U.S. Army Live Blog
Day 35: Wednesday, August 10th, 1881
Weather thick and very disagreeable. Still drifting south before the ice. The fog lifted during the afternoon, and we sighted Dutch Island. At 9:45pm, ship made fast to the ice. During the day a young dog belonging to Pvt. Schneider dies and was thrown overboard.
Posted in Polar Year.
– May 10, 2013
Memorable Pigeons of WWII
The CECOM Historical Office came across a document titled “Pigeon Notes.” Pigeon Notes contains information on a number of WWII-era Pigeons that were not necessarily recognized as hero’s, but nonetheless were memorable for some reason. This list includes information on Pigeons form other Army’s too; the information is reproduced here.
Duke of Normandy was the first bird to arrive with a message from paratroopers of the 21st Army group behind enemy lines on D-Day. The Duke was the second fastest pigeon of WWII; he was awarded the Dickin Medal.
Signal Soldier with bird
Image # 3548Royal Blue was the first pigeon in war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the continent (Holland) while serving with the Royal Air force in 1940. He flew 120 miles in just over 4 hours to deliver news on the situation of the crew; he also was awarded the Dickin medal.
Annie was hatched in Algeria; she delivered the first news from Mount Cassino about its capture.
Message capsule attached to pigeon’s leg.
Image #3556-ABlack Magic: was hatched at Fort Sam Houston, he was the first Amy pigeon to carry a message from the African rear echelon to the Italian mainland. He was ferried by a spy on a submarine to the French coast.
Dogface was hatched in Bizerte; he carried a message from the front at Cassino. His beak was blown loose from his body and a glass tube inserted into his throat.
Proper handling of pigeon
Image # 3556-BThe Freak was hatched in Algeria, and had 3 legs.
Little Wonder was hatched in Bizerte and used on the Italian Front; Little Wonder saved an Infantry Patrol that was pinned down.
Miss Brooklyn: was found lying in No Man’s Land and was rescued by a G.I. medic. She was rescued several times from behind enemy lines by Italian spies and British commandoes.
Mobile pigeon loft
Image #3671-AMiss Peggy, Master Brian and Just Jerry rescued British and Nepali Soldiers who were trapped on Hangman’s Hill during the assault on Cassino.
Pretty Lady, Hatched in Bizerte, carried messages from behind enemy lines about the German retreat lanes. She has a wing tip shot off near Florence.
For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:
Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of these same photographs? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.
Note: This entry composed by Floyd, and edited/posted by Chrissie.
Posted in Pigeons.
– May 9, 2013
Snowy day in the 1980s – an SCR-270 (?) displayed in front of the Historical Electronics Museum.
For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:
Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of this same photo? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.
Posted in Photo Series.
– May 8, 2013
Day 34: Tuesday, August 9th, 1881
The ice showing a disposition to break up in our immediate viscinity, we moved away at 12:15am, but made fast again at 1am. At 4am we were oblidged to change again. The ice moving rapidly to the South. At 10am we were backing slowly south on account of the ice moving down on us. About 11pm, ship oblidged to move Westward.
The men were notified today that they would all have to learn the Signal Code. They made some very wry faces over this, but went at it with a good will.
Posted in Polar Year.
– May 7, 2013
Reproduction of “Benefit for Recreation Fund, Camp Alfred Vail, Army Frolics, 1921″ poster
Image # 0217
For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:
Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of this same photo? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.
Posted in Photo Series.
– May 6, 2013
Members of CoC, 10th Field Signal Battalion, Camp Vail, 1917. L to R:Sloan, Woolworth, Yound, N. Campell
Image # 0212
For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:
Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of this same photo? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.
Posted in Photo Series.
– May 4, 2013
The historian’s lament continues, as the caption on this 10-photo batch reads: Various unidentified pictures of people Folder ACC 310 4.
Image # 5369-C
If any of our readers know where this photo was taken, or something about the image, we’d love to hear from you.
For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:
Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of this same poster? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the three-digit poster number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.
Posted in Photo Series.
– May 3, 2013
Day 33: Monday, August 8th, 1881
New ice formed during the night to the thickness of 1¼ inches. The temperature of the air 31° Fahrenheit. Between 10 and 11am, there was a strong current setting northward. The ice commenced moving down on us from the North and forced us to change our position at 11am. We again changed at 8pm when the pack to the south commenced closing in and there was some danger of being ripped, which fortunately did not occur. About 11pm were fastened up to the ice of Cape De Fosse.
Posted in Polar Year.
– May 2, 2013
It’s a vacuum tube! Equipment number RL-P-592, from Camp Alfred Vail, NJ. Vacuum Tube, Type VT-18. c1920.
Image # 0741
For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:
Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of this same photo? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.
Posted in Photo Series.
– May 1, 2013
“OPERATION OVERLORD, 6 JUNE 1944: WHY DID IT SUCCEED”
PAUL ZIGO,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY,
DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR WW II STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
BROOKDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Operation Overlord, the allied invasion of northwest France on June 6, 1944 was carefully planned over a 6 month period as a combined, joint service operation to breach Adolf Hitler’s “Fortress Europe.” Involving nine American, British and Canadian divisions and nearly 7000 ships and landing craft, the operation nearly failed. Professor Paul Zigo, a retired Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, will review the reasons for the near failure and explain how the allied invasion forces turned near failure into success. Related will be what it was that enabled the allies to succeed on the beaches of Normandy, France, and defeat Nazi Germany 11 months later, surrendering on May 7, 1945, 67 years ago on the very date of this program. Via an accompanying photo presentation, literally walk the battlefield as did those on D-Day.
Tuesday, May 7, 7:30pm, Warner Student Life Center.
Fee: $12 adults, $5 students. Code: XWWTS 277
Note: Please note that this event is not affiliated with the CECOM Historical Office. We post this as a form of outreach and history information-sharing.
Posted in History Outreach.
– April 30, 2013
