UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II:
UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND
CHRONOLOGY
1941
April War Department issues RAINBOW-5 plan which envisions
wartime deployment of 87,000 American troops to the
United Kingdom (about half of which are to be Army Air
Corps elements in a Bomber Command)
- Approximately 30,000 of the troops are to be based in
Northern Ireland
19 May Special Observer Group (SPOBS) established under MG
James E. Chaney with temporary headquarters in the
American Embassy, 1 Grosvenor Square, London
20 May Initial personnel assigned to SPOBS; shortly afterwards
headquarters moves into permanent quarters at 18-20
Grosvenor Square, London
22 May MG James E. Chaney and his deputy, BG McNarney meet
with the British Chiefs of Staff Committee to begin
coordination
12 Jun British government signs a contract with G. A.
Fuller-Merritt Chapman Corporation (an American firm)
to begin constructing bases in Northern Ireland and
Scotland using $50,000,000 of Lend-Lease funds
- Contract calls for the construction of naval bases at:
- Londonderry (Base No. 1) for the refueling and
repair of destroyers and submarines
- Lough Erne for PBY Catalina flying boats
- Scottish bases are at Rosneath (Base No. 2, for
destroyers and submarines) and Ayrshire
June During month the first 350 American civilian contractor
laborers arrive in Northern Ireland to begin
construction of naval bases
July Members of the Special Observer Group make first visit
to Northern Ireland
August During this month MG Chaney estimates that 36,000
American troops will need to be based in Northern
Ireland to protect American bases there
- Estimate includes six squadrons of inteceptors (four of
daylight interceptors and two of nighttime
interceptors)
- Estimate is in contrast to the 26,300 troops used as
the planning estimate in the ABC-1 conference
3 Sep Special Observer Group submits first report on its
first visit to Northern Ireland and recommends
establishment at Langford Lodge of a depot to carry out
third echelon maintenance repairs for American aircraft
29 Sep LTC Hinman (Antiaircraft Artillery Officer, Special
Observer Group) arrives in Belfast to inspect
antiaircraft defenses in Belfast, Londonderry, Lough
Erne, and Ballyhalbert
6 Oct LTC Hinman submits written report on his visit to
Northern Ireland
6 Oct LTC Case (G-2, Special Observer Group) submits written
report on his two-day visit to the American Embassy in
Dublin (which took place earlier in the month)
13 Oct LTC Griner (Quartermaster, Special Observer Group)
submits written report on his survey of British
installations in Northern Ireland
17 Dec MG Chaney submits written report on his review of the
situation following American entry into the war, and
specifically in reference to the existing plan to send
33,421 American troops to Northern Ireland
- Report concludes that contracts still need to be let
for housing for 9,703 personnel
1942
1 Jan Eighteen enlisted men comprising the enlisted portion
of the advance detachment of MAGNET Force departs Camp
Beauregard, Louisiana, by train for the New York Port
of Embarkation
2 Jan War Department cables the Special Observer Group that
the British Joint Staff Mission [to Washignton] had
agreed to have the Americans send an initial force to
Northern Ireland under the code name MAGNET which is to
consist of two combat teams plus service troops
- MG Russell P. Hartle will lead the first 14,000 troops
- Total force exceeds that called for in previous
RAINBOW-5 planning, and will amount to a reinforced
corps containing three "square" divisions (each less
one of its four infantry regiments), the 1st Armored
Division, and a package of support troops
- Planning assumption is that the MAGNET Force will
include both a static defense force (34th Division) and
a mobile strike force (1st Armored Division and the
other two square divisions)
- NOTE: Cable only contained broad outlines, and Special
Observer Group did not receive a complete text of the
plan until 20 February, complicating planning for
reception of forces
- MAGNET Force plan was the implementation phase of the
original decision made at the ARCADIA Conference (the
first wartime meeting between Prime Minister Winston
Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt) in which
the United States agreed to immediately assume
responsibility from the United Kingdom for the garrison
for Northern Ireland as part of a 158,700-man
deployment to the British Isles
- Engineer elements projected for this large
contingent include units totalling 13,310 men
- No replacement units are included
5 Jan Eighteen officers forming the officer portion of the
advance detachment of MAGNET Force join the eighteen
enlisted men at the New York Port of Embarkation
6 Jan Advance detachment of MAGNET Force depart New York
under the command of COL Edward H. Heavy
6-15 Jan COL Paul R. Hawley (Chief Surgeon, United States Army
Forces British Isles) visits Northern Ireland to
conduct preliminary survey
7 Jan Advance detachment of Headquarters, United States Army
Northern Ireland Force (MAGNET Force) boards HMT
Bergensfjord at Halifax, Nova Scotia
8 Jan War Department cables the Special Observer Group
announcing that the first contingent of the MAGNET
force has been increased to 17,300 men built around the
reinforced 34th Division
8 Jan Headquarters, United States Army Forces in the British
Isles (USAFBI) established under MG James E. Chaney by
reorganization and expansion of the Special Observer
Group
- War Department Cable of this date authorizing this
action is subsequently revoked on 21 February 1942
11 Jan United States-British Joint Planning Committee submits
a report on the establishment of American forces in
Northern Ireland based on the need to shift British
mobile units to North Africa
- Joint report envisions an American force of 105,000 men
(not the 36,000 previously called for) built around
three infantry and one armored divisions, plus
supporting troops
- Plan assumes that V Corps (commanded by MG Edmund L.
