45th US Infantry Division "Thunderbird"
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Divisional information
Divisional troops
Attachments
Assignments
Detachments
Command Posts


Divisional information

Specials
[read more] Read more about the division insignia and there nickname.

Campaigns
Sicily in WWII
Naples-Foggia in WWII
Anzio in WWII
Rome-Arno in WWII
Southern France in WWII
Rhineland in WWII
Ardennes-Alsace in WWII
Central Europe in WWII

Commanding General
00.09.1940-00.10.1942 Maj.Gen. William S. Key
00.10.1942-00.12.1943 Maj.Gen. Troy H. Middleton
00.12.1943-03.12.1944 Maj.Gen. William W. Eagles
03.12.1944-00.09.1945 Maj.Gen. Robert T. Frederick
00.09.1945-07.12.1945 Brig.Gen. Henry J.D. Meyer

Assistant Division Commander
15.08.1944 Brig.Gen. Frederick D. Butler
22.12.1944 Col. Paul D. Adams
24.03.1945 Brig.Gen. Paul D. Adams

Artillery Commander
15.08.1944 Brig.Gen. Henry J.D. Meyer

Chief of Staff
15.08.1944 Col. George E. Martin
05.12.1944 Col. Kenneth G. Wickham

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
15.08.1944 Capt. Frank J. Glasgow
01.01.1945 Maj. Frank J. Glasgow

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
15.08.1944 Lt.-Col. Francis J. Reichmann
03.12.1944 Maj. Leo V. Bishop
05.03.1945 Lt.-Col. Francis J. Reichmann
01.05.1945 Maj. Leo V. Bishop (acting)

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
15.08.1944 Lt.-Col. James A. Reynolds
25.12.1944 Lt.-Col. Emil P. Eschenburg

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
15.08.1944 Lt.-Col. Walter Schlotzhauer

Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
15.08.1944 Maj. Orwin W. Campbell

Adjutant General
15.08.1944 Lt.-Col. Henry B. Roach

Divisional troops

Infantry

157th Infantry Regiment 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
179th Infantry Regiment 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
180th Infantry Regiment 00.00.0000-00.00.0000

Field Artillery (FA)
 
158th FA Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
160th FA Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
171st FA Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
189th FA Battalion (155mm Howitzer) 00.00.0000-00.00.0000

Other troops
 
120th Engineer Combat Battalion 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
45th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
120th Medical Battalion 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
700th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
45th Quartermaster Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
45th Signal Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
Military Police Platoon 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
Headquarters Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
Band 00.00.0000-00.00.0000

Attachments

Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)
 
106th AAA AW Battalion (SP) 15.08.1944
Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 105th AAA Group 15.08.1944-23.08.1944
107th AAA AW Battalion (Mobile) 15.08.1944
216th AAA AW Gun Battalion (Mobile) 15.08.1944
103rd AAA AW Battalion (SP) 15.08.1944
106th AAA AW Battalion (SP) 31.08.1944-10.11.1944 & 23.11.1944 &18.02.1945 & 05.03.1945-15.03.1945 & 20.03.1945-25.03.1945 & 11.04.1945-10.05.1945
1st Platoon, A Battery, 353rd AAA SL Battalion 11.03.1945-15.03.1945

Armor
 
101st Tank Battalion 15.08.1944-25.08.1944 & 30.08.1944-09.11.1944 & 24.11.1944-14.02.1945 & 05.03.1945-15.03.1945 & 20.03.1945-22.03.1945
191st Tank Battalion 15.08.1944-28.11.1944 & 22.12.1944-27.12.1944 & 01.01.1945-16.02.1945 & 04.03.1945-09.05.1945
191st Tank Battalion (less A Company & 3rd Platoon, D Company) 29.11.1944-21.12.1944
47th Tank Battalion, 14th Armored Division 01.12.1944-02.12.1944
47th Tank Battalion, 14th Armored Division (less A Company) 03.12.1944-06.12.1944
191st Tank Battalion (less B Company) 28.12.1944-31.12.1944

Cavalry
 
B Troop, 117th Cavalry Recon Squadron 15.08.1944-18.08.1944
A Troop, 117th Cavalry Recon Squadron 25.08.1944-30.09.1944
117th Cavalry Recon Squadron 02.11.1944-09.11.1944
100th Recon Troop, 100th Infantry Division 28.11.1944-05.12.1944
C Troop, 117th Cavalry Recon Squadron 04.01.1945-07.01.1945
106th Cavalry Group 23.04.1945-04.05.1945

