Port Battalions
497th Port Battalion - Camp Tollygunge
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Jun-31 Aug 44, GO 21, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 25 Jan 45; 1 Sep 44-28 Feb 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
|
- 251st Port Co.
- 252nd Port Co. (See CBI Unit Histories)
- Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Jun-31 Aug 44, GO 21, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 25 Jan 45; 1 Sep 44-28 Feb 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
- 253d Port Co.
- Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Jun-31 Aug 44, GO 21, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 25 Jan 45; 1 Sep 44-28 Feb 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
508th Port Battalion - Camp Tollygunge
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Sep 44-28 Feb 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
Port Companies
NOTE: This section lists Companies whose Battalion assignments are not identified above.
250th Port Co.
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Jun-31 Aug 44, GO 21, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 25 Jan 45; 1 Sep 44-28 Feb 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
|
286th Port Co.
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Dec 44-1 Mar 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
287th Port Co. - Camp Tollygunge
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Dec 44-1 Mar 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
288th Port Co. (508th Port BN)
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Dec 44-1 Mar 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
289th Port Co. (508th Port BN)
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Dec 44-1 Mar 45, GO 70, Hq SOS IBT, dtd 11 Apr 45.
540th Port Co.
541st Port Co. - Calcutta
Harbor Craft Companies
326th Harbor Craft Co.
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Oct 44-31 Mar 45, Go 111, Hq USF IBT, dtd 5 Jun 45.
327th Harbor Craft Co. (See CBI Unit Histories)
Railway Units (See CBI Unit Histories)
Source: Mr. David Kaufman
Railway Grand Division: Administrative unit which oversaw 4-5 Railway Operating Battalions (ROB) and 1-2 Railway Shop Battalions (RSB)
Railway Operating Battalion: TO&E consisted of four (4) companies:
- A: Two (2) track platoons and one bridge platoon to handle construction
- B: Shop company: Two platoons responsible for equipment maintenance, one platoon shopped the rolling stock
- C: Operating & Supply company: provided engineers, conductors, and operations personnel
- H & S: Supplied the dispatchers, telegraphers, MPs, and other support personnel
Railway Shop Battalion: Performed major/minor overhauls, electrical repair, blacksmithing
- A: Responsible for lathes, milling machines, locomotive repair
- B: Boiler repair, firebox rebuilds, blacksmithing
- C: Foundry operation
- H & S: Administrative duties, supply and maintenance of shop power and equipment
|
705th Railway Grand Division - (Military Railway Service Hq, Gauhati, India)
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-30 Sep 45, GO 6, Hq USF IBT, dtd 5 Jan 46.
721st Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corp - Parabatipur (See CBI Unit Histories)
Source: "World War II Order of Battle", Shelby L. Stanton, 1984; Mr. David Kaufman
Formed: 8 Apr 43, Camp Harrahan, New Orleans, LA
Inactivated: 29 Oct 45, Camp Kilmer, NJ
Locations: Departed Zone of the Interior 10 Dec 43 (Company A remained in the ZI); India 11 Jan 44; Calcutta, India Aug 45; NY Port of Embarkation 16 Nov 45.
Associated with: New York Central RR
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-15 Sep 45, GO 6, Hq USF IBT, dtd 5 Jan 45.
|
725th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corp - Lalmanir Hat (See CBI Unit Histories)
 (Courtesy of Mr. David Kaufman; used with permission)
Source: "World War II Order of Battle", Shelby L. Stanton, 1984
Formed: 17 Feb 43, New Orleans, LA
Inactivated: 29 Oct 45, Camp Kilmer, NJ
Locations: Departed Zone of the Interior 10 Dec 43; India 11 Jan 44; Lalmanir Hat, India Aug 45; NY Port of Embarkation 28 Oct 45.
Associated with: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-15 Sep 45, GO 11, Hq USF IBT, dtd 8 Jan 45.
|
726th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corp - Pandu to Lumding
Source: "World War II Order of Battle", Shelby L. Stanton, 1984
Formed: 18 Jun 43, New Orleans, LA
Inactivated: 26 Nov 45, Camp Kilmer, NJ
Locations: Departed Zone of the Interior 10 Dec 43; India 11 Jan 44; Calcutta, India Aug 45; NY Port of Embarkation 24 Nov 45.