Daly) will deploy from the United States with its own
32d, 34th, and 37th Divisions, plus the attachment of
the 1st Armored Division and the required supporting
corps and army troops
- Note that the committee will subsequently increase its
planning estimate by calling for and additional 31,000
antiaircraft artillerymen
- Note that the initial first priority for United States
Army engineers in Europe will be creating the
infrasctructure to base the MAGNET Force
12 Jan The Chiefs of Staff conference in Washington decides to
reduce the first MAGNET contingent to only 4,100 men in
order to speed the movement of reinforcements to the
Pacific theater
14 Jan Special Observer Group cables the War Department to
announce how it plans to base the MAGNET force:
- Headquarters, V Corps (172 persons) will be positioned
in a separate location (to be determined)
- Three British brigade-sized base areas (Coleraine,
Doagh, and Limavady) will be used to house 15,000 men
- Up to 2,000 men will be assigned to the Londonderry
naval base
15 Jan War Department cables the Special Observer Group
announcing the decision to reduce the size of the first
increment of the MAGNET force to 4,100 men
17 Jan Special Observer Group sends cable to War Department
stating that its strength in London currently consists
of only 24 officers and 13 enlisted men (with five more
enlisted men en route), and pointing out that the
initial minimal staff for the planned formation of
Headquarters, United States Army Forces in British
Isles (USAFBI) is 194 officers and 377 enlisted men
(and projecting ultimate requirement for a strength of
1,500)
19 Jan The advance detachment of the MAGNET force arrives at
the Firth of Clyde and go ashore at Gourock, Scotland,
where they are met by MAJ John Horner of the Special
Observer Group
- Detachment goes ashore at Gourock and proceeds to
Glasgow where CPT William I. LeVan remains with the
enlisted contingent (who purchase civilian clothing on
20 January at Glasgow clothing retailers Austin Reed in
keeping with the practice of the Special Observer Group
not to appear in public in uniform)
- Remaining seventeen officers accompany MAJ Horner to
London (by train)
19 Jan First Army photographic unit (detachment from the 161st
Signal Photographic Company consisting of LT Robert H.
Lande and 6 enlisted men) lands in Northern Ireland
22 Jan Twelve of the seventeen officers of MAGENT advance
detachment depart London in civilian clothing and
travel to Belfast
22 Jan Special Observer Group cables the War Department to
report that it has changed its 14 January plan and not
intends to base the MAGNET force as follows:
- The corps headquarters at Wilmont
- A division headquarters at Ballymena
- A military police platoon and postal detachment near
Belfast
- Quartermaster and ammunition depots near Antrim
- Billeting of all troops in the Londonderry-Bellarina-
Limavady area
24 Jan Headquarters, United States Army Northern Ireland Force
activated as subordinate element of USAFBI [General
Orders 1, USANIF, 24 January 1942]
24 Jan Remaining five officer members of the advance
detachment of the MAGNET Force depart London and travel
to Belfast with a group of the United States Army
Forces in the British Isles to hold two days' of
meetings in Northern Ireland (24 and 25 January)
- MG Chaney (Commanding General), COL Dahlquist and LTC
William H. Middleswart (Quartermaster) of the USAFBI
travel by air
- Remainder of the party travel by the normal rail/ferry
route
- USAFBI personnel: COL McClure, COL Paul R.
