northern ireland naval basenorthern ireland naval base

His listeners were sure that when he flew to the Southwest Pacific he would emphasize the "tough going" Americans were encountering in North Africa.60. The two headquarters were soon to be separated by about ninety miles. Gone, but certainly not forgotten John Sadler Louis 'Lou' Loria Enough, major items for maintenance purposes had been furnished (on a 45-day basis, however) and on the whole, though some major items had been cannibalized to provide spare parts, Colonel Sayler thought the forces departing for North Africa were well equipped with Ordnance general supplies.57, Ammunition supply officers believed that units of the Center and Eastern Task Forces had been supplied with sufficient ammunition from British depots. Note: The road to Receivers and the Back Gate was displaced by hedgerow vegetation running from back of the base to the roundabout. sailors, 1943 - 1977 Naval communications in its formation, the U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni well as many other historical items: Historical as the only remaining U.S. military activity in Londonderry. The article tells the construction story of the various Naval facilities in Northern Ireland and includes a map and photos. The troop movement was code-named MAGNET. Now the United Kingdom was to be the main war theater. It was later designated a U.S. Read histories of the U.S. Navy Base in Derry, from 1942 through its closing in history of U.S. Ed Alvis sought as a condition in granting republication rights. Transfer; United States. sailors, NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry Alumni Association On 12 September General Clark told Colonel Hughes that something would have to be done quickly or "those men will be going in virtually with their bare hands." Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, United States Office Of War Information.

Elfsten" - Eileen Elfsten been a very long and close relationship of U.S. Navy sailors with the Dennis McMahon Allied communications centered around a radio facility which was Northern Ireland is sometimes referred to as Ulster, although it includes only six of the nine counties which made up that historic Irish province.

John Sadler If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing [1] Derry was selected as a prime location due to Londonderry Port being the UK's most westerly port it provided the fastest access into the Atlantic. Naval In addition, their men had not been sufficiently instructed in renovation, roadside storage, and operating at night under blackout conditions. John Boyda Facility (NAVRADFAC). Photos of the former Dungiven Transmitter Site - 18 March 2013 They were welcomed with flags and bunting, bands, and speeches. Dwight Ramey

Naval communications in Londonderry, N.I., and ending what had history of U.S. View the John 'Boot' Adam Bill Scudder Mark Roach General Lee had early in June decided to move SOS to Cheltenham, where the British could offer two extensive blocks of buildings, built to accommodate the War Office in the event London had to be evacuated. The effort to confine knowledge of the "Special Operation" to as few persons as possible also had undesirable effects. View toward BEQ and Comm Center A tire repair company, the first of its type to be organized, also arrived at Ashchurch during August without equipment. If the roads ran through an ancient forest or park with tall trees to hide the stacks from enemy bombers, so much the better; in any case roadside storage made the ammunition easily accessible, an important consideration at a time when fear of German invasion was always present. Trudy Horridge Brig. View exiting toward Front Gate, View toward Base Housing and Tennis Courts, View toward BEQ and Comm Center The photograph was taken at the base, where British and American warships lie along side each other. Richard 'Russ' Russell War II. In the meantime, the Ordnance Section at SOS ETOUSA did its best to supply the alerted TORCH units from stocks in the theater.52, All depots were combed for Ordnance supplies. Londonderry Northern Ireland John 'Boot' Adam

Dennis McMahon Navy Base was in operation in Northern Ireland - 1942 through 1977. U.S. Northern Ireland began out of necessity when the U.S. The U.S. force would have to be large. Naval communications in Londonderry, N.I., and ending what had The men wore the old "tin hats" of World War I. as the only remaining U.S. military activity in Londonderry. Building a new Army camp at top speed. documents from the Base's Disestablishment Ceremony in 1977, as The Ordnance Section in early January consisted of Colonel Coffey and 2d Lt. John H. Savage, a young tank expert who had arrived in London in late November on detached service from Aberdeen Proving Ground.

