Information on the 798th AAA AW BN?

Hi everyone!

I am currently going down the rabbit hole of what my grandfather did in WWII, but I am struggling to find anything on what his regiment/battalion were. Before all of this, I only knew he was in the army and was in Germany at some point. Since I’ve started this research: I was able to find just a bit more, but not much.

He was in Battery C of the 798th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion from 1944 to Sept. of 1945. 
There isn’t much that I’ve found online except for three men (one of which was in the same BTRY) that were unfortunately killed or died in Europe. And I also found an award/decoration form with his regiment listed for their help with the “Germany Campaign”.

If anyone has any information regarding the 798th AAA AW BN, I would greatly appreciate it! I’d like to know where he was in Europe (aside from just generic Germany — if possible!) and what exactly they did.

Thanks in advance! Again, I appreciate anything!

  • Hello,

    As your GF's unit was a non-divisional asset (that is, not organically attached to an infantry division, for example), it makes tracing its movements somewhat challenging. It is likely there is unit information available at NARA:

    If you are interested in researching records related to your GF’s unit, the NARA Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) has custody of unit records for the World War II era. Military unit files among these records consist mostly of historical reports, operations (or “after action”) reports, unit journals, and general orders. Please be aware that these records (for the most part) are not searchable by name and do not have a name index.

    Ask them to search the National Archives’ World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917 -1985 (Record Group 407) and see if they can locate records for the 798th AAA AW BN. I believe the contact to request a search is at the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RR2R) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov, or maybe a helpful NARA rep here on HH can check to see if there is anything in that records group.

    In the meantime, here is what I could find:

    The unit was formed on 30 Apr 43 as the 798th AAA Auto-Weapons Bn (Mobile) [it was originally the Sep Coastal Artillery Battalion AA-AW] at Camp Haan, California, which was one of the US Army's seven AAA training centers. It departed the Boston Port of Embarkation on 10 Nov 1944, bound for Europe. It arrived in England on 17 Nov 1944. It landed in France on 6 Feb 1945. The unit was credited for participation in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. During August 1945, it was located in Salzburg, Austria. It arrived back in the USA at the NY Port of Embarkation on 23 Oct 1945, and arrived at Camp Shanks, NY the next day.

    Sources for above are: Stanton, Shelby. WWII Order of Battle. Various editions and:

    usacac.army.mil/.../941UXAD.pdf

    The documents at the links below show that the unit was attached for some period(s) of time to the US Ninth Army:

    https://8th-armored.org/8documents/US%20Ninth%20Army%20Org%2012.12.44.pdf (the date on this document, 12 Dec 1944, is confusing, as the 798th AAA AW BN was still in England at this time, according to Shelby).

    Also: apps.dtic.mil/.../ADA509813.pdf

    However, for some reason, this not reflected in the Ninth Army publication issued after the end of the war found here:

    archive.org/.../2up

    Here is a generic summary of what a AAA AW BN did during WWII (from a Fort Sill Artillery Museum Display):

    "AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile and Semi-Mobile):

    The Mobile Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was designed to be a self-sufficient tactical anti-aircraft unit that would defend key areas in close proximity to the front lines. Throughout World War II, Mobile Automatic Weapons Battalions became dual-role organizations, providing much needed fire support for advancing infantry and armor. The two major weapon systems used by Mobile and Semi-Mobile battalions were the M1 40mm Bofors Automatic Gun and the M51 Quad-.50 trailer. Both systems were effective both as anti-aircraft and ground support weapons.

    The Semi-Mobile battalion was similar in organization and employed the same weapons systems, but had fewer vehicles to serve as prime movers for those systems. As a result, the Semi-Mobile Battalion became the static defense rear-area unit protecting high value targets like AAA Gun and Searchlight battalions.

    While not as powerful as the 90mm anti-aircraft guns, the Bofors packed quite a punch. One hit from a high explosive round was usually more than enough to destroy an attacking enemy fighter. The Bofors had significant range as well, covering the gap between the limits of .50 caliber quad mounts and the optimal range for 90mm heavy guns.

    By the Fall / Winter of 1944, in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations, many Semi-Mobile Battalions began to deactivate as the Allies pushed farther from rear areas and the enemy air threat dwindled. Many of those anti-aircraft soldiers quickly found themselves on the front lines with an M1 Rifle as infantry replacements."

