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