What's New
Author Updates and Archive Additions
June 22, 2025
My online archive now includes three situation overlays concerning the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion in early December 1944. I’ve superimposed each overlay onto a topographic map.
Situation Overlay, 5th RIB, 5 Dec 44
Situation Overlay, 5th RIB, 6 Dec 44
Situation Overlay, 5th RIB, 8 Dec 44
May 18, 2025
At the US National Archives, I chanced upon a picture of four officers from the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion. Photographed in December 1944, the men had just returned from an operation in the Forst Karlsbrunn along the Franco-German border. Intrigued by the image (shown at left), I unearthed several relevant documents. I’ve added these records to my online archive with more to come next month.
5th RIB Officers Photo, 6 Dec 44
After-Action Report, 5th RIB, Dec 44 (p4)
Unit Journal, 5th RIB, 5-6 Dec 44
April 20, 2025
As promised last month, I’ve uploaded two more T26E3 “Pershing” drawings plus an M5 “Stuart” light tank drawing. Each one measures approximately 24” x 40.25” (70 cm x 102 cm). I have three more M5 drawings that I’ll post in the autumn.
T26E3 Turret Drawing (4)
T26E3 Turret Drawing (5)
Light Tank M5 Drawing with target modifications (1)
March 23, 2025
Five years ago, I created a miscellaneous section in my archive, a catch-all for documents that don’t fit elsewhere. The section includes original Ordnance Department drawings of various US tanks. Today, I’ve uploaded three additional drawings, each one measuring approximately 24” x 40.25” (70 cm x 102 cm):
T26E3 Turret Drawing (1)
T26E3 Turret Drawing (2)
T26E3 Turret Drawing (3)
February 16, 2025
The 32nd Armored Regiment collection in my archive now includes a pair of G-3 reports from June 1944. I’ve also uploaded a brilliant 1:5000 topographic map of Villers Fossard (24” x 30” or 58cm x 76cm). The map shows individual German machine-gun positions concealed in hedgerows.
G-3 Periodic Report No. 5, 3rd Armd Div, 29 Jun 44
G-3 Periodic Report No. 6, 3rd Armd Div, 30 Jun 44
German Organization of Position, Villers Fossard
January 18, 2025
Last October, I resumed posting 32nd Armored Regiment records to my online archive. Today, I’ve added three more documents related to the regiment’s operations in Normandy.
Casualties, 32nd Armd Rgt, Jun 44
FO 1, CCA, 3rd Armd Div, 28 Jun 44
FO 2, CCA, 3rd Armd Div, 29 Jun 44
December 6, 1944: Officers of the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion look at a copy of “Stars and Stripes” after returning from an operation against the Germans in the Forst Karlsbrunn, Germany. The men are, left to right, Stanley D. Zelepsky, Charles H. Parker, Oscar A. Suchier Jr.(Robert J. Schneider, 166th SPC)
January 3, 1945: Tanks from Second Battalion, 32nd Armored Regiment fire at German positions before an attack near Trou de Bra, Belgium. (Peter J. Petrony, 165th SPC)
February 16, 1944: Major General Hugh J. Gaffey, left, and Brigadier General Maurice Rose, right, direct the movements of 2nd Armored Division units during large-scale tank maneuvers on the Salisbury Plain in England. (Arthur Bruce Bacon, Stars & Stripes)