Hawley (Surgeon), COL Matejka, COL Case, LTC
William L. Biddle, and LT Bruce Buttles
- Advance Detachment, MAGNET Force personnel:
LTC Charles E. Brenn (V Corps Surgeon)
26 Jan Initial increment of MAGNET Force docks at Dufferin
Quay, Belfast (embarked at Brooklyn on 14 January and
sailed from New York 15 January)
- Contingent strength is 4,058
- Medical personnel in contingent total 41
officers, 42 nurses, and 322 enlisted men
- Contingent is commanded by MG Russell P. Hartle, the
Commanding General of the 34th Division
- MG Hartle steps ashore at 1215 hours in Belfast and is
met by a delegation including the Governor General (the
Duke of Abercorn), the Prime Minister of Northern
Ireland (John W. Andrews), the Commander of British
Troops in Ulster (General G. E. W. Franklyn), and the
Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair)
- Officially the first man to step ashore is Private
William H. Henke of Hutchinson, Minnesota (although he
is actually preceeded ashore by approximately 500
others)
- Personnel from 34th Division are on HMTS Strathaird
(British troop ship)
- Other vessel is USAT Chateau Thierry
- Contingent consists of:
34th Division
- Advanced command post of Headquarters Company,
34th Division [HMTS Strathaird]
- 133d Infantry (less 2d and 3d Battalions)
- 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery [about to be
redesignated as the 151st Field Artillery
Battalion] [HMTS Strathaird]
- Detachment of the 136th Medical Regiment [about
to be redesignated as the 109th Medical
Battalion]
- Detachment of the 109th Quartermaster Regiment
[about to be redesignated as the 109th
Quartermaster Battalion] [USAT Chateau Thierry]
- Company A, 109th Engineers [about to be
redesignated as Company A, 109th Engineer
Battalion (Combat)] [USAT Chateau Thierry]
- Detachment of the 34th Military Police Company
[about to be redesignated as the Military Police
Platoon, Headquarters and Military Police
Company, 34th Infantry Division]
Non-Divisional Units
- Detachment, 112th Engineer Battalion (Combat)
- 10th Station Hospital
- Detachment of 63d Signal Battalion
27 Jan MG Russell P. Hartle (Commanding General, 34th
Division) assumes temporary command of United States
Army Northern Ireland Force as an additional duty
because the V Corps Commander (MG Edmund L. Daley did
not sail with the first increment)
28 Jan Headquarters, United States Army Northern Ireland Force
(USANFI) is officially established at Wilmont House
(seven miles southwest of Belfast)
- G-2 (Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence) for the
first MAGNET Force convoy is MAJ Richard E. O'Connor
- USANFI Signal Section opens in Wilmont House, manned by
COL Floyd T. Gillespie and SSG Joel M. Hirsch
- LTC Maurice E. Rovin is the Finance Officer with the
first contingent
- Public Relations Officer in the first MAGNET Force
convoy is LTC Theodore Arter (Public Relations Officer,
V Corps who will subsequently transfer to become the
Public Relations Officer for the Northern Ireland Base
Section)
- Initial postal service for American forces in Northern
Ireland will be established by the detachment (LT
Joseph E. Porch and 14 enlisted men) travelling in the
first increment of MAGNET Force
- LT Porch and six men establish APO 813 at Belfast
- Six field post offices are established at
Limavady, Antrim, Londonderry, Eglinton,
Ballymena, and Carrickfergus
- Temporary mortuary and graves registration services are
established by contract with Wilton Funeral Directors
of Belfast, with temporary use arranged for the
Londonderry Cemetery and Belfast City Cemetery
29 Jan First mail is sent to the United States by the Army
Postal System from Northern Ireland
31 Jan United States Army Northern Ireland Force conducts its
first payday, paying the troops in British currency (at
the rate of £1 stirling being worth $4.035 in American
currency)
1 Feb 34th Division reorganizes from "square" configuration
to "triangular" one and is redesignated as 34th
Infantry Division
8 Feb First two American supply ships arrive in Northern
Ireland (freighters Fluorspar and Vermont)
13 Feb Third American supply ship arrives in Northern Ireland
15 Feb American strength in Northern Ireland on this date is
reported as 211 officers, 42 nurses (officers), 1
warrant officer, 3,650 enlisted men, and 12 male
civilians
17 Feb War Department approves the additional construction in
Northern Ireland recommended by MG Chaney in his report
of 17 December 1941
18 Feb John G. Winant (American Ambassador, London) visits
Northern Ireland
20 Feb Seven Army Air Force officers led by BG Ira C. Eaker
