group for action in taking Aachen, Germany 11-22 October 1944. Indorsed by Commanding General, XIX Corps; Commanding General, 1st U.S. Army; Commanding General, 49th AAA Brigade; Commanding Officer, 16th AAA Group. Six V-2 and four V-1 flying bombs over city of Luxembourg from 1300 to 20000 hours on NW course. Not engaged. No damage. (Letter of Commendation attached).

27 November 1944 - Three V-1 and V-2 flying bombs over city of Luxembourg on NW course. Not engaged. One flying bomb crashed in the vicinity of Mondorf. No damage.

28 November 1944 - Three V-1 flying bombs over city of Luxembourg, Not engaged. No damage.

29 November 1944 - Two V-2 and one V-1 flying bombs over city of Luxembourg. Not engaged. No damage.

30 November 1944 - One V-1 flying bomb over city of Luxembourg. Not engaged. No damage.

War Diary for December '44
5 DecemberThird Army battles through Saarlautern.
11 DecemberFrance and Russia sign 20-year Mutual Assistance Pact.
16 DecemberGerman counteroffensive attack begins through the Ardennes.
20 DecemberGermans smash toward Liege with 15 divisions, isolate American units in Bastogne.
22 DecemberThird Army strikes at Southern flank of the Bulge.
24 DecemberAllied air power blasts the German forces in the Bulge.
26 DecemberPatton drives a Southern corridor to within 5 miles of Bastogne.
27 DecemberBastogne pocket is relieved.

1 December 1944 - Three V-1 flying bombs over City of Luxembourg. Not engaged. No damage.

2 December 1944 - No change.

3 December 1944 - No change.

4 December 1944 - Battery "A" engaged enemy plane with barrage fire at 1850, 2015 and 2045 fired 145 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage. Battery "C" engaged enemy plane with barrage fire at 1845, 2020, and 2122, fired 190 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage. Battery "D" engaged enemy plane with barrage fire at 2115, fired 22 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage. Two V-1 flying bombs over City of Luxembourg at 1730 and 1740. Not engaged. No damage. Brigadier General E. W. Timberlake, Commanding General, 49th AAA Brigade, presented 3 Silver Star Medals and 14 Bronze Star Medals to members of this organization.

5 December 1944 - No change.

6 December 1944 - Battery "A" engaged enemy plane with barrage fire at 2118 and 2125, fired 9 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage.

7 December 1944 and 8 December 1944 - No change.

9 December 1944 - Battery "A" engaged enemy plane with barrage fire at 2100, fired 4 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage.

10 December 1944 and 11 December 1944 - No change.

12 December 1944 - Battery "A" engaged plane with barrage fire at 2335. Fired 128 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage. Battery "C" engaged enemy plane with barrage fire at 2335, fired 185 - 37mm rounds. No claims. No damage. One V-2 flying bomb over city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg at 1245. Not engaged. No damage.

13, 14 and 15 December 1944 - No change.

16 December 1944 through 24 January 1945 - See the Ardennes Campaign.

War Diary for January '45
8 JanuaryField Marshall Montgomery put in Command of all American and British Armies North of the Bulge. General Bradley takes Command of all forces south of the Bulge.
9 JanuaryU.S. Sixth Army invades Luzon, Phillipines.
17 JanuaryRussians capture Warsaw, Poland.

25 January 1945 through 27 January 1945 - No change.

28 January 1945 - Battery "D" moved to original assembly area with "CCA", 8th Armored Division in the vicinity of Clemery, France. 1st Platoon of Battery "D" moved with 398th Field Artillery Battalion, "CCA", 8th Armored Division to vicinity of Ruves, France. In position at 1400. Second platoon of Battery "D", moved with "CCA" 8th Armored Division to vicinity of Clmery, France. In position at 1600.

