FAAA IN FRANCE WITH THE OSS

[FAAA]

OSS OPERATIONAL GROUPS

 

The OG concept was based on General Donovan's belief that American soldiers with foreign language skills and training who, if organized in small groups and trained with commando capabilities could be parachuted into enemy occupied territory to harass the enemy and to encourage and support local resistance organizations.

 

With a Joint Chiefs of Staff directive of 23 December 1942, which provided that OSS should organize "operational nuclei" to be used in enemy occupied territory, a recruiting program was initiated. Line outfits, officer candidate and specialty schools were targeted as pools for candidates who, at a minimum, had already received basic training. Infantry and engineer units were sources from which most OG candidates were sought; with radio operators coming from the Signal Corps and medical technicians from the Medical Corps.

 

Working knowledge of a foreign language was a priority consideration advanced in the recruiting promotions, though candidates with other special skills or foreign area knowledge were also considered for recruitment. Soldiers with language skills in Norwegian, Italian, French, Greek and German were the primary languages being sought. Prospective candidates were given the opportunity to volunteer for "hazardous duty behind enemy lines." Interested individuals were interviewed, and possible operational situations were presented to enable the candidate to have an understanding of potential personal dangers. Only men with a real desire for such duty were chosen. Approximately ten percent of those interviewed volunteered.

 

Soon after interview, those selected received orders to report to OSS Headquarters at 2340 E Street in Washington, D. C. In the complex located there was the OG HQ unit in "Q Building". Most recruits then, after processing in, were transported to "Area F" (the Congressional Country Club in nearby Potomac, Maryland) The Club, which had been taken over by the OSS for its use during the war, served as a base for several different OSS activities. Except for the OGs, most of those persons went home off base after their days work Apart from a base headquarters unit which included an MP detachment; the OGs were the only military personnel living there.

 

It was late summer of 1943 when the 99th Mountain Battalion arrived at Area F (Congressional Country Club) for basic OG training. The battalion, which had been stationed and trained at Camp Hale Colorado, had been recruited as a unit to form the Norwegian Operational Group (NORSO). Discipline and professionalism were readily demonstrated in the manner these officers and men responded to the OG training exercises and field problems that were given and in December 1943 the Norwegian Operational Group of about 100 officers and non-commissioned officers transferred to England where they were attached to the OSS Special Operations (SO) Headquarters, Scandinavian Section. In anticipation of possible operations in Norway the unit then underwent additional training in Scotland.

 

Come summer of 1944 with no approved missions in Norway, the Norwegian Operational Group was committed to operations in France and became the major component of the UK-to-France unit of the French Operational Group. The first contingent of some 200 volunteers who had been selected to form the French Operational Group completed OG training at Area F in the fall of 1943, and Major (later Lt. Col.) Alfred T. Cox who had been the Chief of OG training at Area F was then designated commanding officer of that Group.

 

In filling out the projected T/O for overseas assignment for the unit, Major Cox included many of the personnel from the Area F teaching staff, the quartermaster/supply unit, communications unit and medical unit to establish a complete operational group to include a Field Service Headquarters Unit (FSHQ). The French OGs were ready for deployment. But circumstances similar to those which the Italian OGs experienced before they embarked in August 1943 were again causing delays, while the military leaders in each command needed to be briefed and familiarized with the OG operational concept. As a part of that process to “sell” the OG concept, a section of the French OGs participated in a combined Airborne manoeuvre in North Carolina in December 1943 as a demonstration.

 

Meanwhile, to utilize the extra time to advantage and to avoid a waning of morale, the group was sent to Area B, a CCC Camp near Quantico Virginia which had been taken over for wartime use by OSS. Training at that site provided opportunity to use operational practices they had earlier worked out but in a different locale and environment. Also further concentration was given to physical fitness as well as giving special attention to what could be used in that locale if necessary to "live off the land."

 

In December the Group went to Camp Hale, Colorado for ski training. Upon their arrival at Camp Hale word was received that the group had been ordered for attachment to the Seventh Army in Algiers. On 1 January 1944 Major Cox and his executive officer departed by military air transport as the advance party to establish facilities for the Group to be near that headquarters in Algiers.

 

Crossing the Atlantic by ship convoy, the Group found its North African base in February 1944 at Domaine de la Trappe, a site near Algiers where Trappist Monks had managed extensive vineyards at an earlier period. While there awaiting operational deployment the group undertook parachute jump training at the nearby OSS parachute school, using both American and British equipment; and to practice jump techniques for parachuting from bombers through an opening in the airplane belly where normally the gunner's turret would be. Major Cox was concerned and very mindful of the need to keep the men active to avoid any drop off of morale, and as a part of such effort organized additional field training for the Group in the Atlas Mountains. Plans were also being explored to conduct operations with the French Foreign Legion at its base in that area, but before the latter could be arranged, the call came to prepare for the first OG operation into France in support of the June 6th Normandy invasion.

 

Soon thereafter, two additional French Groups arrived in Algiers for parachute jump training at the OSS parachute school before proceeding to England where, under the command of Lt. Colonel Serge Obolenski, they would join the Norwegian OG unit stationed there under administrative control of OSS Special Operations. Working together they would become the second French OG unit to operate in France; and on August 1, 1944 their first section parachuted into France.

 

For some years now the FAAA have had an interest in the American OSS Special Operations and have re-enacted this unit several times since 1994. While the group is actively working on its First Special Service Force impression, it acknowledges the fact that this unit although superbly trained, never did realise its full potential as a Special Forces unit and was instead deployed as an elite infantry unit. We share the opinion of many that it was in fact the uniformed OSS Operational groups who can really lay claim to being the predecessors of the Green Berets and American Special Forces.