Associated with: Wabash RR
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-15 Sep 45, GO 11, Hq USF IBT, dtd 8 Jan 45.
|
745th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corp - Lumding to Mariani (See CBI Unit Histories)
Source: "World War II Order of Battle", Shelby L. Stanton, 1984
Formed: 12 May 43, New Orleans, LA
Inactivated: 29 Oct 45, Camp Kilmer, NJ
Locations: Departed Zone of the Interior 10 Dec 43; India 11 Jan 44; Jorhat, India Aug 45; NY Port of Embarkation 28 Oct 45.
Associated with: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-30 Sep 45, GO 6, Hq USF IBT, dtd 6 Jan 46.
|
 Photo courtesy of Mr. Brian McManus, son of T/5 William McManus, 745th ROB, Co. C
748th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corp - Mariani to Tinsukia (End of the line) (See CBI Unit Histories)
 |
| The 748th ROB was authorized the CBI and Services of Supply SSI in WW II. As with other railroad outfits in the CBI, the 748th ROB had an unauthorized SSI. This patch is a orange felt disc, with the unit's numbers, a telephone pole with X-shaped crossarms emitting electronic signals, "ROB" spelled out utilizing a train's wheels for the "O", and border, all in red. The examples are U.S. made, and appear in two sizes. It would appear that the patch may have been designated for the battalion's signal section, but neither signal section man surviving today recalls it. None of the men whom I contacted from the rest of the battalion recalled the patch either. It appears that the patch may have been made in limited numbers while the battalion was training in the Zone of Interior. The design artist may himself be deceased, as unfortunately unfortunately are many members of the battalion. -- Courtesy of Mr. David Kaufman; used with permission. |
Source: "World War II Order of Battle", Shelby L. Stanton, 1984
Formed: 12 May 43, New Orleans, LA
Inactivated: 26 Nov 45, Camp Kilmer, NJ
Locations: Departed Zone of the Interior 10 Dec 43; India 11 Jan 44; Chabua, India Aug 45; NY Port of Embarkation 24 Nov 45.
Associated with: Texas & Pacific Railway
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-15 Sep 45, GO 11, Hq USF IBT, dtd 8 Jan 45.
|
758th Railway Shop Battalion - Dibrugarh (See CBI Unit Histories)
 |
 |
| What is interesting is that in the book, "Disney Dons Dogtags", it indicates that Company B had a Disney design for an insignia. Unfortunately, the book incorrectly identifies the unit as a Railway School Battalion - and no one in Company B ever saw the design, let alone the patch. A review of Walt Disney Company Archives in Burbank, California, turned up the note that the drawing was approved in May 1944, which is when the battalion was already in theater. However, very few members of the H & S Company not only were aware of the design - they also wore the patch. -- Courtesy of Mr. David Kaufman; used with permission.
|
Source: Mr. David Kaufman
Formed: 6 Apr 43, Camp Harrahan, New Orleans, LA
Inactivated: 26 Nov 45, Camp Kilmer, NJ
Locations: Camp Millard, Bucyrus, OH -unknown; Departed Zone of the Interior (POE Los Angeles, CA) Dec 43; India 11 Jan 1944-24 Nov 45.
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Mar 44-15 Sep 45, GO 6, Hq USF IBT, dtd 5 Jan 45.
|
Other Railway Units
28th Tranportation Corps Traffic Regulation Battalion, Military Railway Service
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 2 Nov 44-30 May 45, GO 11, Hq USF IBT, dtd 8 Jan 46.
61st Transportation Corps, Composite Unit (61st Transportation Railway Operations Co.)
Meritorious Unit Commendation: 30 Aug 44-31 Jan 45, GO 11, Hq USF IBT, dtd 8 Jan 45.
|
Source: Mr. David Kaufman
Designated as the 61st Transportation Corps Composite Company at Myitkyina, the 160 members (drawn from all the theater ROBs) began operation of the captured portion of the railway. The company set up its shops, mounted armed jeeps, and began moving supplies and personnel, principally in support of the British 36th Division. Operating on 38 miles of track, and despite Japanese raids, over 1,500 personnel and 1,880 tons were carried. Also repaired and returned to service available locomotives and freight cars running on the Myitkyina-Mandalay route.
|
|
|
...please be patient.