arrive in London from United States
- BG Eaker hand-carries the first hard copy of the MAGNET
Force plan to reach London (providing first detailed
information since the original 2 January War Department
cable)
22 Feb Advance Detachment, VIII Bomber Command established in
England under the command of BG Ira C. Eaker
February American forces experience inital outbreak of a serum
hepatitis epidemic ultimately traced to contaminated
Yellow Fever vaccine
- Peak of epidemic occurs between late May and late July
- Epidemic will hospitalize about 1,950 soldiers and lead
to 2 deaths and about 100 men permanently disabled
2 Mar Second increment (7,000 personnel) of MAGNET Force
arrives in Belfast in a 21-ship convoy plus escorts
(sailed from Brooklyn 19 February):
- MAGNET elements as embarked consist of 8,555 troops
on 8 ships
- SS Barnett with the 34th Infantry Division
headquarters and parts of the 2d and 3d Battalions of
the 133d Infantry embarked
- USS Fuller with 109th Medical Battalion embarked
- Dutchess of Athol with embarked troops including:
parts of the 2d and 3d Battalions of the 133d
Infantry; 168th Infantry (less 1st and 2d
Battalions); 109th Ordnance Company; 34th
Quartermaster Company
- SS Betelgeuse with 1st Platoon of the 34th
Reconnaissance Troop embarked
- SS Neville with 34th Signal Company and 34th Military
Police Company embarked
- Other vessels in this MAGNET convoy include:
- SS Ehresmann
- USS Almaack which has embarked the 467th Engineer
Maintenance Company
- USS Elliot
- SS Athena
- NOTE: USAT American Legion had been part of this
convoy but had to turn back on 21 February due to
engine trouble; embarked units included:
- Company B, 109th Engineer Battalion
- 79th Ordnance Depot Company
- Main body of 5th General Hospital
- Other units embarked include:
- 14th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company (V
Corps)
- Detachment (12 personnel), 53d Ordnance
Ammunition Company
- 7th General Dispensary
- NOTE: The first American Red Cross personnel arrive
in Northern Ireland with this second MAGNET Force
contingent, headed by J. S. Disosway
2 Mar American strength in Northern Ireland on this date is
reported as 10,433 (including 534 officers, 70 nurses,
and 2 warrant officers)
2 Mar United States Army Forces in British Isles cables the
War Department expressing intent to station the second
increment of the MAGNET force in the Limavady-Coleraine
area
2 Mar First mail arrives in Belfast for American troops
stationed in Northern Ireland (arriving on a ship)
3 Mar First increment of personnel (24 officers and 239
enlisted men) arrive at Euston Station, London, for the
formal establishment of Headquarters, United States
Army Forces in British Isles (USAFBI)
3 Mar Ordnance Ammunition Depot #2 opens at Shane's Castle as
the American portion of a joint Anglo-American
ammunition facility (this is the first operational
American ammunition depot in the United Kingdom)
9 Mar 10th Station Hospital assumes operation of the former
British military hospital at Ebrington Barracks,
Londonderry (and expands its capacity from 150 beds to
350 beds)
12 Mar United States Army Forces in British Isles issue first
Post Exchange (PX) regulations and LTC Edmund M. Barnum
assumes duties of PX Officer
18 Mar United States Army Northern Ireland Force troops served
first American rations (previously had been eating
standard British Army rations)
20 Mar Headquarters, United States Army Forces in British
Isles (USAFBI) is officially activated [General Orders
7, USAFBI, 20 March 1942]
27 Mar Belfast office of the Claims Commission opens
8 Apr War Department sends cable to United States Army Forces
in British Isles announcing that the plan for
stationing troops in Northern Ireland has been changed
and that the 36th and 45th Infantry Divisions will be
sent instead of the 32d and 37th Infantry Divisions
17-18 Apr MG Chaney and BG Robert A. McClure (Military Attaché,
American Embassy, London) accompany W. Averill
Harriman, GEN George C. Marshall (Chief of Staff,
United States Army), and Harry Hopkins on an inspection
tour of American forces in Northern Ireland
2 May War Department announces appointment of MG Carl Spaatz
as Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force which is
to be organized in the United States and then deploy to
the British Isles
6 May First American Red Cross club in the British Isles
opens in Londonderry in the former Northern Counties
Hotel
7 May MG Russell P. Hartle officially assumes command of
United States Army Northern Ireland Force (MG Edmund L.
