The 94th Air Defense Battalion (WWII)

World War II (WWII) was one of the most deadly wars in history, with an estimated more than 50 million military and civilians’ deaths worldwide. (World War II, 2017) Beginning in 1939 and lasting for a duration of six years, WWII did not end until the year 1945. During WWII, Air Defense Artillery was significant in the success of their allies by providing support during strategic operations. While supporting ground combat operations, 443rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery were able to protect soldiers from air-treats. This would be known as the Battle of Bruyeres that resulted in the “Lost Battalion”. Towards the end of the war in Germany, 413th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion took guard over a bridge in attempt to ensure the safety of units
(U.S. Army, 2015; online), The 94th Air Defense Artillery was constituted on 16 December 1940 in the Regular Army as the 94th Coast Artillery. During the Second World War, they participated in war campaigns within the East Indies, New Guinea, Leyte, and Luzon. (32D AAMDC, no date; online), "In 1942, the 32d Artillery Brigade, Coast Artillery Corps was reactivated as a Regular Army unit in order to participate in World War II. In August 1943, it deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations. It also served as part of the Sixth U.S. Army, against the Japanese in New Guinea. In October 1944, the brigade participated in the landing on Leyte in the Philippines. Air Defense units also fought in direct contact against the Japanese in World War II. Air Defense Artillery units were awarded many awards in World War II. According to, (US Army, 2015; online), “94TH AAMDC was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945”. According to McKinney, Janice E. (1985), “1st Battalion, 43d Air Defenses Artillery, was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945” (p. 163). McKinney (1985), “3D Missile Battalion 55TH Air Defense Artillery was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945” (p. 225). These are just a few of the Air
It was not until early “March, 1945 when the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division’s Combat Command B” (Diamond 2017) stormed over the Rhine and into Germany at the Remagen Bridge. They became the first unit in the US military to cross into Germany. Dwight Eisenhower knew that this was a huge win for the Allied advance but he also knew the Germans would formulate a counter-offensive to regain control of the bridge. Attached to the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion was the 482nd and the 413th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalions. The 482nd was mainly responsible for manning the automatic weapons systems. The 413th was responsible for “one 4.5-inch gun Battalion, one 155mm gun battalion, and one 8-inch howitzer” (Diamond 2017) covering the East and West banks as well as the bridge itself. The Allies were worried about the German retaliation and their attempts to destroy the bridge by any means necessary but they had the bridge completely covered. “The Luftwaffe also mounted over 400 sorties against the bridge, including the new Me-262 fighter jets and older Stukas, but the Allied antiaircraft defenses were too dense; over 700 guns surrounding the bridge threw up a curtain of lead at the planes.” (Diamond 2017) Regardless of their efforts to defend the bridge it eventually collapsed anyway but not from attack. The bridge was just a result of poor