Chemical

 
A Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion 15.08.1944-09.11.1944 & 24.12.1944
C Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion 15.08.1944-09.11.1944
B Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion 15.08.1944-24.11.1944
D Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion 01.10.1944-05.10.1944
3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion (less B Company) 06.12.1944-24.12.1944
B Company, 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion 07.12.1944-24.12.1944
A Company, 7th Chemical Battalion 17.03.1945-18.03.1945
2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion (less A Company) 18.03.1945-22.03.1945
B & C Companies, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion 18.03.1945-01.05.1945
A Company, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion 22.03.1945-30.04.1945

Engineer
 
2nd Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Group 11.10.1944-24.10.1944
36th Engineer Combat Group (less 2nd & 3rd Battalions) 15.10.1944-24.10.1944
3rd Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Group 21.10.1944-24.10.1944 & 01.11.1944-11.11.1944
B Company, 325th Engineer Combat Battalion, 100th Infantry Division 07.11.1944-09.11.1944
257th Engineer Combat Battalion 19.04.1945-23.04.1945

Field Artillery (FA)

59th Armored FA Battalion 15.08.1944-18.08.1944 & 19.09.1944-27.10.1944 & 02.11.1944 & 05.12.1944-28.12.1944
Hq & Hq Battery, 938th FA Battalion (155mm Howitzer) 15.08.1944-04.09.1944
976th FA Battalion (155mm Gun) 15.08.1944-04.09.1944
Hq & Hq Battery, 35th FA Group 15.08.1944-06.09.1944
141st FA Battalion (155mm Howitzer) 18.08.1944-21.08.1944
925th FA Battalion, 100th Infantry Division (105mm Howitzer) 01.11.1944-10.11.1944
59th Armored FA Battalion 02.11.1944
693rd FA Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 01.12.1944-03.12.1944 & 20.01.1945-07.02.1945
501st FA Battalion 01.12.1944-07.12.1944
44th Divisional Artillery 12.03.1945-20.03.1945 & 30.03.1945-01.04.1945
283rd FA Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 12.03.1945-01.05.1945
63rd Divisional Artillery 24.03.1945-26.03.1945
250th FA Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 12.04.1945-27.04.1945

Infantry

 
399th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division 02.11.1944-09.11.1944
398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division 06.11.1944-09.11.1944
397th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division 06.11.1944-09.11.1944 & 28.11.1944-05.12.1944
100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment 09.11.1944-12.11.1944
275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division 31.12.1944-08.01.1945
313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division (less 3rd Battalion) 01.01.1945-14.01.1945
314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division 01.01.1945-14.01.1945
1st Battalion, 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division 02.01.1945-15.01.1945
274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division 03.01.1945-17.01.1945 & 22.01.1945-29.01.1945
19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division 04.01.1945-10.01.1945
2nd Battalion, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division 09.01.1945-13.01.1945
409th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division 15.01.1945-17.01.1945
2nd Battalion, 411th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division 18.01.1945-21.01.1945

Tank Destroyer (TD)

 
645th TD Battalion (SP) 15.08.1944-30.09.1944 & 06.10.1944-26.10.1944 & 01.11.1944-10.11.1944 & 01.12.1944-14.02.1945 & 05.03.1945-22.03.1945 & 01.04.1945-10.05.1945
C Company, 601st TD Battalion (SP) 06.10.1944-25.10.1944
636th TD Battalion (SP) (less C Company & 1st Platoon, Recon Company) 06.10.1944-27.10.1944
B Company, 824th TD Battalion (SP) 01.12.1944-02.12.1944
A Company, 824th TD Battalion (SP) 01.12.1944-03.12.1944

Assignments
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Date Assigned to Corps Assigned to Army Attached to Army Assigned to Army Group Attached to Army Group
01.07.1944     Seventh Army AFHQ SoS NATOUSA
13.07.1944 VI Corps   Seventh Army AFHQ SoS NATOUSA
15.09.1944 V Corps Seventh Army   6th Army Group  
01.11.1944   Seventh Army   6th Army Group  
22.11.1944 XV Corps Seventh Army   6th Army Group  
31.12.1944 VI Corps Seventh Army   6th Army Group  
15.03.1945 XV Corps Seventh Army   6th Army Group  
06.05.1945   Seventh Army   6th Army Group  