Daley having never deployed from the United States)
10 May Third contingent (13,924 men) of MAGNET Force arrives
in British Isles (having sailed from New York 30 April)
as part of 8-ship convoy including:
- Aquitania with 135th Infantry, 125th Field Artillery
Battalion, and 185th Field Artillery Battalion embarked
- USAT Mexico with one platoon of Company K, 168th
Infantry; and Company B, 109th Engineer Battalion
embarked
- Cathay with 168th Infantry; 109th Engineer Battalion
(Combat) (less Companies A and B); 175th Field
Artillery Battalion; and 185th Field Artillery
Battalion embarked
- Cristobal with 125th Field Artillery Battalion
embarked
11 May First unit of Eighth Air Force arrive in the United
Kingdom
12 May Third increment of MAGNET Force arrives in Northern
Ireland
- More of the 34th Infantry Division
- Part of the 1st Armored Division including over 200
tanks
- A detachment of Headquarters, V Corps
- Ordnance troops in this contingent include the 79th
Ordnance Depot Company and the 109th Ordnance Medium
Maintenance Company
12 May Office of the Chief Military Censor arrives in Belfast
to censor outgoing mail from United States troops
13 May Headquarters, V Corps arrived in Northern Ireland
13 May 135th Infantry (34th Infantry Division) arrives at
Londonderry (embarked 30 April at New York on Aquitania
which arrived in Scotland 12 May, where troops
transshipped into lighters for movement to Northern
Ireland)
16 May Queen Mary arrives in Firth of Clyde (sailed from New
York 10/11 May) with fourth increment (10,000 men) of
MAGNET Force
- Personnel begin disembarking and reembarking in
lighters for movement via Belfast to final destinations
in Northern Ireland
- 1st Armored Division personnel to occupy Dundrum
Bay, Ballykinler and Newcastle in County Down
- This marks first voyage of the two former British
passenger liners (Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth) on
their high-speed unescorted shuttle runs to move
American forces to the British Isles
18 May Fourth contingent of MAGNET Force arrives in Northern
Ireland after ferrying from Firth of Clyde in lighters;
includes:
- Final portion of 34th Infantry Division
- Bulk of personnel (without equipment) from the 1st
Armored Division
18 May 209th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) arrives in
Northern Ireland (having landed first in Scotland on
17 May, and having boarded transports at the New York
Port of Embarkation on 11 May)
19 May Headquarters Detachment, Eighth Air Force, under the
command of BG Ira C. Eaker assumes command of all
American air units in the United Kingdom
21 May 5th General Hospital takes over the 660-bed hospital at
Musgrave Park on the outskirts of Belfast (hospital
formerly operatated by the British 31st General
Hospital)
- United States Army Northern Ireland Force also assumed
responsibility [approximately this time] for the
200-bed hospital at Irvinestown constructed for the
United States Navy's Lough Erne base (and Army
subsequently increases it to 500-bed capacity)
- Initial operation (until September) of this
facility is carried out by a company from the
109th Medical Battalion
22 May Portion of 1st Armored Division in Northern Ireland is
grouped into three elements for training, discipline,
and administration [General Orders 25, 1st Armored
Division, 22 May 1942]:
- BG Oliver of Combat Command B:
- 81st Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
- 13th Armor
- 1st Battalion, 6th Armored Infantry
- 16th Armored Engineer Battalion (less Companies
C and D)
- LTC Maraist of the division's artillery:
- 27th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- COL Hamilton of the Division Trains:
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st
Armored Division Trains
- Maintenance Battalion (less Company C), 1st
Armored Division
- Supply Battalion (less Company C), 1st Armored
Division
- 47th Armored Medical Battalion (less Company A)
24 May Headquarters, Services of Supply, United States Army
Forces in the British Isles (SOS, USAFBI) activated
under the command of MG John C. H. Lee (former
Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division) with BG
Thomas B. Larkin as Chief of Staff [General Orders 17,
United States Army Forces in the British Isles, 24 May
1942]
- Headquarters opened same day at 20 Grosvenor Square,
London
30 May V Corps in Northern Ireland still consists of only two
combat divisions (34th Infantry and 1st Armored)
because the 36th and 45th Infantry Divisions are
diverted to other locations on this day by the War
Department
31 May American strength in Northern Ireland on this date is
reported as 32,202 (1,626 officers, 102 nurses, 16
warrant officers, and 30,458 enlisted men)
- V Corps engineer forces include one combat regiment,
two combat battalions, and four service companies
May During this month cargo ports in the Firth of Clyde and
along the west coast of Britain begin adding cargo
reception capacity to that furnished by the original
Northern Ireland ports
May During this month a change is made in the concept for
