American Airborne units location in Uk prior to D-Day

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a list of possible locations of thr 82nd and 101st prior to D-Day whilst they were here in the UK.

 

Jason,

Do you have ATB's D-Day? I'm sure they are listed in there as there's a whole section devoted to the airborne part of the operation.

Andy

 

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a list of possible locations of thr 82nd and 101st prior to D-Day whilst they were here in the UK.

On September 4 1943 men of the 502nd boarded the SS. Strathnaver bound for their new home in England. The Strathnaver sailed for 6 days before she had to make port on September 11 in St. Johns Newfoundland for repairs. The journey eventually would end up taking a total of 44 days because of the discovery of salt water in the ships fresh water tanks and other non-related mishaps. On October 4th the SS John Ericsson picked the men up and finally set sail for England arriving in Liverpool on October 18th. They settled into quarters in the Chilton Foliat and Denford near Hungerford, Berkshire which would be their new home for the next seven months. The Five-O-Deuce's troopers continued their rigorous training which included 15–25 mile hikes and daily close combat exercises. Instructions were given in a wide variety of items from 1st-aid, map reading, chemical warfare and the use and firing of German weapons. Company and battalion size parachute drops where also rehearsed during this period.



The 506th PIR was attached to the 101st Airborne Division on 1 June 1943. Later that month the regiment moved west to participate in the Tennessee maneuvers. After participating in the maneuvers, the 506th moved to Fort Bragg, NC until the end of August 1943 when the unit reported to Camp Shanks, NY to prepare to be transported overseas. The 506th crossed the Atlantic on the S.S. Samaria during September, arriving at Liverpool, England, on 15 September 1943.

In England, the 506th was stationed in Wiltshire County, with units in such villages as Aldbourne, Ramsbury, Froxfield, and Chilton-Foliat. Here the unit took part in such exercises as "Operations Wadham and Rankin" in preparation for the coming invasion of occupied Europe. June 5, 1944, found the men of the 506th parked by the aircraft that were to carry them into their first combat mission.


SOURCE : The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment(PIR)during World War II

Meanwhile, the remainder of the division sailed for the U.K., spending two months in Ireland after landing at Belfast Dec. 9. The 82nd moved to the Leicester and Nottingham areas mid-February. The 2nd A/B Inf. Brig., including the 507th and 508th Inf. Regts., was attached. The 504th RCT rejoined it in May but was to rest, not participate in the Normandy invasion.

SOURCE The Story of the 82nd Airborne Division -- WWII G.I. Stories Booklet (Lone Sentry)

P

 

In the doorway, I turned for one last look at the sweep of the English Midlands, now grown soft and green with spring.


Recalling events as he climbed into an aircraft heading for France.

 

It is a few years since I have been, but I can remember a dummy dressed in the garb of the 82nd airborne in a cabinet at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham. So some of them may have been stationed there. Wollaton Hall is a medium sized Elizabethan stately home, now run as a museum by the Nottingham city council.

 

Thanks largely to the intervention of Generals Bradley and Ridgway, I was chosen to replace him and took command of of the division on March 14th at its headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire.


Taylor talking about taking command of 101st Airborne after General Bill Lee's heart attack.

 

On March 23rd 1944 a 101st divisional parade took place on the fields of Court Oak Farm just east of Welford Airfield.

The 101st HQ was situated at Greenham Lodge on the western edge of Greenham Common. The divison was dispersed around Newbury in Berkshire.

 

Brig. Gen. Gavin of the 82nd took off from Cottesmore if that helps?

 

Drew, Phil many thanks for that information but the reason I ask is this, sorry I did not post sooner was trying to find the passage in the book that caused me to ask the question.The book is The Home Front In Chepstow 1939-1945, my home town and the passage reads thus " I saw real Red Indians with war paint , war bonnets, buckskin, lances, tomahawks and shields riding Pinto (Paint) ponies in th Wye valley. I saw them, towards the end of 1943 or early 44, galloping down the hillside from Botany bay, behind the Royal George Hotel.At that time the path was covered in loose stones, difficult to walk down, let alone ride it at that speed, a sight that burnt itself into the memory of a small boy.I believe they were nicknamed 'SCREAMING EAGLES', many of then were full bloodied Red Indians, with the traditional Mohican style hair cut. I am given to understand that some of them even jumped into Normandy in war paint,maybe even wearing buckskins, certainly Indian lamguage was used by them on the radio to defeat any Germans listening in" Now the Mohicans we know is true and Indian speakers navajo, code takers were used in the Pacific war mainly with the Marines but I never heard of it in Europe and as for the Pinto ponies and Indian tribal dress A vivid boys imagination maybe and why would 101st airborne 'Screaming Eagles' be in little old Chepstow, dont get ne wrong there were many varied troops there in the war but does much of the above ring true

 

THE 343RD Field Artillery was based at Camp Bulwark Nr chepstow upto leaving for Normandy

 

Owen, Phil how did you find that out all I can find in the book is references to particular British regiments and mention of American. Polish and Indian troops in Bulwark/Chepstow manty thanks guys but any more thoughts on the main part of my post?

 

I know that some members of 82nd Airborne were billeted at
Papillon Hall in Leicestershire, 1944, prior to Nijmegan drop.

Some Paratroopers actually disturbed the ghost, too!

Can you ID any of these guys?

Papillon Hall was one of the ancestral homes of Lieut Col Papillon DSO of the Essex Regiment

 

THE 343RD Field Artillery was based at Camp Bulwark Nr chepstow upto leaving for Normandy
They were originally part of thr 29th Infantry Divison but at the time in question the 90th Infantry Divisons webpage shows them on their OAB so that ties in with what Owen said and also found that A&B Companies of the 90th moved to Camp Bulwark on 13-14 May 1944.

 

While I was looking for more information I came up with these two stories www.piercefieldpark.co.uk/varticle39aspx www.piercefieldpark.co.uk/varticle38aspx see what you make of the mention of Lucius Clay of Berlin Airlift fame!

 

I believe they were nicknamed 'SCREAMING EAGLES', many of then were full bloodied Red Indians, with the traditional Mohican style hair cut. I am given to understand that some of them even jumped into Normandy in war paint,maybe even wearing buckskins, certainly Indian lamguage was used by them on the radio to defeat any Germans listening in" Now the Mohicans we know is true and Indian speakers navajo, code takers were used in the Pacific war mainly with the Marines but I never heard of it in Europe and as for the Pinto ponies and Indian tribal dress A vivid boys imagination maybe and why would 101st airborne 'Screaming Eagles' be in little old Chepstow, dont get ne wrong there were many varied troops there in the war but does much of the above ring true

Stephen Ambrose talks about this style (1992) and points to Joseph Libgott and another soldier (who were members of Easy Company, 2nd battalion, 506th PIR 101st Airborn) shaving mens hair into a mohicans for a few cents, (Ambrose: 1992: 64) and recently I came across the 'Filithy Thirteen' which adopted this image: Google Image Result for http://www.stripes.com/photos/58734_119162740.jpg

hope this information is of use.

 

Just thought I would bump this as I still am really none the wiser ref my original question

 

Ahh the filthy 13 good read