320th Barrage Balloon Battalion
Encyclopedia
The The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion (VLA) (Colored
) was an African American United States Army
unit that saw combat in Europe during World War II
. Their first assignment was Utah
and Omaha
beaches on 6 June 1944 (the D-Day invasion). The 1,500-man unit's mission was to set in the air barrage balloon
s to protect assaulting infantry and armor from being strafed by enemy aircraft. They saw combat in France at Saint-Lô, the Battle of the Bulge
during the siege of Bastogne, and the Rhine River Crossing. The late Bill Pinkney
(1925–2007), the last original member of the vocal group the Drifters
served as a member of the 320th.
The 320th Barrage Balloon Bn. was unique at Normandy for two reasons. First, it was the first barrage balloon unit in France and second, it was the first black unit in the segregated American Army to come ashore on D-Day. The VLA in the 320th designation stood for "very low altitude." These units used smaller barrage balloons that could easily be moved by a few men and transported across the channel on landing craft. A standard balloon crew was normally four men, but trained personnel were in short supply and the 320th reduced the crews to three men to get as many balloons in the air as possible.
Colored
Colored is a term once widely used in the United States to describe black people and Native Americans...
) was an African American United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
unit that saw combat in Europe during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Their first assignment was Utah
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
and Omaha
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
beaches on 6 June 1944 (the D-Day invasion). The 1,500-man unit's mission was to set in the air barrage balloon
Barrage balloon
A barrage balloon is a large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against low-level aircraft attack by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables, or at least making the attacker's approach more difficult. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up...
s to protect assaulting infantry and armor from being strafed by enemy aircraft. They saw combat in France at Saint-Lô, the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
during the siege of Bastogne, and the Rhine River Crossing. The late Bill Pinkney
Bill Pinkney
Bill Pinkney was an American performer and singer. Pinkney was often said to be the last surviving original member of The Drifters, who achieved international fame with numerous hit records. He was chiefly responsible for its early sounds...
(1925–2007), the last original member of the vocal group the Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
served as a member of the 320th.
The 320th Barrage Balloon Bn. was unique at Normandy for two reasons. First, it was the first barrage balloon unit in France and second, it was the first black unit in the segregated American Army to come ashore on D-Day. The VLA in the 320th designation stood for "very low altitude." These units used smaller barrage balloons that could easily be moved by a few men and transported across the channel on landing craft. A standard balloon crew was normally four men, but trained personnel were in short supply and the 320th reduced the crews to three men to get as many balloons in the air as possible.