FAAA AT WIMPOLE AT WAR

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WIMPOLE AT WAR
81st AIRBORNE ANTI TANK/ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTALION
101st AIRBORNE DIVISION
MARKET GARDEN

 

 

 

 

 

The First Allied Airborne Association deployed to Wimpole for its last major event of 2013 in September, coinsiding with the aniversary of Operation Market Garden. For this show the group decided to represent the 101st Airborne Divisions 81st Airborne Anti-Aircraft/Anti Tank Battalion during the Holland Campaign. The group continued its main Airborne rolled impressions after a short break representing its anually chosen line infantry unit.

 

Wimpole has been a firm favourite of the groups for a number of years, it’s not the biggest event around, but we are as are all the other group taking part, appreciated by “Event Plan” and the “National Trust” who run the show.

The show has in the past ticked all the boxes as far as we are concerned, however it could do with a few more quality groups supporting it, the line up did look quite good this year having said that and certainly we were displaying in a great location, different than we have had in the past, in the woodland and and under cam nets and not on an open field.

As the last public event in the groups event calendar for 2013 it was rather nice to finish the shows off with one that had a great little dance on the Saturday evening, one that is affordable and 40’s authentic.

 

The unit we had chosen was not Parachute Infantry and it was certainly not Armoured, it was a supporting unit that gained a great reputation in support of many of the Parachute and Glider Infantry units of the 101st. Its role was unique being both Anti Aircraft and Anti Armour.

The 81st Airborne Anti Aircraft Battalion was activated on 4 Sep 1942, at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel W. C. Scoggin, was a special troop unit of the 101st Airborne Division and was activated from units of the 401st and 327th Glider Infantry Regiments. All personnel at that time were infantry trained.

 

Batteries A, B and C were anti-tank batteries, each with eight 37mm A/T guns, which were changed to 57 mm gun and then to the British six pound guns for combat, as they were more suited to gliders. Batteries D, E and F were anti-aircraft batteries, each with twelve 50 calibre air-cooled Browning Heavy Machine Guns on M-63 Anti Aircraft Mounts. After Normandy, ground mounts were secured so the guns could be fired as ground weapons to support the infantry units of the division, who in the main only had only 30 calibre air-cooled machine guns.

 

The battalion moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the division, on 29 Sep 1942. Training began on the new weapons, loading of gliders, taking glider flights and unloading the gliders. The battalion participated in all division exercises and manoeuvres. The division was scheduled to sail for England 5 Sep 1943, from Pier 90, North River, New York. The battalion was assigned as advanced party to the ship, to furnish all fatigue details, ship security and manning the ship's AA guns, with Lieutenant Colonel Scoggin commander of troops aboard ship.

 

The Ship 294 (HMS Samaria) landed at Liverpool, England, and the battalion moved by train to Basildon Park, near Reading, Berkshire. Training was intensified on physical training (including long and short marches), firing of weapons, glider loading, glider flights, unit and division tactical exercies. On 25 Mar 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Scoggin was transferred and Lt Col X. B. Cox Jr. was given command of the battalion and remained in command for the duration.

 

On 6 Jun 1944, Batteries A and B were air lifted by glider to Normandy, France, where they landed at H+2 hours. Batteries D, E, and F came in by sea with the assault wave of engineers and infantrymen of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division landing at H+15 minutes. They set up the first anti-aircraft protection on the beach and remained in this position until 11 June, when they were released by 7th Corps and returned to battalion control, so they could set up AA protection for division headquarters and major bridges around Carentan. The batteries were given credit for at least two enemy planes destroyed during 6-7 June.

 

The next combat operation the Battalion would participate in would be Operation “Market Garden,” the airborne invasion of Holland. The Battalion, along with the rest of the Division, endured 73 days of continuous combat. After the fighting settled down, the 81st occupied the front lines for 48 days until ordered to withdraw from Holland. The Battalion went back to France to rest and recuperate before the next operation.

The Scenario we worked on was as follows:

 

We were in the main Battalion Headquarters of the 81st Airborne Anti Aircraft/Anti tank Battalion several weeks into the Market Garden operation. A few of Headquarters had jumped in however most others have came in with the Glider echelons. One or two of the larger support vehicles have moved up hells highway with XXX Corp before meeting up with the rest of the Battalion.

 

The Battalion Command post and Message Centre (“Kentucky CP”) was located deep in the forest east of Oberhausen.

In support of Battalion HQ, Battery D equipped with anti-aircraft roled 50 Calibre Browning Heavy Machine Guns have detached a squad to provide local defence of the CP, the Brownings being used in the Ground support role, the air threat diminished at this stage of the war.

In the Battalion CP Jeeps come and go, ferrying in Battery Commanders for orders before detachment to support the Parachute infantry on the line. Larger support vehicles wait to be unloaded, Rations, Water and Amunition is at last moving up to the Battalion and the Sub Units on the line. "Cannon Cockers" of the 81st deployed in the Infantry role constantly send out standing patrols to ensure the local area is clear of enemy. The CP is forever busy but when the troops are out the Command post is manned by a reduced squad from Battalion HQ

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81st Battalion Headquarters arrive at CP location on the edge of a wood just outside Oberhausen, within an hour the Command Post is operational.

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Shortly after the Command Post was established a 50 Calibre Anti Aircraft gun Section arrived from Battery D and set up off to the flank to cover any likely enemy approaches. This would not be the first time the gunners had deployed their guns in the ground support role, but it was the first time the squad had been this close to the Battalion CP; it was not long before their presence was known and several Battalion staff Officers were visiting to check out the fearsome guns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Within hours local resistance fighters found there way into the Command Post, with them came up to date information on enemy movements, with Battalion staff busy and defensive troops fully deployed to secure the Battalion area, a clearence patrol was established from the Artillerymen. The gunners prepared for combat as Infantrymen and shortly after a patrol was dispatched.

