Special Missions Through The Enemy Lines.

sapper · 03-12-2005, 06:05 PM

Twice during my time in action I have been on special missions, though they were not thought of being "Special" at the time.

One was to carry an army issue gramophone into enemy territory, and play plastic type records about 6 inches or so in diameter. The discs contained what the Germans were meant to hear. In our case the sounds of men preparing to build a bridge.

There is a question for you. have you heard about these missions? and do you know where they wer carried out? Indeed, do you beleive it anyway? For it sounds a bit "Way out"
Sapper [img]images/smilies/default/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smilies/default/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smilies/default/biggrin.gif[/img]

Gnomey · 03-12-2005, 10:25 PM

I for one have not heard about these missions and have not read anything anywhere about them sapper. It would be great if you could elabourate and tell us more stories of your missions.

Kiwiwriter · 05-12-2005, 04:39 PM

Two books on this subject will help:

The Deceivers

Secret Soldiers

The first is a comprehensive history of Allied deception operations in WW2, from Egypt to the Elbe. The second is a history of the US Special Services outfit that operated such deceptions, including "sonic deceivers." They did indeed play records of bridges being built, tanks grinding, and so on, with amplifiers, to confuse the German forces.

It was a pretty amazing operation, and it lasted all through the war.

sapper · 05-12-2005, 07:35 PM

To be honest I had forgotten that I had already posted this event previously. I had an idea that it been up before, so I searched for it.

We often hear these days about Special Forces pulling off wartime stunts. I am afraid to say we never heard of them, or came across any of these Special Forces during my times. Any deception that was needed, we did ourselves. I had never told the story of the Gramophone escapades previously because I was stonewall sure that it would be ridiculed. But then in later years, I found out that my little band was not the only ones that penetrated deep behind enemy lines with Gramophones and the plastic type discs.

I found out that it had been going on in several places. And some bright soul sent me a series of photos of the army issue gramophones. Yet some years previously at a meeting with modern Royal Engineer Chiefs, and senior officers, they knew nothing about these deceptions.
Sorry about raising the same subject again! put it down to age.
Sapper

elbowgeek · 07-12-2005, 08:59 AM

Hi, I just wanted to jump in here as both a WWII buff and audio hobbyist. I would very much like to know what amplifiers they used. They must have been quite hi-fi for their day and it would be interesting to know what speakers they used with them.

Fascinating...

03-12-2005, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gnomey Per Ardua Ad Astra Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 2,957	I for one have not heard about these missions and have not read anything anywhere about them sapper. It would be great if you could elabourate and tell us more stories of your missions. __________________ "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few" Sir Winston Chuchill, Summer 1940 "To him the people of Britain and the free world owe largely the way of life they enjoy today" Ensciption on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-1940) Statue in London Aircraft of World War 2 Forum - A Warbird Forum

05-12-2005, 04:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Newark, NJ, and Christchurch, NZ Posts: 2,431	Two books on this subject will help: The Deceivers Secret Soldiers The first is a comprehensive history of Allied deception operations in WW2, from Egypt to the Elbe. The second is a history of the US Special Services outfit that operated such deceptions, including "sonic deceivers." They did indeed play records of bridges being built, tanks grinding, and so on, with amplifiers, to confuse the German forces. It was a pretty amazing operation, and it lasted all through the war. __________________ "My intensity is intense." -- Roger Clemens "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill. "I am not a hero. The heroes are all dead. I am a survivor." -- Sgt. William Guarnere, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Check out my little contributions to World War II history at my web pages: World War II Plus 55 or http://davidhlippman.wildbillguarnere.com

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03-12-2005, 06:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
sapper WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,510	Twice during my time in action I have been on special missions, though they were not thought of being "Special" at the time. One was to carry an army issue gramophone into enemy territory, and play plastic type records about 6 inches or so in diameter. The discs contained what the Germans were meant to hear. In our case the sounds of men preparing to build a bridge. There is a question for you. have you heard about these missions? and do you know where they wer carried out? Indeed, do you beleive it anyway? For it sounds a bit "Way out" Sapper [img]images/smilies/default/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smilies/default/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smilies/default/biggrin.gif[/img]

05-12-2005, 07:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
sapper WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,510	To be honest I had forgotten that I had already posted this event previously. I had an idea that it been up before, so I searched for it. We often hear these days about Special Forces pulling off wartime stunts. I am afraid to say we never heard of them, or came across any of these Special Forces during my times. Any deception that was needed, we did ourselves. I had never told the story of the Gramophone escapades previously because I was stonewall sure that it would be ridiculed. But then in later years, I found out that my little band was not the only ones that penetrated deep behind enemy lines with Gramophones and the plastic type discs. I found out that it had been going on in several places. And some bright soul sent me a series of photos of the army issue gramophones. Yet some years previously at a meeting with modern Royal Engineer Chiefs, and senior officers, they knew nothing about these deceptions. Sorry about raising the same subject again! put it down to age. Sapper

07-12-2005, 08:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
elbowgeek Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 9	Hi, I just wanted to jump in here as both a WWII buff and audio hobbyist. I would very much like to know what amplifiers they used. They must have been quite hi-fi for their day and it would be interesting to know what speakers they used with them. Fascinating...

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