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461st
Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
The 461st arrived in England in July 1943 and was immediately tasked
with antiaircraft protection for airfields used by the Eighth Air
Force. After being relieved of that mission, the unit found a
new home with V Corps, First U.S. Army. Following extensive
preparations in England, the battalion arrived at Omaha Beach one
week after D-Day. The unit trekked across France, engaged
ground troops in the Battle of the Bulge, and participated in the
Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns.
Only 1,000 copies of this unit history were printed. This scan
was kindly provided by Donnie Rushing in memory of his father, Durell Rushing, a member of Battery B.
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The battalion history
is well-written and contains an excellent explanation of the
employment of antiaircraft artillery automatic weapons against
ground targets. Opening with an overview narrative of
the organization, the history then chronicles the saga of each
firing battery, HQ Battery, the Medical Detachment, and the
Chaplain. A unit roster is appended which includes the
hometowns and 1945 mailing addresses for battalion members.
The crest on the cover depicts the mythical Oozlefinch,
traditional mascot of the Coast Artillery Corps. This
insignia bears no resemblance to the one officially authorized
for the battalion in the 1950s. |
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Lt. Col.
John F. Bonner, CAC
Commanding Officer, 461st AAA AW Bn
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History of the 461st Anti-Aircraft
Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion
Click on the
cover below to view a PDF reproduction of
the unit history.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat
Reader to view.)
A short
history of the 461st AAA AW Bn is hosted on a
site dedicated to the 69th ID.
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During the later part
of the summer of 1944, the 461st AAA produced a "Battalion
Guide" that succinctly summarized the best operating practices of
the unit. Topics briefly covered in the guide include
emplacements, fire control, aircraft recognition, local security,
movements, uniforms and headquarters personnel. The short guide
distilled the pertinent instructions found across multiple AAA field
manuals and added in a dose of combat experience and battalion pride.
The guide nicely preserves a snapshot of the operations and attitude
of the 461st AAA.
The introduction to
the guide was written by Lt. Col. William H. Kintner who commanded the
461st for a mere three weeks in September 1944. Lt. Col. John F.
Bonner assumed command of the battalion after Kintner was recalled to
the States for a new assignment.
Click on the
cover at the left to view a PDF
reproduction of the 461st AAA Battalion Guide. |
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