the operations of United States Army Northern Ireland
Force
- Original concept had called for Headquarters, V Corps
functioning as both a combat and an administrative
headquarters
- New concept calls for V Corps to act as a mobile strike
force (NIST) and for a separate administrative
headquarters to be created
May War Department finally signs a contract with the
Lockheed Overseas Corporation to establish and operate
the Air Force maintenance depot at Langford Lodge
1 Jun Headquarters of Northern Ireland Base Command
(Provisional) is activated at Wilmont House under the
command of BG Leroy P. Collins (former Commander, 34th
Infantry Division Artillery) [General Orders 1,
Northern Ireland Base Command (Provisional), 1 June
1942]
1 Jun Headquarters, United States Army Northern Ireland Force
and Headquarters, V Corps (both commanded by MG Hartle)
move from Wilmont House to Lurgan
4 Jun BG Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. (Chief of the American
Section attached to the Combined Operations
Headquarters) completes a visit to Northern Ireland and
submits report on the plans to activate the 1st Ranger
Battalion at Carrickfergus
4-5 Jun LTG Brehon B. Somerville (Commanding General, Army
Service Forces) carries out inspection visit in
Northern Ireland
8 Jun Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United
States Army (ETOUSA) activated under the command of MG
James E. Chaney to replace United States Army Forces in
the British Isles [General Orders 1, ETOUSA, 8 June
1942]
8 Jun Censorship Office No. 1 opens in Belfast
10 Jun Second contingent of 1st Armored Division (primarily
from 1st Armor) arrive at Belfast on Oriente (sailed
from New York 31 May)
- Dutchess of York has 141st Armored Signal Company
embarked (25 May)
- SS North King has 47th Armored Medical Battalion
embarked (25 May)
13 Jun By this date the 1st Armored Division in Northern
Ireland has received the last of its tanks
16 Jun Boundaries of the European Theater of Operations,
United States Army first established
18 Jun First 7 officers and 12 noncommissioned officers
selected from United States Army Northern Ireland
Forces receive orders to report to the 2d Canadian
Division on the Isle of Wight for commando training
18 Jun MG Carl Spaatz begins exercising command of Eighth Air
Force with arrival at Headquarters (Bushy Park,
England)
20 Jun MG James E. Chaney departs London for temporary duty in
Washington, D.C.; MG Hartle becomes acting Commanding
General, European Theater of Operations, United States
Army (ETOUSA) in his absence
20 Jun Service of Supply, United States Army European Theater
of Operations (SOS, ETOUSA) announces a regional
subordinate organizational structure including the
Northern Ireland Base Section commanded by BG Leroy P.
Collins (with Headquarters at Belfast)
24 Jun MG Dwight David Eisenhower assumes command of European
Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA)
June 5th General Hospital also opens a 900-bed convalescent
hospital at Waringfield newly-constructed for the
British Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
- Detachment of the 2d General Hospital arrives from
Oxford, England, to relieve the 5th General Hospital
contingent shortly after the facility opens
June MAGNET Force initial construction projects essentially
completed
- Construction relied on assumption of the original
United States Navy contractor projects begun in 1941
(but with expansion through amendments to the contract)
totalling 12 contractor projects
- 2 projects carried out with British labor
- 1 project carried out by the United States Navy
- 1 project carried out by the British Air Ministry
- 4 projects carried out by United States Army
Corps of Engineers forces (the most important of
which was expansion of the facilities at
Brinstall)
June First salvage unit is established in Northern Ireland
by United States Army
June American troop strength in Northern Ireland hits
highest peak of year in this month with 41,205 of all
ranks (which represented 73.4% of all American troops
in the British Isles)
1 Jul A B-17 heavy bomber arrives by air in the United
Kingdom, the first Army Air Force plane to self-deploy
11 Jul Headquarters, Service of Supply, European Theater of
Operations United States Army (SOS ETOUSA) establishes
a General Supply division in its Ordnance Section at
Great Cumberland Place, London
14 Jul First United States Army Regional Transportation Office
in the British Isles is opened in Northern Ireland
20 Jul Northern Ireland Base Command (NIBC) redesignated as
Northern Ireland Base Section (NIBS), remaining under
the command of BG Leroy P. Collins
21 Jul General Supply Division of the Ordnance Section, SOS
ETOUSA, moves from Great Cumberland Place in London to
Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England
July Maintenance shops established by Americans at Upper
Ballinderry
- Supplementing maintenance performed by Americans at
British maintenance installation at Knockmore
August 112th Engineers is activated as a two-battalion
regiment through the redesignation of the 112th
