80th AAAB

. 80th aaab .

Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion

The 80th Battalion was activated at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne on September 3, 1942.

The Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jack Whitfield, was composed of a HQ unit, a medical detachment and 6 batteries of about 80 men each:

The “A”, “B” and “C”: as anti-tank company with each 8 guns of 37mm later replaced by 57mm guns more easily transportable by glider.

The “D”, “E” et “F”: as anti-aircraft company with 1 machine-gun 50 caliber gone up on tripod M3 to support the infantry.

Various elements of 80th were trained at Fort Bragg, Fort Fisher and the Maxton Air Base, all in North Carolina.

Then, they were sent to camp Edwards, Massachusetts with the rest of 82nd. There, 80th prepared for the future battle overseas.

On 27 April 1943, the battalion left for New York to embark on the SS George Washington and the SS Monterey. They arrived in Casablanca on May 10, 1943. They were training in the Northern Africa for the invasion of Sicily.

Units of 80thAAB landed at Maiori in Italy via Salerno Bay, on September 10, 1943. They were attached to General Clark’s 5^th Army and attached to Rangers of Colonel Darby.

The anti-aircraft batteries, HQ unit and the medical detachment earned a Presidential Unit Citation before moving with the rest of the battalion to Naples where they carried out a whole series of patrols, guards and anti-aircraft defenses, until leaving for Ireland on November 17, 1943.

They were during this period under the command of Major Raymond Singleton who replaced Lieutenant Colonel Jack on August 25 before the invasion of Italy. Later, Singleton was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

After many weeks of training in Kilrea, Northern Ireland, the battalion was sent to camp Oadby in the Leicester area of England, on February 16, 1944. On June 5 44, batteries “A”, “B” and “C” left for Ramsbury Airfield destined for the Cotentin Peninsula by glider. Batteries “A” and “B” embarked in Waco CG4-A and the battery “C” in a British Horsa gliders.

Batteries “A” and “B” landed near Ste Mere Eglise, the intended HQ of the 82nd Airborne and first French city liberated on the early morning of June 6, 44.

80th reported in at 04:05 am in at 6 guns of 57mm. They gave an position between St Mere and the bridge of La Fiere area by 17:30 on June 6.

For the batteries “D”, “E” and “F”, as part of the “Howell” Seaborne Force left Bristol, England in 2 Liberty Ships the morning of 6 June, they arrived at Utah Beach on June 8. Of German S-Boat attacked the convoy wich explains the delay of the remainder of the company.

The battalion was given a different of assignment, attached to 505th PIR, 325th GIR, 507th PIR and 508th PIR. Batteries “A”, “B” and “C” claimed a number of tanks, of troop-carrying trailer and artillery. Initially, Batteries “D”, “E” et “F” had been to defend of HQ and bridges against Luftwaffe cutting down two devices. The 80^th‘s units have was also served as supports for 325th GIR, 505th PIR and 507th PIR for attacks.

The 80^th returned to Leicester on July 15, 1944 when it rested and re- equipped and its training for the next operation: “MARKET GARDEN”.

Holland – Septembre 1944 – Operation Market-Garden

On September 9, 1944, the British Field Marshal Montgomery proposed a plan baptized Market Garden intends has to establish a bridgehead to The Rhine River.

The operation was a combination between an airborne assault to take and hold the principal roads and bridges of Holland and a advance motorized.

The Battery “A” landed in Holland on September 17, Battery “B” landed the next day, September 18. The rest of the battalion landed later, on September 23.

The batteries took on their usual assignments with the “A”, “B” and “C” providing anti-tank protection to the 504th PIR, 505th PIR, 508th PIR and 325th GIR. They also used against MG German position. Moreover, all the “E” Battery was transformed into anti-tank battery. Batteries “D”, “E” and “F” protected the anti-tank units and participated as a fire support for the Infantry Regiments.

The battalion remained with the rest of the 82nd during the campaign of Holland then in France at camp Suippes on November 11, 1944.

As the 82nd and the 101st were in Camp Suippes and Sissone in France, they were better situated to be sent as reinforcement. One of the principal objectives of the Germans was the catch of Liege. The mission of the 82nd Airborne is to hold a perimeter in the South-West sector of the city. It will hold during one week. Another task was to contact the elements of the 7th and 9th Armored Division and to provide a withdrawal itinerary for the 28th and the 106th Infantry Division that had been massacred by the combats.

Right after the alert, the 82nd quickly prepared to join the front line. At the dawn of December 18, the men had not slept much but they were ready for combat. Large trucks were ready for them. The men were not at all in a good mood, they hardly had any rest after the operation Market Garden. For 13 hours and after having left Sissone, the convoy stopped in Werbomont, in Belgium, on the Liege-Bastogne road. The sound of canon coming from the east is the only indication of their proximity to the front line. While the men established a first defensive perimeter around Werbomont, many men wondered what all this agitation was; indeed, they had not yet been told. The 82nd set up its perimeter of defense and sent out patrols to collect information.

80th AAB arrived in the Werbomont area on December 18. Batteries took up defensive positions along the Salm river in the north of Three Bridge in the south of Large Halleux from 20 to 24 December, 1944 in support of the 505th PIR and 508th PIR where it engaged elements of the 1st SS Panzer (Panzergroup Peiper) and the 9th SS Panzer. It also supported an East to West line of Salmchateau with Regne in support of the 325th GIR against 2nd SS Panzer Division allowing the 7th Armored Division to withdraw in safety.

Battery “D” supported the G company of the 505th PIR for the defense of Grand Halleux, fought 9th SS in the night of December 22 while a German force crossed the Salm River.

The battalion pulled back with the rest of 82^nd on December 24. They took again the offensive on January 3, 1945. It provided plunging fire and anti-tank fire for the 2^nd battalion of the 505th PIR on January 7 to re-took the city of Goronne near Grand Halleux. 82^nd Airborne was relieved by 75th Infantry Division on January 11.

On January 21, the battalion assisting in the re-taking of St Vith with the 7th Armored Division, the 517th PIR and 508th PIR.

The 82nd continued to move toward the Siegfried line. Battery “B” of 80th used its 57mm, on February 1, 1945, knocking out 4 troop transports and two enemy jeeps. During this time, Battery “F” used 4000 round to convince a German bunker.

By February 23, it 80th returned to its old barracks at camp Suippes in France.

On April 1st, the battalion moved back into Germany. It arrived at Modrath. By April 4th, received its new orders of march: Batteries “A” and “F” were assigned to the 505th PIR, the “C” and the “D” to the 504th PIR and the “E” took up positions with the 325th GIR on 50km along the Rhine River with Cologne in the center. During the offensive aiming to crossing the river, the 80th participated in the breaking up of defensive German positions on the East side of The Rhine River, taking prisoners arranging with the RCT, the surrender of entire German town and cities. In July, the battalion was sent to Berlin like all 82nd to be used as troop of occupation.

It returned to the United States with the rest of the 82nd Airborne in December.

They defilement during the Victory Parades in New York down New York City’s 5^th Avenue.

Overall, the battalion or its composite units earned 6 Battle stars, 2 invasions arrowheads and 1 Presidential Unit Citation as well as other unit citations. Three men earned the Distinguished Service Cross and 3 others awarded Silver Star actions in Normandy, in Holland and The Ardennes.