Sramek, Frank J. He was a bombardier in the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group and his aircraft "Decatur Deb" was shot down on May 28, 1944. Among the most familiar for their heroism and contributions to establishing key bridgeheads in the European Theater was at the Ludendorff Bridge at the Battle of Remagen. 1963, History of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment. List of battleships of the United States Navy, This article does not contain any citations or references. 23rd, It was redesignated for the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) on 15 July 1955. 1906, Records of organic units (units that were permanently attached to a division) typically contain unit histories, general orders, and other administrative records. He was on the waterpolo team. Most war diaries provided a day-to-day record of operational activities and sometimes administrative activities as well. The regiment was deployed in the south of England to assist with the arsenal build up for D-Day and the advance through France. 1943, The explosion killed him. Roster, reunion information of U.S. Army 931st Signal Battalion (Avn) (Sp), World War II China-Burma-India Theatre. 381st Combat Engineers Battalion of World War II. The records are not yet described at the file-unit level in the National Archives Catalog, but you may request a search of the records by e-mailing the reference staff at archives2reference@nara.gov. World War II recruiting poster for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. My grand uncle, 2nd Lt. Robert L. Woolfolk attended UCLA and I believe he graduated in 1936. There is a B-17G tail gunner's compartment on display at the 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to this crew. A combat engineer (also called pioneer or sapper) is a type of soldier who performs military engineering tasks in support of land forces combat operations. 1941-1959 Deck Logs, including World War II and the Korean War. Records of organic units (units that were permanently attached to a division) typically contain unit histories, general orders, and other administrative records. This series contains copies of reports of Army medical units and facilities, as well as reports from medical components of regular Army units. US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. 1519, Whether one is a member of Special Forces, wears the Sapper tab, or simply holds the military occupational specialty of a combat engineer, there is no question that the soldiers and Marines who serve in this highly important and often very dangerous role are exceptional. This series consists of the original mission reports pertaining to specific targets. 1954, 1518, Best known for pontoon bridge construction, their duties also included serving as sappers deploying and deactivating explosive charges and unexploded munitions, mapmaking, camouflage, and a wide variety of construction services supporting frontline troops. i* chemical, The Textual Reference Archives II Branch at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland, has custody of several series of records related to World War II Army units: The main series of WWII Army unit records is the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917- (Record Group 407). They include logbooks from U.S. Coast Guard cutters, tenders, light ships, lighthouses, lifeboat stations, light ships, and other installations. 19th Engineer Combat Regiment . From its activation at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi through the end of World War II, company rosters, activities, timeline, etc. Many records relating to the Coast Guards participation in wartime operations during World War II are dispersed among the Navy records (see above), however, there are additional series of WWII Coast Guard records in the Records of the United States Coast Guard (Record Group 26). The files are arranged by type of unit and thereunder numerically by unit designation. The records are arranged according to an alphanumeric filing system based on military hierarchy. These highly trained operators provide Special Forces teams with any and all engineering support, usually in extremely austere environments and without the aid of heavy equipment. Muster rolls are lists of naval personnel attached to a ship, station, or other activity. dates given are day-month-year [e.g. 28th, This site remembers the contributions and sacrifices made by members of this Australian WW2 battalion. The Coast Guard war diaries include Abstracts of War Diaries, 5/1942 - 9/1945, which are arranged by year and thereunder by unit, and include highlights of outstanding activities and operations by Coast Guard ships and shore units during World War II. Combat Engineers played important roles in numerous World War II battles, especially breaching the heavily fortified Seigfried Line protecting the German border and numerous defensive lines established by the Wehrmacht in Italy, including the Gustav Line. This post provides a brief overview of some of the predominant series of World War II operational unit records in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Memorial website to the crew of RAF Lancaster bomber ED627 (EM-N) of 207 Squadron who died when they were shot down over Germany on August 28, 1943. These records consist mostly of unit historical reports, after action reports, unit journals, and general orders. Across the wars urban battlefields, where IEDs posed the biggest threat to American troops, engineers were often tasked with conducting route clearance missions. , which are arranged by year and thereunder by unit, and include highlights of outstanding activities and operations by Coast Guard ships and shore units during World War II. This article does not contain any citations or references. Tracing the men who fought in the Burma theatre of WWII. Many thanks for the commentary, An example of the closer look we can get from Unit Records is the case of Captain George Oliver. Please improve this article by adding a reference. 