Engineer Combat Battalion (Ohio National Guard) and
107th Engineer Combat Battalion (Wisconsin National
Guard)
1 Sep Headquarters, Service of Supply, European Theater of
Operations United States Army (SOS ETOUSA) transfers
the Motor Transport Section from the Quartermaster
Department to the General Supply Division of the
Ordnance Section
September Early in month Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division
departs Northern Ireland for England (including the
division's two battalions equipped with M-3 light tanks
[1st Battalion, 1st Armor and 1st Battalion, 13th
Armor] and the 27th Armored Field Artillery)
September 160th Station Hospital assumes responsiblity for the
operation of the Irvinestown (Lough Erne) hospital from
the company of the 109th Medical Battalion
October 1st Armored Division departs Northern Ireland (arrives
in England 29 October)
November Headquarters, V Corps departs Northern Ireland (arrives
in England 22 November)
November American forces undergo major exodus from Northern
Ireland in this month as they stage forward for the
invasion of North Africa (Operation TORCH), with
remaining American forces primarily consisting of Army
Air Force elements under VIII Air Force Composite
Command
mid-Dec American ordnance operations at Kinnegar and Knockmore
cease and facilities turned back over to British
control
16 Dec Depot G-10 established at Upper Ballinderry to
centralize ornance maintenance and supply activities in
Northern Ireland, with a number of sub-depots
concurrently established under it [General Orders 84,
Services of Supply European Theater of Operations
United States Army (SOS ETOUSA), 16 December 1942]:
- Maintenance shops at Upper Ballinderry redesignated as
Depot G-10-4 to perform maintenance and general supply
activities
- Ammunition depot at Shane's Castle designated as Depot
G-10-9
- American ordnance maintenance activities at Kinnegar
and Knockmore are terminated and facilities revert to
British control
20 Dec Northern Ireland Base Section inactivated; Northern
Ireland reverts to Northern Ireland District of the
Western Base Section, European Theater of Operations,
Services of Supply
1943
Fall American forces begin second build-up in Northern
Ireland as a preliminary to the 1944 invasion of France
(Operation OVERLORD): primary combat formations
programmed for fitting out in Northern Ireland are:
XV Corps; 2d, 5th, and 8th Infantry Divisions; 2d
Airborne Brigade (with 507th and 508th Parachute
Infantry regiments); and 6th Cavalry
25 Sep Advance detachment of 2d Infantry Division arrives
[England], having sailed on 19 September
October First elements (2d Infantry Division and 6th Cavalry)
arrive in Northern Ireland to begin second American
troop build-up
October 5th Infantry Division arrives by stages lasting into
November to conduct training in Northern Ireland in the
Mountains of Mourne (departed from Tidworth Barracks,
England); will train particularly in the Annalong,
Hilltown and Sperrin Mountain areas
22 Oct 7th Engineer Battalion (5th Infantry
Division) departs England
24 Oct 5th Quartermaster Company (5th Infantry
Division) departs England
5 Oct Northern Ireland Base Section (NIBS) is reactivated
[increasing in status from being just a district of the
Western Base Section]; BG Leroy P. Collins is
transferred from command of the Western Base Section to
resume command of Northern Ireland Base Section
[General Orders 1, Northern Ireland Base Section, 5
October 1943]
- Initial staff of Northern Ireland Base Section assigned
[General Orders 3, Northern Ireland Base Section, 5
October 1943]
- Headquarters established at Ballydrain (near Wilmont),
which is the headquarters for all supply services
18 Oct Main body of 2d Infantry Division arrives [England],
having sailed on 8 October
23 Oct 5th Signal Company (5th Infantry Division) arrives at
Tollymore Park, Bryansford, County Down (having left
England same day)
25 Oct 5th Infantry Division Band arrives at Newcastle,
County Down (although it will perform at locations all
through the division sector)
25 Oct Headquartes, Special Troops, 5th Infantry Division
arrives at Tollymore Park, Bryansford, County Down
25 Oct 5th Reconnaissance Troop (5th Infantry Division)
arrives at Camp Seaforde
25 Oct 7th Engineer Battalion (5th Infantry Division) arrives
in County Down
27 Oct 705th Ordnance Company (5th Infantry Division) arrives
at Castlewellan Station
October MAJ G. D. McCarthy (Ordnance Officer, Northern Ireland
Base Section) accompanies Services of Supply, European
Theater of Operations United States Army (SOS ETOUSA)
party led by COL E. M. Webb to survey potential
ordnance facilities
- Survey concludes that Ballykinler is the best ordnance
site to support the second build-up
- Survey concludes that Upper Ballinderry should be
downgraded from a general depot and focus exclusively
on serving as a supply depot
- Survey concludes that the Americans should obtain
Knockmore from the British for use as a maintenance
facility
October Late in month 11th Infantry (5th Infantry Division)
