240 MM Howitzer

[connie]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone would have a clue to units with this big gun in the vicinity of the 106th on the 16th of December, 1944?

For those who know the division artillery, this is bigger than anything used in the 106th. But, during some time spent on foot on the 17th of December, while heading along the wooded ridge between Heuem (just west of Schönberg) and St. Vith, my Dad encountered a group with a 240 MM Howitzer that had gone into position the night before. They, too, began their retreat at this time -- toward St. Vith.

Even guesses are welcome. I have been googling without a lot of success. So, even if you're not at all certain of locations on this date, I'd settle for divisions and battalions who were in the ETO with these big guns.

Connie

[lisensee]

Jan 9, 2009 21:29:23 GMT -5 connie said:

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone would have a clue to units with this big gun in the vicinity of the 106th on the 16th of December, 1944?

For those who know the division artillery, this is bigger than anything used in the 106th. But, during some time spent on foot on the 17th of December, while heading along the wooded ridge between Heuem (just west of Schönberg) and St. Vith, my Dad encountered a group with a 240 MM Howitzer that had gone into position the night before. They, too, began their retreat at this time -- toward St. Vith.

Even guesses are welcome. I have been googling without a lot of success. So, even if you're not at all certain of locations on this date, I'd settle for divisions and battalions who were in the ETO with these big guns.

Connie

[connie]

Hello Connie:

While I still have all my marbles (sound mind) I'm trying to be usefull. I remember those big Artillery pieces. Does the following information help?


The 272nd Field Artillery Battalion was formed 15 Mar 43,at Camp Butner, NC, and operated as a truck-drawn 105mm howitzer battalion until Nov-44.

Following training, the 272nd FA BN departed NYPE, 21 Apr 44;
arrived England, 26 Apr 44;
arrived France-ETO, 7 Aug 44.


It was non-divisional, meaning that it was not assigned to
a particular Division at any time, but rather, was assigned to various elements, usually Division/Corps, on an as-needed, where-needed basis.

Campaigns:
25. Ardennes-Alsace, 16 Dec 44/24 Jan 45;

26. Central Europe, 22 Mar 45/11 May 45

32. Northern France, 25 July 44/14 Sept 44;
34. Rhineland, 15 Sept 44/11 May 45.

It was converted to tractor-drawn 240mm howitzer status at some point after Nov-44, as noted above, but I would guess during the Ardennes-Alsace campaign.

Floyd
floydragsdale

[connie]

Thanks, Floyd,

This is interesting and gives me something to go on. It may be the piece I need in putting things together. I'll keep you posted on my progress on this one!

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Hello Connie: It's me, Floyd again.

I doubt if there would have been any more of those "240mm" outfits in the ETO, because they were new weapons.

I remember seeing some of those big guns when we were on a drive to the Rhine River, in March of 1944. My outfit (424th Regiment) advanced to a point where we were told "the enemy is over there". Over
there was probably 500 yards away from us.

We were "digging in" (our foxholes) when the Copsp Artillery went zooming by, pulling some of those big guns. Unknown to us at the time, the German Army was pulling back to the otherside of the Rhine River then.

A few weeks later (April, I believe) we were on the Rhine River (near the Hamlet of Budesheim) with thousands of German P.W.'s on our hands.

I can remember that as if it happened last week. Hope this is of help to you.

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

As I read your notes, I realized that I had seen mention of 240 MM howitzers in two different places in Dad's accounts of the 17th of December. The first was an encounter when he was on foot with a Sgt. in his outfit (590th SV) after staying behind to destroy a disabled vehicle. They were making their way to safety along the ridge line paralleling the St. Vith - Schönberg Road when they encountered a unit (with the large howitzers) that had gone into position here during the night and had now received orders to move out again.

The second mention of these big guns was what I need to look for now. It was much later the same day ( night) after he had reconnected with his battery. He mentioned one of these guns seen along a roadside in the distance in flames. That account (written in Post VE Day retrospectives) I believe contained a battalion #. I'll have locate that and see if I can read the handwriting.

It's so good to be able to dialogue questions with someone who was there!

Thanks!
Connie