29 January 1945 - No change.

30 January 1945 - Ltrs of commendation received from 3rd US Army, III Corps and 32nd AAA Group for the Battalion's participation in the relief of BASTOGNE, Belgium. Battalion relieved of attachment from 3rd U.S. Army per Troop Assignment No. 25, Headquarters 12th Army Group. Battalion relieved of attachment to XX Corps per Troop Assignment No. A-101, HQ 3rd U.S. Army. Battalion also relieved of attachment to 112th AAA Group. Letters of Commendation as follows:

31 January 1945 - No change.

War Diary for February '45
5 FebruaryGeneral MacArthur's Troops enter the city of Manila, Phillipines.
7 FebruaryRoosevelt, Churchhill, and Stalin meet in Yalta, Crimea.
10 FebruaryTokyo is bombed by 90 B-29 Superfortresses.
19 FebruaryU.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima.
23 FebruaryU.S. Third Army crosses the Saar River. Canadian Army advances on Wesel, gateway to the Ruhr industrial district.

1 February 1945 - No change.

2 February 1945 - Battalion Headquarters, Headquarters Battery and two sections of 1st Platoon of Battery "A" moved with Headquarters 8th Armored Division. Arrived in bivouac in the vicinity of Neuville-en-Gondron, Belgium at 2330. Battery "B" moved with "CCB", 8th Armored Division. Arrived at Liege, Belgium at 031645 Feb 45. Battery "D" moved with "CCA", 8th Armored Division and arrived in bivouac in the vicinity of Modave, Belgium at 032150 February 1945.

3 February 1945 - Battery "A" less two sections moved with "CCR", 8th Armored Division. Arrived at Liege, Belgium 040200 February 1945. Battery "C" moved with 8th Armored Division Trains. Arrived at Liege, Belgium 041330 February 1945. Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Battery arrived Verviers, Belgium 1000. Established Battalion Command Post. Battery "B" went into bivouac in the vicinity of Chaudfontaine, Belgium at 1715.

4 February 1945 - Battalion relieved of attachment to 1st U.S. Army control and attached to 49th AAA Brigade effective 3 February 1945 per Troop Assignment No. 12, Headquarters, First U.S. Army, 4 February 1945. Battalion further attached to 103rd AAA Group per Troop Assignment No. 5, Headquarters, 49th AAA Brigade, dated 3 February 1945. Battery "B" in position along defile from Theaux to Pepinster, Belgium at 1420. Battery "D" in position along defile from Verviers to Pepinster, Belgium at 1600. Battery "A" in position along defile from Pepinster to Coucoumont, Belgium at 1600. Battery "C" in position along defile from Coucoumont to Prayon, Belgium at 1700.

5 February 1945 through 10 February 1945 - No change.

11 February 1945 - Battalion relieved of attachment to 49th AAA Brigade and attached to V Corps effective 110600 Feb 45, per Troop Assignment No. 14, Headquarters, First U.S. Army. Battalion relieved of attachment to 103rd AAA Group effective 110600 Feb 45, per Toop Assignment No. 6, Headquarters, 49th AAA Brigade. Battalion attached to 115th AAA Group, VOCG, V Corps. First platoon of Battery "A" moved to defense of 880th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Udenberth, Germany. In position at 1700. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved to defense of 879th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Hollerath, Germany. In position at 1700.

12 February 1945 - First platoon of Battery "C" moved to defense of 591st Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Murringen, Belgium. In position at 1300. Second platoon of Battery "C" moved to defense of 592nd Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Murringen, Belgium. In position at 1300. First platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense of 881st Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Neuhof, Germany. In position at 1800. Second platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense of 724th Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Krinkelt, Belgium. In position at 1600.

13 February 1945 - Battery "D" moved to defense of 552nd Field Artillery Battalion and crossroads at Mullingen, Belgium. In position at 1600.

14 February 1945 through 23 February 1945 - No change.

24 February 1945 - Established Forward Battalion Command Post at Kalterherberg, Germany with 4 Officers and 31 Enlisted Men.

25 February 1945 - No change.

26 February 1945 - Second platoon of Battery "D" moved to defense of 941st Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Wirtzfeld, Belgium. In position at 2000.