    Finally, on a humorous note, it appears that the 798th got into a bit of trouble after the war while in Austria:

    In Salzburg, Austria, a lewd show put on by an American military unit featured signs saying “Beaucoup Zig-Zag.”See NARA, RG 498, Records of Headquarters, ETO, US Army, 1942–46, Adjutant General’s Section Administration Branch, Classified General Correspondence,1945, 250–50.2, Box 363, “Report of Investigation with Regard to Allegedly Indecent Show Produced by the 798th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion." I'm not sure of the source for this!?

    Unfortunately, I was unable to locate specific information on 798th's movements across the ETO from Feb until May 1945, other than that they may have followed the route of the US Ninth Army at times.

    I hope this information is helpful.

    Dan

  • Dan,

    Thank you so much for this information! It is definitely helpful and I appreciate it so much! I’ll reach out to that side of the NARA and see what all I can find out!

    Unfortunately, most of my GF’s files were lost in the fire of 1973, so finding out he was in the 798th AAA AW BB and then after the war (beginning Sept of ‘45), he was in the 387th AAA AW BN has been amazing. It’s been fun to research, but stinks when you hit a wall and can’t find anything else.

    You’ve been really helpful. Again, I appreciate it and thank you so much!

  •  

    Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

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    We invite you to continue the conversation with community members on History Hub, but should you have follow up questions for the staff at Archives II, please email us at archives2reference@nara.gov so that we can assist you further. 

    We hope this assists you with your research! 

    Sincerely,

    Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR)

    [RR2RR 24-64516-GM]

  •    Good evening! I did not request information in regards to JFK, but thank you for the information!

  • Thank you for posting your question to History Hub!

    The Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) has custody of the series World War II Operations Reports (entry NM-3 427) within the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917- (Record Group 407). Military unit files among these records consist mostly of historical reports, after action reports, unit journals, and general orders. Because the files are arranged hierarchically, identification of the specific unit (i.e., division, regiment, and battalion) and date of interest are necessary before a search can be conducted. They do not include personnel or medical information and we do not have a name index to these records.  We were able to locate records created by the 798th AAA AW Battalion (file designation CABN-798) in boxes 14106-14107.  After Action reports for the unit are dated from March 1945-July 1945 with the Unit Journals dating between April 1943-October 1945, which may assist with your research in locating locations for the unit and what the unit was doing during the war.  In addition, the series Station Lists, 1942–1953 (entry NM-3 377-A) within Record Group 407 may assist with pinpointing locations of the unit.
    We will be happy to make the records and their finding aids available to you or your representative in the Textual Research Room (Room 2000) here at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. Please visit our website for information about visiting the National Archives in College Park, MD, including how to schedule a research visit.
    We also recommend that you contact the Center of Military History for information regarding the 798th AAA AW Battalion during World War II.  For inquiries on organizational history, lineage and honors, official Army histories, staff rides, military programs, please e-mail CMH Answers at usarmy.mcnair.cmh.mbx.answers@army.mil
    We invite you to continue the conversation with community members on History Hub, but should you have follow up questions for the staff at Archives II, please email us at archives2reference@nara.gov so that we can assist you further.

    We hope this assists you with your research!

    Sincerely,

    Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR)
    [RR2RR 
    24-66011-LN]
  • Hello  

    Your grandfather's unit was part of Operation Antwerp X, the defence of the port of Antwerp against the V-bombs & coincidentally his battery was set up very close to where I live today in Belgium. I've spend a good part of the last few years researching this operation and have a good amount of information on his unit. Let me know if you have specific questions and I'd be happy to help out. 

    Sincerely

  • Hello,  ! Thank you for the information. I am so grateful for it! I would love to know everything you have if possible? I’m still at a standstill. 
    Is there a better way to contact you? I can provide my email if you would like!

  • Hello AntwerpX - I recently discovered that my great uncle served in the 519th AAA Gun Battery (found his discharge in the county courthouse) and I found that his unit was part of Operation Antwerp X. It appears that his unit did not arrive in ETO until after D-Day, but he supposedly told his daughter that he was at D-Day. Would there be any way he could have been involved in the landing? I haven't found that they were one of the units engaged in the D-Day landngs. Any info you can point to would be helpful. Thanks!