WWII 5th Anti-Aircraft Artillery

8/8/2019 WWII 5th Anti-Aircraft Artillery

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FIFTH ARMY ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY

SALERNOTOO

FLORENCE9 September 1943-8 September 1944

Prepared by the Antiaircraft Artillery SectionHeadquarters, Fifth Army


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Passed for Publication ByField Press Censor


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HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY

To the Officers and Men of the Antiaircraft Artillery Units,Fifth Army :You have made history in more ways than one. You werepart of those brave Allied troops of all branches who smash-ed their way up the Italian peninsula to take Borne from thesouth a task the mighty Hannibal failed to accomplish. To-gether with the Allied air arm, you stopped the Luftwaffe fromblasting the valorous Anzio force from existence.Everywhere in Italy you have stopped the German AirForce consistently whenever the opportunity arose. You havestepped into new and responsible roles, accomplishing yourmission each time with distinction. You have gained the ad-

miration and respect of all the Allied troops.In short, you have proved and brilliantly so the greatvalue of Antiaircraft Artillery. lam proud of your achieve-ments. You, too, should be proud of them. Your country isgrateful. This is your book your record of the history which youmade.

Brigadier General, U.S.A.Antiaircraft Commander.

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'. AAKON BRADSHAW, Jr., Brigadier General,Antiaircraft Commander.


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3nlmdutuntIn the single year from the landings of the Fifth Armyat Salerno, 9 September 1943, the feathers have beenplucked one by one from the wings of the proud Luftwaffeuntil today, its striking power greatly weakened, it seemspractically grounded. Participating to an important degree

in this major victory were the Fifth Army antiaircraftartillery units, who inched, pushed, and finally raced theirway up the Italian peninsula with the infantry, the armorand the field artillery. Theirs was the task of stoppingthose elements of the German Air Force that penetratedour air defenses and came on to bomb and strafe our troopsand installations. This they did so well, together with ourown air arm, that for the present at least, they seem literallyto have worked themselves out of their primary job.Today, as a consequence, many antiaircraft units arepreparing for a host of new assignments as infantry, mili-tary police, trucking companies, engineers, and field artil-lery, in which, if called upon, they can be expected to servethe Fifth Army with the same thoroughness and excellenceas their former role. So long as the Luftwaffe stillpossessesa threat, however, enough AAA units to meet it willcon-tinue their normal roles. Others, if used on other tasksduring periods of relative inactivity, willcontinue to keeptheir guns handy and themselves ready for prompt returnto the battle should the Luftwaffe show signs of revival.To celebrate the first anniversary of Salerno Day andto mark the achievements of the year, this short accountof antiaircraft activities has been prepared for the officersand enlisted men who can look back with satisfaction ona task superbly done.

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"The enemy srnii crew deserted their weapon."M- &\/VS/tf ffMM

a single 40 millimeterunique engagement occurred betweengun and a German 88 millimeter piece at 1,350 yards range.The 40 millimeter gun engaged the target with 75 roundsThe enemy gun crew deserted their weapon.automatic fire.The big job at Salerno, however, was the primary oneof fighting off the savage and repeated air attacks directedand supplies in the small beachheadat the massed troopsat the shipping, and at the small boats plying to andarea, at frequent in-from the beaches. These attacks continuedtervals day and night for the first 7 days. They failedutterly in their prime object of destroying troops and sup-flow of vitallyplies on the beaches and in stopping theneeded reinforcements and supplies. Time and again theAAAunits engaged these planes, destroyed some, damaged

many, and turned others from the area. Those who peto escape destruction,netrated the defenses, in their effortswere unable to bomb accurately.

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10/31

Defeating the enemy in the battle for the beaches, theArmy began the gruelling, relentless fight up the Italianpeninsula. The light and heavy antiaircraft was committedto the protection of river crossings, bridges, lines of communications, field artillery, infantry, supply dumps, portsand other vital installations. Our seizure and use of theport of Naples brought the German long-range bomberforce down from Northern Italy in an attempt to smashthe work of restoring the harbor, and later, in an effortto destroy the shipping. Flights of 25-30 Junkers 88sstruck frequently in determined night attacks. Our damage- was slightthe cost to the Luftwaffe heavy. The antiair-craft artillery was there for the first attack, and with eachsucceeding one, the Nazis found the defenses extended andstrengthened. Failing to interfere materially with use ofthe port and unable to halt the steady advance to theNorth, the enemy soon turned his attention to the forwardtroops, on Naples becamend raids infrequent.