Detachments
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Unit Attached to  
179th Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Division 23.08.1944-24.08.1944
3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Division 25.08.1944-29.08.1944
1st & 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment VI Corps 26.08.1944-30.08.1944
179th Infantry Regiment VI Corps 03.09.1944-07.09.1944
45th Divisional Artillery 44th Infantry Division 10.11.1944-18.11.1944
45th Reconnaissance Troop 44th Infantry Division 20.11.1944-22.11.1944
157th Infantry Regiment 44th Infantry Division 25.11.1944-27.11.1944
160th FA Battalion 70th Infantry Division 05.01.1945-07.01.1945
158th FA Battalion 70th Infantry Division 08.01.1945-12.01.1945

Command Posts
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Date Town Region Country
15.08.1944 Ste-Maxime-sur-Mer Var France
17.08.1944 Vidauban Var France
18.08.1944 Salernes Var France
19.08.1944 Fox Amphoux Var France
20.08.1944 Espairon Var France
21.08.1944 Mirabeau Vaucluse France
23.08.1944 Asperes Gard France
28.08.1944 Vif Isere France
29.08.1944 Voiron Isere France
31.08.1944 Lancin Isere France
01.09.1944 Lagnieu Ain France
02.09.1944 Vieux Ain France
03.09.1944 Mayiat Ain France
04.09.1944 Bourg Ain France
05.09.1944 Lons Le Saunier Jura France
06.09.1944 Ornans Doubs France
07.09.1944 Aissey Doubs France
10.09.1944 Baume Jura France
11.09.1944 Romain Doubs France
13.09.1944 Cubry Doubs France
20.09.1944 Bains-les-Bains Vosges France
24.09.1944 Epinal (vic West) Vosges France
25.09.1944 Epinal (vic East) Vosges France
04.10.1944 Girecourt Vosges France
25.10.1944 Fremifontanie (La Haute Ville) Vosges France
01.11.1944 Rambervillers Vosges France
09.11.1944 Bains-les-Bains Vosges France
23.11.1944 Baccarat Meurthe-et-Moselle France
24.11.1944 Sarrebourg Moselle France
25.11.1944 Gugenheim Bas-Rhin France
26.11.1944 Hochfelden Bas-Rhin France
29.11.1944 Bouxwiller Bas-Rhin France
05.12.1944 Muhlhausen Bas-Rhin France
11.12.1944 Reichshofen Bas-Rhin France
14.12.1944 Langensulzbach Bas-Rhin France
03.01.1945 Muhlhausen Bas-Rhin France
06.01.1945 Ingwiller Bas-Rhin France
22.01.1945 La Petite Pierre Moselle France
20.02.1945 Luneville Meurthe-et-Moselle France
15.03.1945 Sarreguemines Moselle France
17.03.1945 Breitfurt Rhineland Germany
21.03.1945 Homburg Rhineland Germany
22.03.1945 Grunstadt Rhineland Germany
24.03.1945 Westhoffen Hessen Germany
27.03.1945 Zwingenberg Hessen Germany
28.03.1945 Gross Ostheim Hessen Germany
02.04.1945 Aufach Bavaria Germany
04.04.1945 Mernes Nassau Germany
05.04.1945 Bad Bruckenau Bavaria Germany
06.04.1945 Gersfeld Bavaria Germany
08.04.1945 Saal Thuringia Germany
12.04.1945 Rattelsdorf Bavaria Germany
13.04.1945 Hallstadt Bavaria Germany
15.04.1945 Ebermannstadt Bavaria Germany
16.04.1945 Lauf Bavaria Germany
22.04.1945 Roth Bavaria Germany
23.04.1945 Weissenburg Bavaria Germany
24.04.1945 Langenaltheim Bavaria Germany
28.04.1945 Schrobenhausen Bavaria Germany
29.04.1945 Haimhausen Bavaria Germany
30.04.1945 Feldmoching Bavaria Germany
01.05.1945 Munchen Bavaria Germany

Sources & links: US Army ETO order of battle
Combat chronicle
United States Army, 1940-1945
  US Army in WWII
Literature: Flint Whitlock, The Rock of Anzio : the 45th Infantry Division in World War II (Westview: 1998) 
Site design & initiative: Hans Houterman
Site created by: Hans Houterman
Site update(s) by: Jeroen Koppes
Thanks to: Leo van Bussel (from Holland)
Last update: 29.09.2002-CSS
 
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