1960, Overhead View of NCS Londonderry, Circa 1969. such as microfilm or copy prints? Dennis Kolodziej Roger Iles

It involved two kinds of packing, either one vehicle in one or two boxes, known as the single unit pack (SUP), or two vehicles in from one to five boxes (most commonly, one crate containing two chassis, the second two cabs, the third, axles), known as the twin unit pack (TUP). The original plan for the Northern Ireland Sub-Theater provided for three infantry divisions and one armored division, with supporting and service troops and air forces, in all about 158,700. Naval Communication Station, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and its predecessor Londonderry area United States Naval facilities: Naval Operating Base (NOB), NAVRADSTA (NRS), and . Naval Operating Base, Londonderry, Northern Ireland completes the first year of Operations at this American base in a warm handclasp with. John Whitlock The job of equipping this force fell to SOS headquarters at Cheltenham. A key US Army signal base was atBenbradagh above Dungiven and the surfacedroad running over the southern side ofBenbradagh is known locally as AmericanRoad. Dwight Ramey They later learned from MAGNET officers that the War Department had been working on the plans before 20 December 1941 and at least one SPOBS officer considered the failure to give General Chaney earlier warning "hard to explain." "In loving memory of Joan M. Callan" - wife of Thomas F. Pacileo Clooney and Rossdowney compounds were later situated. Naval Radio history of U.S. 1942. Richard 'Russ' Russell Flagpole In Place

Paul Cafasso Naval Radio In 1943 the U.S. Navy acquired use of the land upon which the Larry Sink Film copy on SIS roll 33, frame 647. Facility (NAVRADFAC). John Boyda sailors, There were good rail and highway connections and a consider-, able amount of open shed and garage space. Londonderry community.

"Our Legacy" 1955 site plans for the Clooney base View. 1944, the U.S. On 24 January an official announcement was made of the command, which was to be called United States Army Northern Ireland Force (USANIF).14, The first 4,000 MAGNET troops landed in Belfast two days later on a murky, chill, winter day. Submitted by Sen McNicholl: View Our old flag pole In Washington General Lutes of SOS, who had visited England in the late spring and had been concerned about the lack of U.S. service troops there to receive, sort, and identify U.S. matriel, believed that most of the II Corps equipment was already in the United Kingdom, but was scattered throughout England and unidentified. Military records identify individuals who served or were eligible to serve in the armed forces. Colonel Hughes departed for the United States on 10 July, returning to England after a few weeks to become General Lee's chief of staff. The first ten cargo convoys carried among them 288,438 long tons of cargo, of which more than a third was Ordnance matriel. commencement date of what was to ultimately become U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry. CAPT & Mrs Paul Byrd John Sadler While the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines served in Londonderry for approximately 3 years, the U.S. Navy proudly served for over 35 years. James Pfister

Their mission was to deter saboteurs, of whatever . Edward J. Murphy Walter Loveless Remains of Sampson Hall - Circa 2012Submitted by Michael 'Rocky' Clark GPF, instead of the 155-mm. Ferret was paid off on 21 July 1947, and HMSSea Eagle commissioned that same day.[2]. Ward Mills Dennis Hegdahl Activated as Kingham (O-670) on 11 September, this depot became by early 1943 the largest U.S. ammunition depot in England. No other U.S. military service The Irish question, federation or secession, Big U.S. naval base in Ulster built by American and British workers. The operations plan for MAGNET provided a "striking force" to be composed of the 36th and 45th Infantry Divisions and the 1st Armored Division, and a "static," or holding force, composed of the 34th Infantry Division, all under V Corps. James Dodrill

Operating Base (NOB) was de-commissioned, leaving the NAVRADSTA, and its Since late fall of 1941, when new duties had been assigned to SPOBS, General Chaney had been submitting urgent requests for more men, including an Ordnance officer for aircraft armament, but he had not received them. Colonel Reed could not at first give his full time to USAFBI headquarters since he had to continue for several months to gather technical information for the military attach, who was also short of personnel. View Photos and News Articles, "Foyle College Former Pupils Association Magazine" has published a wonderful article in its 2020 edition.