The Luftwaffe fails to disrupt shipping at SALERNO.


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Tjlm (VoitttwtnWith the crossing of the Volturno, the German AirForce struck at the bridges and artillery with increased

determination.with the pilots showingPlights of from 25-40 aircraft, in wide sweepsremarkably more skill and daring, attacked

along the river. Here the experience at Salerno andNaples began to tell. In an outstanding engagementDivision15 October, 34 enemy aircraft attacked the 3dartillery. Coming in out of the sun, 20 Foeke-Wulf 190sdestroyed in flames.dived to the attack. Seven aircraft wereThe 14 which remained aloft did not attack. Four morewere destroyed on the same day when 30 aircraft attackedforward infantry. The troops and supplies still flowed overto disruptthe bridges, and the Luftwaffe had been unablethe advance. otSf ti


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. ()n the alert in the SAX PIETRO -area. - i^ib" mill mill m \u25a0 i

"' 90 millimeter director creir spots a hostile." I


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The antiaircraft dug in shoulder to shoulder with theinfantry and field artillery in the mud and snow of thebitter season before the German's winter line. With theenemy firmly intrenched in the fastness of the Gustavline,IICorps was given the mission of establishing a bridge-An engineer regiment hadhead across the Rapido river.the task of building initially three bridges across this river.to exploit the infantryOver these would pass the armorattack. Enemy air reaction was expected to be sharp,with determined dive bombing attempts to destroy thebridges and strafe the assembly areas of infantry troops.The antiaircraft artillery mission was one of close support,to move up with the engineers and defend the bridges andthe flow of troop reinforcements and supplies after theinfantry had established bridgeheads.

".... tii the mud.... before the German's winter line."


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At 20008 20 January the infantry jumped off, encounter-ing immediate and heavy enemy opposition. At 24008engineer and antiaircraft personnel and equipment moved,per schedule, towards the river. Intense enemy small arms,mortar and artillery fire which had inflicted heavy casual-ties and prevented establishment of a satisfactory bridge-head by the infantry, was still falling on the approachesto the crossing areas. Eoads blocked by casualties and wrecked equipment prevented occupation by some of theantiaircraft guns of their previously reconnoitered positions.However, all guns which were able to reach satisfactory *positions moved in, and their crews, despite the heavy fire,prepared and occupied the positions prior to daylight.Other guns, temporarily prevented from reaching positions,were held in assembly areas at short distances to the rear

" Ited alert!" for a self- propelled gun crew manning| a 37 millimeter gun and two .50 caliber machine guns.


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40 millimeter gun provides antiaircraft protection Ilor the Held artillery at base of MT. ROCCHETTA. |

from which the crews, under fire, proceeded forward onfoot to prepare their positions. Daylight found 21 of the32 guns in dug-in positions, ready to fire, a feat which,under the conditions encountered, attested to the outstanding discipline, courage, training and determination of theofficers and men involved. Remaining guns occupied posi-tions the following day.All units withdrew on the night of 22 January when theoperation was abandoned. Notable during the operationwas the morning of 21 January when infantry troops infront of antiaircraft positions in the center sector, becauseof severe losses, withdrew. The antiaircraft personnel, holding to their positions, provided their own ground defenseuntil the afternoon of the same day.To 31 December, the German Air Force had made 398attacks 3os of which were against the forward area. Antiaircraft fire destroyed 119 planes; an additional 86 wereprobably destroyed. Of these, 82 aircraft were destroyedin attacking forward troops.


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Meanwhile, with inclement weather and lack of enemyair action, the 90 millimeter crews, pounded by enemyartillery, were allowed to shoot back, a mission they enthu-siastically performed with a definite uplift to their morale.They soon demonstrated their ability to hit and destroyground targets, and the field artillery acquired a valuablesupporting weapon, the capabilities of which were exploitedmore and more as the campaign progressed. Notable dur-ing the middle of December was the technique developed of

Ihelling enemy antiaircraft with our 90s whenever our air-craft attacked. The fire was highly successful, forced ItheGerman flak batteries to remain silent or to withdrawand brought forth the thanks and appreciation of our AirCorps.