27 February 1945 and 28 February 1945 - No change.

War Diary for March '45
7 MarchAdvanced infantry of LTG Hodges' First Army cross the Ludendorf Bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen.
17 MarchThird Army seizes Coblenz as troops cross the Moselle River. Center span of the bridge at Remagen collapses as engineers attempt to strengthen it.
26 MarchThird Army moves on Frankfort, Germany.
27 MarchThird Army takes Frankfort, now only 198 miles from Berlin. Russians capture Warsaw, Poland.

1 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "A" moved 1 mile east with 880th Field Artillery Battalion. In position at 1500.

2 March 1945 - Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 724th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Hollerath, Germany. In position at 0345.

3 March 1945 - No change.

4 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "B" moved with 881st Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Hollerath, Germany. In position at 1900.

5 March 1945 - No change.

6 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "A" moved with 880th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Schnorrenberg, Germany. In position at 2200. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved with 879th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Reifferscheid, Germany. In position at 2300.

7 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "C" moved with 591st Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Udenberth, Germany. In position at 1330. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved with 879th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Reifferscheid, Germany. In position at 1630. Second platoon of Battery "C" moved with 592nd Field Artillery battalion to the vicinity of Berk, Germany. In position at 1900. First platoon of Battery "B" moved with 881st Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Schmidtheis, Germany. In position at 1920. Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 724th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Vassern, Germany. In position at 2000.

Historical Footnote

The capture of an intact bridge across the Rhine River has been called one of the key events of the war in Europe. It would be difficult to over-estimate the number of Allied casualties if it had been necessary to force a crossing against stiff German resistance.

On 7 March 1945, Lieutenant Timmermann, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Armored Infantry Regiment, 9th Armored Division was leading a column with orders to move into the town of Remagen, Germany. As his jeep crested the final hiil, he looked down and was surprised to see the bridge still standing. The Germans were methodically destroying all the Rhine bridges at the last moment before the Allies arrived. The 1,000 foot span of the Ludendorf railroad bridge was built in 1916 to move supplies to the Western Front in WWI. Here the Rhine was swift and wide - 300 yards. On the eastern side, 600 foot cliffs rise sharply only yards from the river bank. The bridge was anchored by 2 fortress-like stone towers at each end. The men of Company A began their crossing in the early afternoon. The Germans tried to blow the bridge but the electrical ignition wires had been cut by shellfire. They manually lit the backup primer cord fuzes and the bridge was rocked by a tremendous explosion. A huge hole was blown but the bridge was still standing when the smoke cleared. General Hodges pushed across 8,000 men and scores of armor and artillery vehicles in the first 24 hours despite repeated attempts by the Germans to shell and bomb the bridge into the river. On the 17th of March, the weakened bridge suddenly collapsed as combat engineers were working to reinforce it. Twenty-eight men were killed and 163 injured. By that time several pontoon bridges had been constructed and the drive in to Germany went on relentlessly.

8 March 1945 - Second platoon of Battery "C" moved with 592nd Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Merringen, Belgium. In position at 1600.

9 March 1945 - Second platoon of Battery "B" moved with 724th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Schmidtheim, Germany. In position at 1600. First platoon of Battery "A" moved with 880th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Dahlern, Germany. In position at 1800. Second platoon of Battery "A" moved with 879th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Blankenheimerdorf, Germany. In position at 1800.

10 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "D" moved to defense of bridge at Schliden, Germany. In position at 1700. Battery "C" moved to defense of bridges at Germund, Germany. In position at 1700. Headquarters Battery moved to Monschau, Germany.

11 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "A" moved with 186th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Schmidtheim, Germany. In position at 0850. Battalion Command Post (Fwd) moved to Strempt, Germany. Established Command Post at 1100. Second platoon of Battery "D" moved with 941st Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Berg, Germany. In position at 1200.