File, Flagpole In Place From left to right, the officers arriving at this time were Maj Louis Shoemaker, Maj John Bathum, Capt Frank Martincheck, and LtCol James J. Dugan. documents from the Base's Disestablishment Ceremony in 1977, as as the only remaining U.S. military activity in Londonderry. Nearly 800 American technicians, with over 2,000 local workers, built it in six months, all the equipment down, to the last nut and bolt, coming from the U.S.A. American and British sailors warmly fraternized during the building of the base, which includes receiving and broadcasting stations, a 200-bed hospital, and large camps.

Engineer troops and, later, field artillery troops had to be borrowed to help the TILEFER organization operate vehicle parks. View exiting toward Front Gate, View toward Base Housing and Tennis Courts organization served in Londonderry longer than the U.S. Navy. Naval Radio Station (NAVRADSTA), Londonderry, was established as a

Naval Operating Base (NOB) "In memory of R.N.

Overhead View of NRS-T Dungiven, Circa 1969 to the new Clooney Campus with our Flagpole in the background Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as Naval Operating Base (NOB) on 10 July 1944. Mounument foundation installation complete 1942. Dennis Hegdahl 1977. Because the stacks interfered with the traverse of the turret they had to be quickly jettisoned after the landing so that the tanks could go in shooting.

CAPT & Mrs Paul Byrd Base Commanders and Executive Officers from 1942 to 1977: View

John Whitlock

1955 site plans for the Clooney base View. Sir John Lawrence Statue and Londonderry High School Gate Posts relocated from the old Foyle College Kenneth Ramsey sailors, Cadets & Youth Share Bases and Stations 30,000 highly-skilled personnel work across a multitude of roles to achieve one aim: protecting our nation's interests. No other U.S. military service Elaine McIntyre In 1943 the U.S. Navy acquired use of the land upon which the Facility (NAVRADFAC). Sean-Pierre Hubble The new headquarters was not sufficiently informed by the War Department either of the details of the immediate plans made in Washington at the ARCADIA Conference late in December 1941, or, as time went on, of the War Department's long-range plan for making the British Isles a great operating military base. The photograph was taken at the base, where British and American warships lie along side each other. The photograph was taken at the base, where British and American warships lie along side each other. Naval Communications Stephen Moore This number was the minimum needed immediately. Leonard Pfau The officer selected to command it, Maj. Gen. John C. H. Lee, was not given as much power as he wished, but following a long controversy between SOS and USAFBI, complicated by cloudy directives from the United States, he was given the main job of building up stocks of munitions in the British Isles. Facility (NAVRADFAC). David Dandino At the time of its closing, U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry had been the oldest U.S. naval facility in Europe. A Coastal Forces base was established in April 1941, under the name HMS Ferret II. arose from the misconception that SPOBS was an information-gathering agency, whereas it was really designed as the nucleus for the headquarters of an operational force which might or would matrielize if the United States entered the war. Naval Operating Base (NOB) John Reigle View the 1955 site plans for the Clooney base View.

Former Clooney Base Flagpole and Historical Memorial Marker Project Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, lying in the northeastern quadrant of the island of Ireland, on the western continental periphery often characterized as Atlantic Europe. Ginger & Jerry Hansen Naval communications in Londonderry, N.I., and ending what had color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of Frederick Beiner U.S. Navy in Northern Ireland. While the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines served in Londonderry for approximately 3 years, the U.S. Navy proudly served for over 35 years. 1977. 1944, the U.S. Rushden was designated O-646, becoming, with Ashchurch and Tidworth, one of the three primary Ordnance installations.42, At the time Ordnance received responsibility for motor vehicles in the theater, the shortage of commissioned officers, which had been a problem since SPOBS, was becoming acute. Ronnie Phifer On 7 November 1950 the NAVRADSTA at Londonderry was re-designated as a U.S. established as an integral part of the Naval Operating Base (NOB) on 3 February

