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[continuation:]
The 486th was activated at Camp Davis, North Carolina, on December
10, 1942, and exactly one year later, the battalion the 486th
arrived at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England, and was attached
to the 3rd Armored Division. From the time that the Division
landed on the continent of Europe until VE day, the 486th AAA
Bn., was operational. In more than 70 direct air attacks on division
areas protected by M-15 and M-16 half-track AA mounts of the
battalion, there was not a single case of serious damage caused
by the attacking planes.
Some explanation is needed concerning the abbreviations
"AA", "AAA", "AW", and "SP"
in this section. AA means Anti-Aircraft. AAA means Anti-Aircraft
Artillery. Either AA or AAA is correct in describing the battalion.
AW means Automatic Weapons. And SP means Self-Propelled. All
of those abbreviations apply to the battalion's primary "tools
of the trade" -- the M-15 and M-16 half-tracks.
Our appreciation to Dominic Rizzo of Rocky Hill, CT,
long-time president & secretary of the national 486th AAA
Bn Veterans Association for supplying the above battalion book
cover (left), photo of a quad-.50 turret, battalion logo, and
various 486th historical documents.
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