IX Engineer Command

FORWARD

This sketch of the 833rd Engineer Aviation Battalion is not an official history of the organization nor does it presume to be a complete history. Unfortunately, the official records containing the materials one would need to write the early history of the unit have for the most part been destroyed or forwarded to the United States for permanent file. Due to this fact it has been difficult to write even this brief narrative which may appear sketchy and neglectful of items which should have been included; nevertheless, and despite the short time available in which to gather, sift, corroborate, and organize the materials, an attempt has been made to include dates, places, incidents, and other information which will be of interest to the reader, which will re-create some of the events and life of the past three and one half years, and which will serve those who desire some permanent record of the 833rd Engineers. Insofar as possible the story has been kept to the facts. All available written sources have been consulted and supplemented by the testimony of persons present at the time.

The maps were included for the purpose of illustrating more clearly the activities of the Battalion together with the geographical locations mentioned in the text. The red line represents the route of the Battalion command post from McChord Field to Lager-Lechfeld; and the cities in red indicated by a red circle are the various command post locations. Cities in red indicated by red dots represent sites where the companies or detachments operated away from the Battalion command post. All maps were drawn by John R. Connelly. Cities indicated by black circles represent sites where dismantling of abandoned airfields was effected by the Battalion.