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Under the command of the Battalions S2 the patrol moved out, its mission to undertake a clearence patrol and to confirm the resistance reports on enemy activity in the area of the small river bridge and farm house to the North of the Battalion Command Post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After an hour or so the patrol reached the small farm complex, it looked very much like it had been deserted for sometime, although evidence of enemy occupation was found in some of the outbuildings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The farm complex cleared of any enemy the patrol moved on to check the small bridge spaning the fast flowing river. The road was one of the few access routes into the command post and this had to be checked for demolition charges. The patrol checked out the area around the bridge and up and down the river before regrouping and moving back towards the Battalion Command Post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Back at the Battalion Command Post things were quite for once. While many of the Battalion staff were at Division the command post were on half manning while some of the Glider troops got some rest. Of course while the patrols were out the radio was constantly manned waiting for any news of enemy activity.

The patrol returned late afternoon, patrol reports were filled in, chow was served, pickets were posted and the Battalion settled down for its night routine.

At first light clearance patrols were sent out and another front line routine day began, while it was busy again in the command post, all available troops attended the Chaplains service, no excuses, it was after all Sunday.

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center]After the short break for the service it was back to defending the Command Post, cleaning weapons reloading and guard duties.

 

 

 

 

 

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Late afternoon the regular resupply arrived, in the distance, sparodic firing could be heard as the fully laden C47's approuched the 101st lines.

 

 

 

Our occupation of the forest in our part of Holland was soon to come to an end and again it was time to move up nearer to the front in support of the Infantry Regiments. Orders were received to move out. Stores, ammunition and guns were prepared to travel, before last light the Battalion would be on the move.

 

 

 

 

Platoon Leaders and Non Coms of Battery D return from being briefed at the CP, "Prepare to move out"

 

 

Battalion Headquarters and the defence platoon from Battery D prepared to break down the command post, Battalion vehicles from Headquarters were loaded with the stores and rations which would be unloaded yet again at the new CP location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Within the hour the first elements of Battalion headquarters were moving out and on its way up the line to a new location. It would be another night and another day in Holland for the 81st but “Kentucky CP” would be in operation in another Forest and in another part of the country. The weather was still pleasent and last light was some time off, but in a matter of a few months the the Battalion would be sharing with the rest of the Division the harsh winter condition of the campaign in Belgium.

 

 

It’s always said after a good event, but this was truly a team effort, especially from those execs who again took the time out to travel out of their way to get to here to the FAAA Command Post to help do the final load and move out as the advance /work party. These weekends cannot be done without these dedicated guys and it is truly appreciated by myself and the NOW small number of follow up troops who arrive and find the display up and running with the camp/position up and running with the kettle on.

 

Steve again did a cracking job in the Field kitchen allowing me to do some living history and the group as a whole to function and be where it needed to be during the show. Wearing two hats /helmets Steve moved from Admin, Mess and Supply to Chaplain in the space of 24hrs

 

Thank you to Ben for getting the CO's jeep to and from the event and to the CO for working on his own transport which was a little poorly (Knacked Water Pump)

 

Thanks for Bob for the dedicated support and also the Apple Pies, home made from the orchard back home.

 

All impressions will always need work on and the ones we do in M43 kit are the hardest to do we find and still need some detailing, however I feel the group as a whole were good to go representing a sub unit of the 101st Airborne Division. At all times the display looked active, used and lived in.

 

On a personal note I enjoyed this one more than many of the bigger events we have done in the past as a larger organisation, apart from the setting up which is always tiring, it was a chilled out weekend with great friends and myself and the CO thank all for mucking in and helping to take the burden off us yet again, its great to be able to kick back, dress up and play soldiers again, I even got to carry my BAR (someone else can have it next time, I am far too small and feeble to lug that around).

 

This was the final major public event of the season, where did it go! It was a corker of one to finish off 2013 and it was great to come back full circle and represent the 101st Airborne Division again, be it a non Parachute Infantry one.

 

We already look forward to the next Wimpole event where we will be covering again units who were involved in Operation Market Garden, perhaps 82nd Airborne Division this time

 

 

 

Lee Bowden

Chairman

The First Allied Airborne Association

CORA

[willysmb44]

Lee,

I always marvel at your group event photos. You just don't see this kind of thing much here in the Colonies, most people either layout gear in a display (usually with plenty of modern stuff mixed among it or right behind it), or an event like you pictured, as a private event the public can't see. In 20+ years in the hobby I have seen very few events like yours done to that degree of accuracy for the public...

Keep up the good work!

[Sabrejet]

Always very sharp with a commendable attention to detail. I wonder if your camera-chappie might try some "desaturated" colour shots sometime? I'll bet they'd look great with that slightly faded period look, IMHO!

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Thank you for your kind comments guys. Lee I know these pics do indeed look like they are a private event but there are plenty of public around, but the camera is pointing where we need it to make up these story lines. I have pics of the actual show so I will post some up as soon as I have time as it would be nice to see how the guys are interacting with the public and veterans. My job does not give me the free time I used to have to submit the reports and they take some time to put together, we have still several from 2013 outstanding but they will get finished sooner or later so keep your eyes peeled.

 

I am glad the pics and reports are enjoyed by some, makes the work the guys in the group do all worth it.

 

Regards to all

 

Lee

[Dwh79]

The pictures are no longer available but thank you for the history on the unit. Do you have pics of the units insignia? My great uncle was a member of the unit and was captured during operation market garden and spent the remainder of the war as a POW. His name was Kenneth Otto Drake. He was a proud member of the 101st and POW. Organization?