arrives at Camp Ballykinler and Camp Donard Lodge
October Late in month 10th Infantry (5th Infantry Division)
arrives at locations in southeastern part of Ulster
Province (Newcastle, Kilkeel, and Ballyedmund)
October Late in month 5th Medical Battalion (5th Infantry
Division) arrives at Camp Ballywillwill
October During last three months of 1943 a large number of
replacement units are activated in the British Isles as
part of the preparation for the invasion of France
(Operation OVERLORD)
1 Nov Northern Ireland Base Command establishes four
subordinate districts: XXXVI District (Headquarters
at Wilmont House); XXXVII District (Headquarters at
Ballymena); XXXVIII District (Headquarters at
Portadown); and XXXVIII District (Headquarters at
Omagh)
2 Nov Rear detachment of 2d Infantry Division arrives
[England], having sailed on 27 October
3 Nov Headquarters Company, 5th Infantry Division arrives
at Tollymore Park, Bryansford, County Down
3 Nov Military Police Platoon, 5th Infantry Division arrives
at Newcastle, County Down
4 Nov At least by this date 46th Field Artillery Battalion
(5th Infantry Division) [105mm towed howitzers] arrives
at Mourne Park, County Down
5 Nov 79th General Hospital (1,000-bed) assumes operation of
Waringfield hospital
9 Nov 50th Field Artillery Battalion (5th Infantry Division)
[105mm towed howitzers] arrives at Mourne Park, County
Down
22 Nov Depot G-10 at Upper Ballinderry disestablished [General
Orders 17, Northern Ireland Base Section, 22 November
1943] [NOTE: PRIMARY SOURCES IN CONFLICT OVER WHETHER
DATE OF GENERAL ORDERS 17, AND THEREFORE THE
ESTABLISHMENT/DISESTABLISHMENT OF DEPOTS EFFECTIVE DATE
IS 22 OR 23 NOVEMBER]
23 Nov Quartermaster Depot Q-111 is established [General
Orders 17, Northern Ireland Base Section, 23 November
1943] at Belfast with subordinate depots at Antrim
(111A), Crossgar (111C), Derrymore (111D), Finaghy
(111F), Larne (111L), Moneymore (111M), Siskinore
(111S), Ballymena (111BA), Balmoral (111BL), and
Ballywillwill (111BW)
29 Nov Ordnance maintenance depots established [General Orders
22, Noerthern Ireland Base Section, 29 November 1943]:
- Depot O-601 (Knockmore) for maintenance; to have one
ordnance battalion headquarters and headquarters
detachment, one ordnance medium maintenance company,
one ordnance heavy maintenance company (field artillery
specialty), one ordnance medium automotive maintenance
company (which is to be physically assigned to Omagh),
and one ordnance heavy automotive maintenance company
(less a detachment of 1 officer and 46 enlisted men
cross-attached to Depot O-602)
- Depot O-602 (Ballykinler) for maintenance; to have one
ordnance medium automotive maintenance company and the
detachment from the Knockmore-based ordnance heavy
automotive maintenance company)
- Depot O-621 (Pinetum Camp) as a vehicle park
- Depot O-622 (Upper Ballinderry) for ordnance supply
- Depot O-688 (Shanes Castle) for ammunition
November On Thanksgiving day 944th Ordnance Motor Vehicle
Distribution Company arrives at Pinetum Camp and opens
vehicle storage and issue point
November 21st Field Artillery Battalion (5th Infantry Division)
[155mm towed howitzers] arrives at Camp Panther from
England
2 Dec Three ordnance bomb disposal squads are allocated to
the Northern Ireland Base Section, with the intent that
one would operate out of each of three sub-depots:
G-10-3, G-10-9, and G-10-10
15 Dec Convoy carrying 8th Infantry Division arrives at
Belfast (sailed from New York 5 December)
19 Dec Quartermaster Depot Q-111BY (a subdepot of
Quartermaster Depot Q-111) is established at Ballymoney
December Ground Force Replacement Depots 6, 7 and 8 are
activated in Northern Ireland to conduct infantry
replacement training (all three move to England prior
to 10 May 1944)
1944
9 Jan 508th Parachute Infantry arrives in Belfast harbor on
board USAT James Parker (sailed from New York during
night of 27-28 December); lands and boards train in
Belfast; travels by rail to Port Stewart; occupies camp
near Cromore estate
20 Jan Depot O-602 at Ballykinler actually becomes operational
with arrival of personnel assigned, who had been
diverted for two months to conduct the jeep and trailer
assembly line at Belfast
20 Feb 346th Ordnance Depot Company departs Northern Ireland
for Britain
10 Mar 508th Parachute Infantry boards train at Port Stewart
and travels by rail to Belfast where it loads into
vessels and crosses Irish Sea to Firth of Clyde
1 Apr-1 Jun Ordnance personnel in Northern Ireland conduct a
pre-OVERLORD waterproofing school for personnel
from units slated to take part in the invasion of
France
April General Dwight D. Eisenhower inspects regimental review
of 28th Infantry (8th Infantry Division) at Enniskillen
1 Jul 8th Infantry Division convoy (four troop ships and
twelve motor transports) departs Belfast for France
6 Jul 5th Infantry Division convoy (twelve Liberty ships)
sails from Belfast (landing in France 10 July) [NOTE:
Actual date may be 7 July for sailing]
7 Jul 50th Field Artillery Battalion (5th Infantry Division)
departs Belfast