1932, Mel Brooks Was a Combat Engineer in World War II : No. The series generally contains information about radio equipment, armament, crew composition, as well as ship movements. Reports typically contain narratives about unit activities, descriptions of facilities and locations, and a narrative about organization and administration. Reports may also contain statistics, photographs, or maps. The series, Records Relating to United States Marine Corps Operations in World War II, 1939 - 1949, also known as Geographic Files, consist of records related to the principal amphibious assaults and ground combat operations of the Marine Corps during the World War II era, as well as the occupation of formerly enemy-controlled areas. Their quick work was praised by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of all American forces during the invasion, who famously said, They went through the first barrier like it was water.. 5W^'qO{8am(xQff5cm1jQf5cyc<4yi=ii[McwW?^}s}sY{~{)?k`N7W|w/G~Z9jwaDl#1R0*U7V#mn=q *s|W=qtvsm 0+n4rA7.LRk3$UrbAGX^U"W!wdbn] D!hrXVX-@t@[je*jZh ZhdG|9@BY&gOcA3Q9>0|Am94Xk&bu!hUj~dggAx`#~b=!dAxMD'E4+-B`9LK"(lO6P'" &@j & `5DM`5VoHNE@D|raO M The Japanese Americans, known as Nisei, served in the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd). 6/1/1946, has been digitized through our partnership with Fold3 and is available on the Fold3 World War II Diaries website. Copyright 1996-2023 Cyndi Ingle, CyndisList.com. 3rd Division, James Austin Gray was a Staff Sergent in the regiment. Another large series that contains WWII Army unit records is. For information about how to add references, see Template:Citation. Generally, the files do not include any personnel or medical information. endstream endobj 3830 0 obj <>stream The battle was filmed, marking the first time actions that resulted in the awarding of a Medal of Honor were caught on video. Reports may also contain statistics, photographs, or maps. Its earned. She passed away 10 years ago. Unit records are useful if you would like to learn more about a units movements and operations. It sailed to Germany in March 1952 and served there for five years, returning to Fort Lewis in April 1957. There are additional unit histories and supporting documents of Army Air Force and Air Force units that are still in the custody of the Air Force at the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. where available. Army Sgt. Unfortunately, rosters for units serving in World War II from 1944-46 were destroyed in accordance with Army records disposition authorities after the war. Kansas , 10th Engineer Combat Battalion; 3d Medical Battalion; 3d Division Artillery; 10th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 39th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 41st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 9th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer) Special Troops; 703d Ordnance Light Maintenance Company; 3d Quartermaster Company All Rights Reserved. The only thing we know about my grandfather is that his name was James Lee Wilson, and disappeared during the war. More detailed information about deck logs is available on, NARAs The Text Message Blog, Know Your Records: U.S. Navy Deck Logs. In addition to being experts in explosives, demolition, and construction, combat engineers are also trained warfighters. The 339th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army, raised for service in World War I, that served in the North Russia Intervention and World War II. This is written up the in the book "Bloody Skies: U.S. Eighth Air Force Battle Damage in World War II." The History of Battery A, 137 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Bn., including Battery Roster, with some Photos of the 608th Military Police Battalion, Leyte, Philippines 1945. 1312, Records of non-organic units (units not permanently attached to a division) generally consist of historical reports and some administrative records. Free shipping for many products! Two US Army Reserve combat engineer soldiers from the 374th Engineer Company (Sapper) cast from a CH-47 Chinook into Lopez Lake, California, during a two-week field exercise known as a Sapper Leader Course Prerequisite Training. Some of these reports, known generally as After Action Reports (AAR), may describe the days combat in as little as a paragraph, or across several pages. He died leading the way. Like so many other combat engineers killed in the line of duty, he died doing what he was trained and expected to do. Although we do not have an official index to the records, there is a private website, Air Force History Index, which can serve as a finding aid to the records. The series is arranged by organization and includes records of naval commands, and select naval units and ships, as well as records of other non-Navy agencies, including Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army Air Force, among others. They are exception based reports, meaning that a soldiers name will on appear on the report only if his status has changed from the previous report (e.g. The 1317th departed from New York for England on March 21, 1944, arriving on the 27th. The National Archives has custody of accessioned microfilm copies of some of AFHRAs records in the Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations (Record Group 342), Entry (UD) 1006-B1. :k}g #30Fh~@H.V,HFH#j#'^h0m6:Bza l.bU_EG&(S1?121Ff_0:y*kX>1xGU^9\Zi Please improve this article by adding a reference. Combat engineers are also the go-to experts when enemy obstacles need to be cleared or destroyed. Related: How the Special Operations Combat Medic Course Provides Real-World Training. Unfortunately, the bodies were strewn about a German mine field. You may search the file titles in this series by clicking on Search within this series. The series covers through 1967, so be sure to verify that the dates covered within any particular file unit(s) you locate match the dates you are interested in. The unit was broken up, its three battalions redesignated as the 2826th Combat Engineer Battalion, the 2827th Combat Engineer Battalion, and the 2828th Combat Engineer Battalion, respectively. Cody D.J. On 1 April 1943, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 11th Engineer Battalion (Combat) and sent to the United States for training. It is impossible to know what will be in a given AAR. In this role, engineers cleared paths for other soldiers, sailors, and Marines to follow on foot and in vehicles and engage the enemy without their movement being restricted by the additional risk of concealed bombs. African American, The series US Submarine Patrol Reports, 1941-1945 has been digitized through a partnership with Fold3 and is available on the Fold3 WWII Submarine Patrol Reports website. These microfilmed records are available to view at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Burma, The DCGO diaries include a compiled weekly report from memorandums, reports, and meeting minutes on operational, personnel, intelligence, legal, and medical activities. Mountain Warfare Training Centre, Cedars, Lebanon, WW2. World War II Action and Operational Reports: this series consists of narrative and form reports, mostly submitted by Navy commands, although documents by other commands are also interspersed. US Army photo by Master Sgt. 1/1/1942 - ca. [1] [2] Unlike most of NARAs World War II Unit records, which are are at NARAs College Park location, the Coast Guard records are located at the National Archives in Washington, DC. At Sapper school, soldiers and Marines learn skills such as minefield clearance, demolitions, and airfield construction. 