CASSINO under artillery bombardment.


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cAnziaAs our attack was being thrown back at the Bapido,

other troops were landing far in the German rear at Anzio.There the duel between the Allied antiaircraft and theGerman Air Force reached a climax. The target was vital,small, and concentrated, within easy reach of enemy fighterand bomber fields. Air attacks against the invading forcesquickly began and were continued as the enemy franticallyrushed troops to the threatened area.

The enemy was determined to destroy our forces byheavy bombardment or drive us into the sea. For thefirst time in the Italian campaign, he heavily supportedhis ground attacks from the air. His bomber strength inNorthern Southern France hit with the mis-taly andsions of destroying the port of Anzio and its shipping andof pounding one end of the beachhead to the other.

v .... other troops were lamlinsr far1 iv the German rear at AXZIO."


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The iron determination of the Germans was demonstrated29 January, 7 days after the landing, when 60 aircraftJunkers 88s, Dornier 217s and Heinkel 177s came downto smash the shipping in Anzio harbor. The fire of our90 millimeter guns caught the formation far out at sea,forced the aircraft to strike in single harassing attacks,and succeeded in destroying 5 planes. By disrupting themass plan of attack, the antiaircraft saved the vital shipsand ammunition dumps.By that night, when the score was taken, the GermanAir Force had raided the beachhead 53 times. Antiaircrafthad destroyed 38 planes, with 10 probably destroyed.

The strongest consistent attacking force yet seen in theItalian theater, however, was mustered by the Nazis 15February, the day before the full-scale German offensive.For 7 consecutive days, the German Air Force, trying everyknown trick and using everything from fighters to heavybombers, struck again and again at the port of Anzio.

Adding up the score, a 90 niilli-1meter gnu fires at the enemy, j


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In those 7 days, the Nazis lost 25 planes, which were seento crash and burn, and 23 more, which were listed as pro-bably destroyed.Thus, for the period 22 January to 22 February, wedestroyed 68 planes 6B planes which were seen to crash.Damage to our materiel and personnel was slight. Theshipping still unloaded smoothly. The supplies poured intothe port and over the beaches by the thousands of tons.After 178 raids pressed home with determination, thetempo of enemy air activity fluctuated. Eaids in definitepatterns followed, but each attempt was smashed. In effortsat early morning raids, 30 per cent of the attackingcraft were destroyed. An afternoon engagement 29 Marchproved disastrous for the Nazis when 8 of 20 planes whichdived on the harbor from the sun were destroyed and theothers scattered and fled, some with bombs still aboard.Failing in these methods of attack, the Germans, takinga page from our book, sought to neutralize the AAA by

antiaircraft helling the heavy gun "batteries during theirair raids. Our field artillery gave an immediate answercounterbattery on call from the AAA coordinated anddefinitely effective. Again the enemy had to mark off anunsuccessful attempt.About 75 per cent of all air attacks came at night, and

new techniques made our fire on unseen targets deadlyaccurate. This was not the old familiar barrage fire theenemy had encountered so often in the past, but fire soefficiently coordinated that individual German planes werecaught by it even when they attacked simultaneously fromseveral directions and altitudes.The number of planes destroyed is not a measure of thefull effectiveness of antiaircraft fire. A large percentage ofthe planes making the attacks veered from the target, jet-tisoned their bombs in the water or many times on theirown troops, and abandoned the attack because of the de-vastating fire.

