Ever wonder about the difference between
a AAA "AW" battalion and a "Gun" battalion? Or just
what consitutes a AAA "Group" or "Brigade"? This
article by Rich Anderson answers these questions and more. It offers
a readable and succinct introduction to the organization of AAA in the
U.S. Army during WW2.
This is an outstanding site for all sorts
of antiaircraft artillery information and a Must See. Like the 115th,
the 225th was part of the 49th AAA Brigade and shared a variety of locations.
Besides many links and photos, it includes a copy of the Camp Davis
(NC) orientation booklet and a history of Camp Blandford (England).
You haven't really seen this site until you find the photo of the Eiffel
Tower illuminated by the 225th.
A fascinating history of how the WW2-era mobile
AAA units originated and evolved, originally printed in ADA
magazine.
The current link is to an archive maintained on the Skylighters web
site. See especially Chapter
5: The First Antiaircraft Artillery Command. Includes Army politics
and an explanation of the "mass through mobility" doctrine,
as well as an inside look at the incorporation of the
British "simultaneous
movement and reconnaisance" practices that were put to such
good use by the 115th. It culminates in a detailed
look at the First Army's
decisive AAA victory at Remagen. These insights would also apply to
the experience of the 115th at Dexheim two
weeks later in the AAA defense of the Third Army's
first Rhine crossing.
The SCR-584
Radar Tribute Page by Steve Bragg provides a wealth of detail
on the development and history of this piece of equipment so
vital to the mission of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion. "The SCR-584
and its technology are a monument to the Gemini-twin philiosophies
of Ockham's Razor and KISS. In an age when it was an accomplishment
to get
a thousand vacuum tubes to function for more than a few hours,
the Rad-Labbers [MIT Radiation Lab], by dint of God-given talent,
hard work, and the genius of simplicity,
wrought a beautifully-simple and deadly-accurate radar which
won a war, and inspired a generation of radar designers." --
Steve Bragg KA9MVA
A web site devoted to the progress of the
4th Armored Division from Utah Beach into Germany and the end of the
war. The 4th Armored was a well-known part of Patton's Third
Army. The
115th AAA Gun Bn often moved in association with units of the 4th AD.
The 4th Armored web site is a rich source of varied material,
including
unit histories, veteran's memories, and even the music of Edith Piaf.
It also has lots of links.
Like the 4th, the 6th Armored Division was
a primary component of the Third Army's armored spearhead. Their web
site contains a particularly good collection of unit histories, as well
as much other material. The campaign
maps have good detail, and correspond to the movements of the 115th
in many instances.
HMS/RMS/SS Strathnaver
The 115th made their Atlantic crossing in December 1943 aboard the "HMS"
Strathnaver. Strathnaver was a P&O liner of 22,000 tons launched
in February 1931 for the the Australian route, and pressed into service
as a troopship in 1940. For more images, including deck plans, see the
excellent web site of Mr. Mel Barton-Ancliffe: http://ozhoo.net.au/~strathsisters/strathnaver/.
The original text
of The Story of the 115th A.A.A. Gun Battalion and Symphony
in B Flak, published by the unit in 1945, is in the public domain.
So how, you may ask, can I claim that the contents of these web
pages are protected by copyright?
The answer is that it is my own transcription of the text and images
into electronic format, and compilation into these web pages that
is copyrighted. In addition, the web design, art, and annotations,
plus all material from my father's personal albums are copyrighted
original works. I reserve all rights to how all these materials
are used. You may not copy them or store them in any retrieval system
without permission.
The 115th made their Atlantic crossing in December 1943 aboard the "HMS"
Strathnaver. Strathnaver was a P&O liner of 22,000 tons launched
in February 1931 for the the Australian route, and pressed into service
as a troopship in 1940. For more images, including deck plans, see the
excellent web site of Mr. Mel Barton-Ancliffe: 