 

To complete its weekend of Special Forces impressions the group geared up to represent one such OG unit prior to and during an Operational Group mission behind the lines in France.

 

Pictures by myself and Ade of this units Signals Corp Photo unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FAAA]

 

 

 

 

[Abby K-9]

Cool. It's nice to see people do OSS. Have you gotten any of the, "Oh anyone can do OSS - just walk around in civilian clothes with a suitcase radio!" comments yet from the "well informed" reenactors? Brian and I used to do OSS a few years ago and that's one of the things we heard.

 

If you don't already have them, two interesting books are Roger Hall's "You're Stepping on My Cloak and Dagger", which is more of a humorous look at his time in the OSS, and Rene J. Defourneaux "The Winking Fox." The Library of Congress's Veterans History Project has more on Defourneaux on this website - http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/l...c2001001.03357/ - including some photos and interviews. Unfortunately, most of the photos are post-World War II from his time in the Far East. (Interesting as well, though.)

[J_Andrews]

Nit: Turn your musette around, face in to your body, so the straps and buckles do not catch on gear....

[FAAA]

Nit: Turn your musette around, face in to your body, so the straps and buckles do not catch on gear....

 

Taken from original pictures of OG Donald, thats how they were worn with the British X type Chute.

 

Yep understand that the musette was reversed under the T5 reserve chute on conventional Airborne troops.

 

Regards

 

Lee

 

[FAAA]

As detailed above in regards to T5.

 

 

[redjoshman]

Also it is not ucommon to see paratroopers wearing their musette bag facing outward even when deployed wit the T5 Parachute.

 

See the book American Warriors by Michel De Trez for Photographs of that being done.

 

Here are some pics:

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/re...normandy113.jpg

 

http://img108.No_outside_hosting.us/img108/2920/os...ay19442utah.jpg

 

-Josh

[FAAA]

Also it is not ucommon to see paratroopers wearing their musette bag facing outward even when deployed wit the T5 Parachute.

 

See the book American Warriors by Michel De Trez for Photographs of that being done.

 

Here are some pics:

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/re...normandy113.jpg

 

http://img108.No_outside_hosting.us/img108/2920/os...ay19442utah.jpg

 

-Josh

 

 

That is correct josh, more often than not its not the fact you keep the buckles away from rigging lines, its more that the mussete back is attached to the D rings of the webbing suspenders and once free of the chute the mussette can be flicked over the back for a quick move off the DZ

 

Regards

 

LB

[124cav]

awesome

[fortworthgal]

Very cool! I have portrayed French resistance at a couple of events, and so I really appreciate seeing the OSS being represented. It is a very different and unique impression. People always assume that resistance or partisan or anything related to that is an "easy" impression - like someone said above, just throw on some Goodwill civilian clothes and a suitcase radio and you're set! I think you guys did a very nice job.

[FAAA]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

We have some girls who have done agents in the past. We started this impression many years ago and often worked along side a French resistant outfit, I will see if I can track down some pictures. A couple of years back we covered the OSS in training at one of its actual training locations here in the UK, again I will see if I can find the report we did.

 

Regards

 

Lee

[FAAA]

Men, Congratulations on completing the first part of your training. Today you receive the Special Forces Wings, but your training is not over! In the next few days you will be completing heavy Weapons training and then you will all undertake Parachute training with the British before returning here to carry out final training missions.

I wish you all the best of luck

 

Congratulations Private Mawer

 

Troops Dismiss!

 

While the troops went for chow, SF training staff mustered in the Execs office for a briefing on the new intake of Operational Group Soldiers.

 

Lt Carpenter, Staff Sgt Kitcher, we have 9 guys who have passed the first part of their selection and have recieved their Wings today.

 

Lt Carpenter check the programe and have them seated in the briefing room for 1100hrs, oh and get those dames jumping into France tomorrow to come along too

 

Capt, we have a couple of those Jeds here on the drop manifest too, do you want them in on this

 

Yer why not, those boys are good and some of our guys will be operating with them in a month or so, Sgt Kitcher go tell them to be in the briefing room 1100hrs sharp.

[FAAA]

Well done on getting this far, many of your original unit have not! Sat here with you today are men and women of SOE, shortly they will be leaving us for operations against the enemy. On completion of your training, you and others who will join you in a week or so will also be behind the lines. Before however, you still have further training to undertake and that will start today.

 

You have been successful so far and today you received your SF wings. The Staff Sgt here will be your Platoon Sgt from here on in, Lt Carpenter will be your Platoon Leader, don’t let them down. See you at the flag staff at 1300hrs, oh and spit shine those jump boots! Fall Out!

 

After the Briefing

 

This is the worst part waiting for transport, where will in be this time, Temsford or Harrington!

 

I dont even know where I left from last month!

[FAAA]

Back at the SF Training School the new NORSO troops undertake support weapons training.

 

The American used 81mm Mortar was amongst the largest piece of ordnance the Partisans and Resistance fighters would deploy on aggressive actions against the enemy. These would be dropped by container to the groups prior to use with instructions on how to operate. This was not a very successful way to equip them so OG ‘s were to train the resistance fighter on this equipment in theatre. But first the Soldiers themselves had to be trained on the equipment and learn the principles of sitting and operation.

 

Troops, many of you will not be familiar with this weapon, so we start from scratch

 

Right, simple really, now lets get some rounds down out there!

 

 

 

 

Ok Guys , you have had your fun, now break down those tubes and saddle up, were running curahee! (Note: at no time did I really say that )

[Jamecharles]

AMAZING Guys!!

great set of photos and amazing place where reenact !!!

[124cav]

another 11 out of 10 from FAAA