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On every occasion where the enemy employed 8 ormore planes, he lost at least 1plane destroyed, and insome cases 30 to 45 per cent of his raiding force. The Naziswere forced to abandon their large-scale attacks.In all night attacks on the port, the German Air Forceobviously noted that no fire was received from light antiaircraft units in the forward areas of the beachhead. Knowing that our heavy guns could not engage low-flying aircraftin that area without endangering our own ground troops,the Nazis began to take advantage of the night inactivityof the forward antiaircraft. Their aircraft began to comeat low altitudes into the forward areas where they maneuvered while watching for targets of opportunity, upon whichthey promptly unloaded AP or HE bombs, or both. Theantiaircraft artillery promptly countered these tactics byorganizing the forward antiaircraft units to permit the firing of controlled barrages in any one or all three sectorsinto which the forward areas had been divided. The fearsof the forward area troops that such firing would merelyserve to outline their position to the enemy airmen andwould, in addition, be likely to bring down concentratedenemy artillery fire, were completely allayed by the firstdemonstration. The massed fires of the hundreds of gunsquickly drove the enemy aircraft from the area. After afew further half-hearted attempts and some ineffective shelling of a few of the light gun sites, the forward areas wereadded to the territory forbidden to the Luftwaffe.When the beachhead was finally broken, antiaircraft firehad destroyed 204 planes and probably destroyed 133.Anzio had suffered 291 attacks totalling 2,500 sorties.

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21/31

The development of the 90 millimeter gun as a fieldartillery piece during the winter months was brilliantly demonstrated in the Army's final assault on the Gustavline. In preparation for the attack launched 11 May,all the heavy gun batteries were moved up so that theycould closely support the infantry.From previous experience in the campaign, it was foundthat the 90 millimeter gun, particularly with air burst, andbecause of its rapidity of fire and accuracy, was quite deadlyagainst enemy infantry concentrations. From previous experience as well, we learned the value of the gun in acounterbattery role. We knew also that the Germansfeared the weapon, and prisoners taken several monthsbefore during the winter campaign had called the gun" "Ratsch-bum. Prisoners said that they could hear thecrack of the gun, and before they could fall or take cover,

I'rew inflates another barrasre bal-loon to defy the enemy raiders.


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90 millimeter ground fire atrainst 1'German troop concentrations.

the shell struck or burst. Ordinary foxholes failed to pro-tect against the downward spray of shrapnel from air bursts,and because of the high rate of fire, many rounds often fellbefore dugouts with overhead cover could be reached. Theysaid that this characteristic had a great demoralizing effecton their troops.

Therefore, in the assault on the Gustav line 90 milli-meter guns were assigned 21.8 missions and fired 40,000rounds of ammunition. The heavy gun fire, delivered ra-pidly in heavy concentrations, neutralized enemy field andantiaircraft artillery, caught enemy infantry concentrationsforming to attack, denied the enemy use of important roadjunctions, and by spraying shrapnel upon the pack trailsover which he hauled supplies, helped to disrupt some ofhis important lines of communication in the mountains.Batteries of were also engaged and silenced.

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Preparatory to the offensive launched from the Anziobeachhead 23 May 1944, all gun battalions on the beach-head were organized for ground fire under one fire-directioncenter. The batteries were registered on ground targets,and prior to D-day and H-hour conducted heavy preparatory fires on troops, machine gun positions, mortar positionsand enemy artillery. Shortly after H-hour on the day ofthe attack, 1,000 rounds of 90 millimeter ammunition werebrought down on 17 enemy locations. An example of theresults is given in the following intelligence report:" Shortly after mid-day on the 23rd, 300 to 400 Germansoldiers were observed coming towards our lines bearingwhite flags and waving white handkerchiefs. The concen-tration hesitated about coming across a railroad bed whichwas between them and our lines. Fearing they might return

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The 90*8 jrivo infantry supportduring the ANZIO breakthrough.


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The drive for ROME jams the roads.

to their lines, a forward observer on the bank of the railroadcalled for fire upon them. The 90s, without any othersupporting fire, opened up. Immediately after the firstconcentration, 50 of the enemy came running across therailroad into our lines in complete disorder. The othersremained where they were. More heavy fire was broughtdown. Two hundred rounds were poured into them, andanother 100 Germans came running into our lines wildlysurrendering. Remnants were either incapable of making itinto our lines or retreated from where they were. As theattack progressed, and our infantry moved forward, the90s continued to give close support to the advance. For5 days, during the critical stages of the battle, this con-tinued. In all, 24,650 rounds of heavy ammunition were"fired.