12 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "B" moved with 186th Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Gonnersdorf, Germany. In position at 1230. Second platoon of Battery "B" moved to defense of 62nd Field Artillery Battalion in the vicinity of Ahrweiler, Germany. In position at 1400. Battery "C" and 1st platoon of Battery "D" moved to give additional defense within the Inner Artillery Zone at Remagen, Germany. In position at 1600. Second platoon of Battery "D" moved with 941st Field Artillery Battalion to the vicinity of Schwerfen, Germany. In position at 1200. Battery "A" moved to defense of bridges over Ahr River in the vicinity of Heimercheim, Germany. In position at 1700. Action as follows:

TimeBatteryPlanesAmmo ExpendedClaims
1500"B"one FW-190390-.50calPlane shot down
1515"C"One FW-19028-37mm 1465-.50calNo hits
1550"C"One ME-10920-37mm 2050-.50calHits on plane
1615"C"One FW-19034-37mm 3350-.50calHits on plane
1645"C"One FW-19078-37mm 2000-.50calHits on plane
1725"B"One FW-1904-37mmNo hits
1730"D"One ME-26243-37mm 1500-.50calNo hits
1800"C"One ME-26252-37mm 2450-.50calNo hits
1800"D"One FW-19010-37mm 150-.50calNo hits

13 March 1945 - Headquarters Battery moved to Strempt, Germany. Arrived at 1200. One Enlisted Man of Battery "C" wounded in action from Anti-aircraft air-burst. Evacuated to hospital. Action as follows:

TimeBatteryPlanesAmmo ExpendedClaims
1145"D"one ME-109149-37mm 3275-.50calNo hits
1205"C"One FW-190167-37mm 6730-.50calNo hits
1300"D"One ME-10910-37mm 575-.50calNo hits
1305"C"One FW-19011-37mm 130-.50calNo hits
1330"C"One ME-26210-37mmNo hits
1350"B"One FW-190450-.50calPlane shot down
1355"C"One FW-19096-37mm 3035-.50calHits on plane
1400"A"One ME-10956-37mm 2600-.50calNo hits
1405"A"One ME-26229-37mm 1030-.50calNo hits
1410"D"One FW-19076-37mm 2400-.50calNo hits
1750"A"One ME-26221-37mm 1000-.50calNo hits
1755"C"One ME-26236-37mm 1000-.50calNo hits
1800"B"One FW-19020-37mm 670-.50calNo hits
1845"A"One ME-109700-.50calNo hits
1845"B"One FW-19011-37mm 250-.50calNo hits
1845"C"One ME-10914-37mm 120-.50calNo hits
1945"B"One FW-1909-37mm 612-.50calNo hits

14 March 1945 - Action as follows:

TimeBatteryPlanesAmmo ExpendedClaims
1255"C"one ME-2626-37mmNo hits
1315"A"One ME-109700-.50calNo hits
1320"D"One AR-234144-37mm 3500-.50calNo hits
1510"B"One FW-19017-37mm 349-.50calHits on plane
1530"C"One ME262144-37mm 3500-.50calNo hits
1530"B"One ME-262
One FW-190
90-37mm 4100-.calHits on plane
1530"A"Four ME-262120-37mm 470-.50calNo hits
1530"D"One ME-26219-37mm 175-.50calNo hits
1535"B"One ME-262
One FW-190
46-37mm 250-.50calHits on plane
1535"C"One ME-262152-37mm 3750-.50calNo hits
1545"D"One ME-26213-37mm 225-.50calNo hits
1600"D"One AR-234216-37mm 6375-.50calNo hits
1600"C"One ME-262141-37mm 2845-.50calNo hits
1600"B"One ME-262128-37mm 1950-.50calHits on plane
1600"A"Four ME-262
Two ME-109
OneFW-190
266-37mm 6350-.50calHits on plane
1630"D"One ME-26225-37mm 315-.50calNo hits
1830"C"One ME-26214-37mm 125-.50calNo hits

15 March 1945 - Battery "C" engaged one ME-262 at 1905, fired 29 - 37mm and 150 - .50 caliber rounds. No claims.

16 March 1945 through 20 March 1945 - No change.

21 March 1945 - First platoon of Battery "B" moved with 186th FA Bn to the vicinity of Numedy, Germany. In position at 2000.



 
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