10 Replies Latest reply on Jul 27, 2019 9:58 PM by michael wagner

Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?

jlhemingway May 17, 2019 9:25 AM

For a trip this fall to several European WWII sites, I am conducting research for a friend into the deaths in action of his two great-uncles, SGT Archie Vaughn and PFC Otis Vaughn. The Vaughn brothers were twins fighting together in the 2nd Bn 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division. They were posthumously awarded Silver Stars for their actions on Hill 339 east of Verneville, France, on 11 September 1944. After action reports from the 5th Infantry Division appear to provide map coordinates that I hope will build on information regarding Hill 339's location generously provided me by the historian of the 5th ID Association.

My problem now is that I am not familiar with WWII era map coordinates so I need help (1) understanding the coordinates in the after action reports and (2) locating a map that uses this system of map coordinates to confirm as closely as possible the location where the Vaughn brothers fought.

The coordinates: The 5th ID after action report mentions a counterattack by the 2/2 of the 5th ID on 11 September 1944 that carried "as far as the bottom of Hill 339 at (767626)."

Map overlays: Map overlays from the 2nd Infantry Regiment operations reports include several index markings, one labeled 66 (vertical) and 70 (horizontal), another has 63 and 63, and a third has 65 (vertical) and 55 (horizontal).

If anyone can help me solve this puzzle, I will be most appreciative, as will the friend on whose behalf I am conducting this research.

Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?

Rebecca Collier May 22, 2019 3:11 PM (in response to jlhemingway)

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located 11 series of maps for Western Europe of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) in the Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II (Record Group 331). Anyone of the maps in these series may be one that was used by the unit. Keep in mind that map overlays in the records only match up with the maps used by the unit. Sometimes the maps were filed with the reports but usually they were used over and over again.

For access to these maps or possible answers to your specific map questions, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Cartographic (RDSC) via email at carto@nara.gov.

We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

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Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?

Tom Lunzer May 23, 2019 9:06 AM (in response to jlhemingway)

The coordinate is incomplete.
The Army Forces involved in the WWII used the "Modified British System", where each projected area is divided into squares of 500 kilometers side, each of which designated by a letter. Each of these squares is subdivided into 25 squares of 100 kilometers side which are also lettered from "A" to "Z" omitting the letter "I".

These squares of 100 kilometers side, which play a fundamental role in the determination of the coordinates, and are thus often represented on the maps of the time, are referred in a complete way by the combination of two letters, for example 'vZ', indicating here the 100 km square Z included in the 500 km square v.

Can you tell me the next bigger city - i can give you the exact coordinates in Google Earth.

Greeting
Tom
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- Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
  
  jlhemingway May 23, 2019 9:48 AM (in response to Tom Lunzer)
  
  Thank you for your offer of help! Metz is in the immediate vicinity to the east as the action concerned occurred during the run up to the assault on that city. The villages of Amanvillers and Vernéville are mentioned in operations reports and after action reports.
  
  Again, my thanks for your offer.
  
  John
  
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  - Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
    
    Tom Lunzer May 23, 2019 2:51 PM (in response to jlhemingway)
    
    The yellow circle shows the position.
    I found the map here
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  - Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
    
    Tom Lunzer May 23, 2019 3:11 PM (in response to jlhemingway)
    
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  - Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
    
    Tom Lunzer May 23, 2019 3:12 PM (in response to jlhemingway)
    
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Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?

Tom Lunzer May 23, 2019 1:23 PM (in response to jlhemingway)

here it is:

Google Maps
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- Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
  
  jlhemingway May 23, 2019 5:40 PM (in response to Tom Lunzer)
  
  Yes, you've got it! The coordinates you supply agree entirely with the details of sketch maps drawn in the field and contained in National Archive materials. But those were hand-drawn, without coordinates, of course, leaving far too much to guesswork.
  
  Below is a screen shot from Google Maps using the coordinates you supply with notations. Hill 339 is the vaguely crescent-shaped high ground in the lower left corner. The hill changed hands several times on 11.9.44. Initially occupied by the 2/2 5th ID on 10.9.44, the battalion had to withdraw to previous positions about 0400 on 11.9 in the face of a strong German counterattack. The 2/2 attacked again, reaching the base of the hill about 0630 and starting a drive up it at 0800, with two companies in place on the summit by 1640. Another German counterattack at 1815 forced the flanks back down the hill, but the center company managed to hold. It was apparently during this action that SGT Archie Vaughn, commanding a machine gun squad, and his twin brother PFC Otis Vaughn, a gunner in that squad, were both killed. Their posthumous Silver Star citations credit them with being "largely responsible for breaking up the enemy counterattack" by remaining at their guns until one jammed and the other's ammunition was exhausted. This despite German attackers falling within ten feet of their position.
  
  I have shared your information with my friend whose great uncles the Vaughn twins were, and he has in turn shared it with surviving relatives. They are very appreciative. This will make my friend's visit this fall far more meaningful. Thanks for that, very much.
  
  John
  
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  - Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
    
    Robert Levline May 30, 2019 12:55 PM (in response to jlhemingway)
    
    When using After Action Report coordinates, the easy way to get there is by using the following:
    http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-translator.php
    
    Once there scroll down from the British Cassini Grid to find the most likely general location, in this case Nord de Guerre.
    
    From there find the quadrant near Metz, which is VU. Enter vu767626 and the map and satellite view will appear.
    
    Unfortunately the AA report do not contain the alpha suffix only the four or six number reference.
    
    Good luck.
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    - Re: Understanding WWII military map coordinates/ locating WWII maps?
      
      michael wagner Jul 27, 2019 9:58 PM (in response to Robert Levline)
      
      Thank you,
      
      I was able to use the grid translator and follow my Dad's path through Italy in the war.
      
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