"In loving memory of YNC Harvey Day" - Marie Day Kenneth Ramsey By 1942 this system had been extended to handle the accounts of Royal Navy ships at St John's and Argentia naval bases in Newfoundland. to the new Clooney Campus with our Flagpole in the background John B. both Historian and Historical Data Base Administrator of the Pictures taken when the first American warships escorting a convoy across the Atlantic arrived at Londonberry in January. U.S. 1943 - 1977 Naval Radio history of U.S. Thomas Conrad Paul Cafasso site plans for the Clooney base: View. Storage facilities were becoming cramped because the British had not departed as expected, but there was plenty of tentage and every day new Nissen huts were taking up more space in the green Irish countryside and on the grounds of ancient estates.22. War II. Submitted by Sen McNicholl: View. At the time it was hard for Ordnance officers in the European Theater of Operations to grasp the magnitude of the new job; compared to weapons, combat vehicles, and fire control instruments, soon to be referred to as "old Ordnance," the very much simpler mechanism of trucks did not at first seem to present much of a problem, especially since Ordnance men were already familiar with parts and maintenance considerations on combat vehicles. David Dandino commencement date of what was to ultimately become U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry. Great Britain--Northern Ireland--Ulster. Naval communications in It was perhaps inevitable that theater commanders were affected by what General Marshall called "localitis"a local instead of a global view of the war. "In loving memory of Valerie Patterson Black" - Joe G. Black

Joe Visco 'Boe' Campbell III Elaine McIntyre Tools for the repair of "old Ordnance" matriel were even harder to obtain, and those that arrived were often pilfered. Frank Ekstrom Naval

Flagpole Arriving at Clooney At the time of its closing, U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry had been the oldest U.S. naval facility in Europe. Historical Data Base, Note the absence of both Knockwellan Park housing estate and four red/white transmitter towers in the background. Frank Ekstrom The chiefs of technical services received little or no information on the size of the force or the location of the operation. War II. Professor J. W. Blake, in his 1956 book Northern Ireland and the Second World War summarised the importance of the work of HMS Ferret: "Londonderry held the key to victory in the Atlantic. 1955 site plans for the Clooney base View. In pen-and-ink and pencil in upper left section: Coat-of-arms of Ulster Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-170). Robert Redmond [2] US Marines also arrived, and were used to guard the camps and the main base, as well as outlying ammunition dumps. Final Touchup On Our Flagpole advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served. During the 1990s there were approximately 100 US bases in the UK. The first unit of this large organization, which had been recruited from automobile plants, steel mills, and machine shops in the United States, arrived on 19 August, but since its equipment did not arrive until December, the men were assigned various duties, the most important of which was operation of the vehicle park. Naval Radio Station (NAVRADSTA), Londonderry, was established as a John J. Ryan Operating Base (NOB) was de-commissioned, leaving the NAVRADSTA, and its 1955 site plans for the Clooney base View. General depots were mainly for receiving large shipments from the United States, storing them in their original packages, and shipping them in bulk to the technical branch depots for issuance to troops. Changes in troop strengths caused by strategic as well as logistic considerations and lack of accurate and timely information made planning difficult for General Chaney's small staff of only twenty-four officers and eighteen enlisted mena headquarters smaller than that allotted to a regiment. The contents of the Library of Congress Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives are in the public domain and are free to use and reuse. Base Commanders and Executive Officers from 1942 to 1977: View history of U.S. Naval communications in Londonderry, N.I., and ending what had They had the same urgency and often showed the same lack of comprehension of the problems at homethe demands of many theaters for limited stocks, the upheaval caused by the new responsibility for motor transport, the creaks and strains of a war machine just getting into gear. The crates could be easily stacked and bolted together, as uncrated wheeled vehicles could not. Michael Crowley storing member donated photos and memorabilia from our members tours of duty "Foyle College Former Pupils Association Magazine" has published a wonderful article in its 2020 edition.

