Engineer Maintanence Company

An important factor in the success of the huge airfield construction program was the rapid and excellent repair of heavy airfield construction equipment by three Engineer Maintanence Companies: the 471st, 475th, and the 973rd. When possible, mobile repair units of these organizations repaired equipment at the airfield sites, while most heavy repair was completed at the maintanence units own bases.

Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad

One of the most dangerous, but necessary contributions made in airfield construction on the continent, was that of the 8th, 43rd, 68th, 82nd, and 86th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squads. Although each squad contained only one officer and five enlisted men, these units removed or destroyed hundreds of tons of bombs, mines, and booby-traps from airfield sites. All squads were in active operations in Normandy by D + 30, and moved across Europe with advance elements of the Command. At one time they did as much as 500 percent overload of operations.

Medical Dispensary (Aviation)

There are five Medical Dispensaries (Aviation) attached th the IX Engineer Command: 208th, 209th, 215th, 218th, and 220th. These units furnish medical care for all organizations not provided with the adequate medical facilities and include Dental Sections and Infirmaries. Personnel include Medical Doctors, Dentists, and Medical, Surgical, and Dental Technicians. These medical units assume sanitary insepction duties as well as physical medical duties. The Medical Dispensary unit is generally composed of three officers and 13 enlisted men.