25/31

Smashing determined enemy resistance at Cisterna, Vel-LETKI and Lawuvio, the beachhead forces joined with themain force from the Southern Front and drove for Eome.Early on the morning of 4 June our troops entered theoutskirts of the city.The enemy, demoralized and beaten, retreated to theNorth. It was a retreat which eventually carried them tothe Arno River, whence the Germans fell back on thevaunted Gothic line.This was one of the most gruelling phases of the campaign for the antiaircraft troops. Units frequently changedpositions several times during a 24 -hour period so that theforward elements would have constant protection againstenemy aircraft. So swift was the advance that the anti-

Welcome to the liberators in frontof ROME'S historic Colosseum.


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**~ set up immediate protection.... of CIVITAVECCHIA." I

aircraft troops, in order to establish their most forwardgun sites, on several occasions were forced to clear the areaof snipers and infantry troops covering the retreating enemy. .Enemy air activity from the breakthrough at Cisternain May to the occupation of Florence in August, wentfrom slight to almost nothing.As the Army pushed up the coast, the antiaircraft, alwaysamong the forward elements, set up immediate protectionof the ports of Civitavecchia, Piombino and Leghorn.Several halfhearted attempts by the Luftwaffe to raid theports at night were frustrated by the guns long before theplanes entered the vital area.

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Adding up the score, antiaircraft artillery with the FifthArmy knocked 463 planes from the skies in the year sincethe landing at Salerno. In addition to these planes, whichhad been seen to crash, 303 craft probably were destroyed.The latter were hit and burst into flame, but their wreckagewas not found.The enemy, during that period, projected on Fifth Armytroops and installations 635 attacks totalling 4,670 sorties.But the antiaircraft artillery decisively defeated the Nazieffort and forced a heavy toll of destroyed and probablydestroyed airplanes in approximately 85 per cent of allengagements.

Despite the snow, still on duty as usual.


28/31

The antiaircraft can truly look back with just prideand pleasure upon their activities during the year followingthe historic landings at Salerno 9 September 1943.In that year they met and decisively defeated each attemptof the German Air Force to interfere effectively with theground operations of the Fifth Army. Always working inthe closest harmony and cooperation with our Air Force,they met and successfully surmounted their greatest testat Anzio. With the enemy airfields almost in theirfront yard and our own far away, they became practicallythe first line of defense for the beleaguered beachhead troopswho later played such an important part in the capture ofRome and the pursuit of the beaten enemy to the Arnofar to the north.

j Preparing" the searchlight for its nij?ht role of fur-[ nishimj artificial moonlieht" for forward troops.


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Since the enemy's air effort faded, some antiaircrafttroops, highly trained and disciplined and accustomed toclose work with other branches of the army, have demons-trated their talents for other purposes. They have earnedthe admiration and the appreciation of the entire army bytheir demonstrated ability to perform creditably almost anytask with a minimum of time for preparation. Our troops,having fought and won the battle for which they were ini-tially trained, are still here as proven soldiers of UncleSam and have yet to receive a task which they are unableto handle. Today, in the Fifth Army, whenever an emer-gency arises for which trained and disciplined troops arerequired, the call goes out for the Antiaircraft to take over.Truly, we of the Fifth Army AAA can be proud of our con-tribution to the war effort during the last year in Italy.

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ROLL CALLFIFTH ARMY ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY TROOPS

Antiaircraft Artillery Command, Fifth ArmyBrigades

34th 45th 71st35th Operations Detachments34th 45th 71st35th

Groupssth 68th 209 thBth 91st 505th9th 107 th

Gun Battalions67th 87th 403 rd68th72nd (f 108th^216th 409 th410 th73rd 401st

Automatic Weapons Battalions (Self-Propelled)105 th 432nd 441t106th 434th 443rdAutomatic Weapons Battalions (40 Millimeter)

201st 439 th 630th400 th 450th 894 th433rd 451st 895th435th 532nd 898 th436th 534 th 899 th437 th 536 th 900thSearchlight Battalions331st 351st 360 th

337 thMachine Gun Batteries (Airborne)

688th 690th 692nd689th 691st 693rdBarrage Balloon Batteries (Very Low Altitude)102nd 104 th

Attached and Associated Units24th Cm! Decon Co Cs Bn4th4th EngrEngr Camouflage78th Cml SG Co 93rd Ord Co (AA)172nd Cml SG Co 261st Ord Co (AA)179 th Cml SG Co 262nd Ord Co (AA)

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WWII 5th Anti-Aircraft Artillery