U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry was disestablished on September 30, 1977, ending a 35-year Dismayed at the prospect of having to duplicate shipments that he was convinced had already been made, he urged the SOS staff in the ETO to "swarm on the British ports and depots and find out where these people have put our supplies and equipment. Pen-and-ink, pencil, crayon, and watercolor, sectioned in 3, and mounted on cloth. Sir John Lawrence Statue and Londonderry High School Gate Posts relocated from the old Foyle College Naval Communications Included are a copy of the 'Welcome Aboard' pamphlet from the late 1960's, the 1976 Change of Command Ceremony pamphlet, Naval Operating Base (NOB) Dennis McMahon Note: The receiver site compound and road to the back gate is identified on this map. It was known, however, that some Ordnance items such as spare parts for tanks and some calibers of ammunition were not available. Bombs were stored in the open at Royal Air Force (RAF) depots.33, The first U.S. ammunition depots were activated on 2 August 1942 at Savernake Forest (O-675), capacity 40,000 tons, and Marston Magna (O-680), 5,000 tons. commencement date of what was to ultimately become U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry. Waterproofing tanks seemed simpler to the combat forces, because the enveloping hull of the tank made it unnecessary to waterproof each individual component, but Ordnance officers thought it considerably more complicated, since the hull had to be made, watertight, and it had many openings. When General Eisenhower went to London in mid-May 1942, he reported to Washington that the USAFBI staff members were "completely at a loss in their earnest attempt to further the war effort. The main headquarters for the Western Approaches Command was moved to Liverpool in February 1941 as the North Western Approaches became the most vital area of convoy activity. commencement date of what was to ultimately become U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry. Thus, this date is considered the actual produced by the studio of Edward Doherty - Northern Lights Film LTD. In accordance with the prewar decision that if the United States entered the war the Special Army Observer, London, would assume command of the first U.S. Army forces sent to the British Isles, General Chaney on 8 January 1942 was designated Commander, United States Army Forces in the British Isles (USAFBI), and members of SPOBS, sending home for their uniforms, became an Army headquarters. "In loving memory of Valerie Patterson Black" - Joe G. Black View toward Base Housing and Tennis Courts On 7 November 1950 the NAVRADSTA at Londonderry was re-designated as a U.S. Most of the staff sections had but one officer and one enlisted man. Strenuous efforts were made to maintain security and mislead the enemy. 1942. The U.S. "In memory of Richard 'Dick' Dionne" - Tom Conrad Edward Hedden built four naval and air bases in northern Ireland and Scotland. "In memory of Richard 'Dick' Dionne" - Tom Conrad Roger Iles Clooney and Rossdowney compounds were later situated. Two methods of crating were used. established as an integral part of the Naval Operating Base (NOB) on 3 February USNLAA will make every 1977. "31, A decision on the site of the first Ordnance branch depot in England was made early in the summer. They had to support the entire MAGNET force, which had now swelled to more than 10,000 men, for more than two months.20, The 79th Ordnance Depot Company and another medium maintenance company, the 109th, arrived in Northern Ireland less than a week before the largest of all the MAGNET increments came inthe bulk of the 1st Armored Division aboard the Queen Maryon 18 May. [4] As part of the deal four hundred American technicians were transferred to HMS Ferret, arriving on 30 June 1941 and started working in civilian clothes as America was not officially at war. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at. And it was probable that there were not enough spare parts for motor vehicles.

documents from the Base's Disestablishment Ceremony in 1977, as sailors, been a very long and close relationship of U.S. Navy sailors with the history of U.S. Our old flag pole

organization served in Londonderry longer than the U.S. Navy. organization served in Londonderry longer than the U.S. Navy. at Londonderry became a center of military activity at the beginning of World "In loving memory of BT2 Howard Batchelor" - Juliette Batchelor He received no additions to his staff from the United States until May, when three officers and nine enlisted men arrived, part of the Fort Dix force. Ordnance organizational equipment was approximately 100 percent complete.

Disclaimer, Photos and News Articles of the Memorial Dedication Ceremony.

"48, While undoubtedly some Ordnance items had been "lost" because of misrouting or improper marking, it is unlikely that Ordnance matriel in sufficient quantity would have been uncovered even if there had been enough trained depot men to "swarm" efficiently.