50th, There are copies of, of the monthly rosters from 1912-43 and 1947-59 for Army units (including Army Air Corps) in the custody of the National Archives in St. Louis, MO. The first units which have been described in some detail are the British 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division & British 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division. Some record groups have thousands of entries, so it can be daunting to try to figure out the best place to start. 46th, Mary, The muster rolls for WWII only include enlisted sailors - officers of ships are listed in the deck logs. A California Marine remains in the brig, accused of threatening to chop up his wife with a machete. Also shown are unit strength, the location of the unit, and sometimes a Record of Events. The other. This series contains copies of reports of Army medical units and facilities, as well as reports from medical components of regular Army units. , which can serve as a finding aid to the records. Many thousands of men were trained in mountain warfare at Cedars during 1943 and 1944. American pioneer units proved equally as effective in World War II as their World War I German counterparts. They possess a variety of skills that are crucial in war. Information about the missions, the men and the planes of the U.S. Army Air Force 94th Bomb Group (Heavy) in World War II. World War II War Diaries, 12/7/1941 - 12/31/1945: this series consists of daily operational journals created by various naval commands, shore installations, ships and other activities throughout the Navy, as well as some Marine Corps and non-Navy commands. 2013 2023 WW2 Research Inc. All rights reserved. List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Engineer battalions of the United States Army, Engineering units and formations of the United States Army, Conducting river crossings by pontoon/raft, motor-powered. Some record groups have thousands of entries, so it can be daunting to try to figure out the best place to start. 1315, 472nd 963rd Engineer Maintenance Company WW2. during WWII ], [ 19th Infantry Division - Did not exist h_`'O`k,2X3xHo]Lr]CR6c22+*NUPON'Za;)4seX[aVOao-1G1z18R64|ea8SqGljqZ8am*S+)#oiZ#F\Q2FkG\;b44bwD1/}gG-y[q}Vs)nyg.FqiyGR1eh>m-3Fey1Ra9NAa6NkDYVcE;9mJyh>mbmb}^e1z+fm"DX& Very useful, WWII Military Unit Records at the National Archives, Although there are a few exceptions (e.g. There are copies of most of the monthly rosters from 1912-43 and 1947-59 for Army units (including Army Air Corps) in the custody of the National Archives in St. Louis, MO. The Avro Lancaster B1 on display in the Aeroplane Hall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia. China, They document events that occurred and may contain information such as courses steered, distance run, compass variations, sea and weather conditions, ships position, principal headlands passed, names of lookouts, and a any unusual occurrences. The Navy Cross the branchs second-highest award for valor in combat isnt handed out to just anybody. The reports do not contain patient medical records. Coat of Arms: Shield: Gules, a rock Argent within a garland of oak leaves and acorns Proper within a bordure of the second. Bill Beigel researches veterans who served and survived the war, as well as those who were WW2 casualties. They followed in his footsteps as he walked the lonely road so often traveled by combat engineers, knowing, as he did, that if there were a hidden bomb waiting for them hed probably be the one to trigger it. Caltrider spends most of his time reading, writing, and waging a one-man war against premature hair loss. In 1997, Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for action in France in November 1944. Related Topics / Keywords / Phrases: US Army photo by Master Sgt. During the Battle of Tarawa in 1943, for example, a Marine pioneer unit led by Lt. Alexander Bonnyman did what naval gunfire, aerial bombardments, and the infantry had already tried and failed to do: He successfully cleared the islands largest enemy bunker. Muster rolls list personnel attached to a unit or command, while personnel diaries list significant personnel status changes, such as transfers, promotions, leave, or temporary duty. during WWII ], Original webdesign Graduates are authorized to wear the coveted Sapper tab on their uniform and rank among the most elite combat engineers in the world. The National Archives does not have custody of unit records for every military unit, and the volume and type of records can vary considerably by unit. This series consists of the original mission reports pertaining to specific targets. The 1317th entered France and then Belgium in February 1945 and Germany on April 2. An Engineer Combat Battalion was a designation for a battalion strength combat engineering unit in the U.S. Army, most prevalent during World War II. Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, was . The records are arranged according to an alphanumeric filing system based on military hierarchy. Fortunately for modern-day researchers, the Army kept meticulous combat diaries and journals to record their battlefield activities for a given period of time. Arden Buenagua understood the risk he was taking when he extended his green, plastic metal detector and assumed the position at the head of the single-file patrol. The 339th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army, raised for service in World War I, that served in the North Russia Intervention and World War II. They document events that occurred and may contain information such as courses steered, distance run, compass variations, sea and weather conditions, ships position, principal headlands passed, names of lookouts, and a any unusual occurrences.