SF Lineage and OSS OGs

[NousDefionsDoc]

Razor,
I'm bought in to the OSS OGs.

Significant parts of OSS’s paramilitary and psychological capabilities worked outside of the Special Operations Branch. In late 1942, the Joint Chiefs of Staff authorized OSS to run American commando units behind enemy lines. OSS promptly formed several “Operational Groups� to conduct these missions. These were small formations of specially trained US Army soldiers—many recruited from ethnic communities in America—who fought in uniform and had no obvious connection to OSS (so they would be less likely to be shot as spies if captured). Designated the 2671st Special Reconnaissance Battalion, Separate (Provisional) in 1944, Operational Groups fought in France, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Burma, Malaya, and China, usually alongside partisan formations.

[NousDefionsDoc]

The OG concept was based on General Donovan's belief that the rich ethnic makeup of our country would provide second generation American soldiers with language facility who, if organized in small groups and trained with commando capabilities, could be parachuted into enemy occupied territory to harass the enemy and to encourage and support local resistance organizations.

With a Joint Chiefs of Staff directive of 23 December 1942, which provided that OSS should organize "operational nuclei" to be used in enemy occupied territory, a recruiting program was initiated. Line outfits, officer candidate and specialty schools were targeted as pools for candidates who, at a minimum, had already received basic training. Infantry and engineer units were sources from which most OG candidates were sought; with radio operators coming from the Signal Corps and medical technicians from the Medical Corps.

Working knowledge of a foreign language was a priority consideration advanced in the recruiting promotions, though candidates with other special skills or foreign area knowledge were also considered for recruitment. Soldiers with language skills in Norwegian, Italian, French, Greek and German were the primary languages being sought.

Prospective candidates were given the opportunity to volunteer for "hazardous duty behind enemy lines." Interested individuals were interviewed, and possible operational situations were presented to enable the candidate to have an understanding of potential personal dangers. Only men with a real desire for such duty were chosen. Approximately ten percent of those interviewed volunteered.

Soon after interview, those selected received orders to report to OSS Headquarters at 2340 E Street in Washington, D. C. In the complex located there was the OG HQ unit in "Q Building". Most recruits then, after processing in, were transported to "Area F" (the Congressional Country Club in nearby Potomac, Maryland) The Club, which had been taken over by the OSS for it's use during the war, served as a base for several different OSS activities. Except for the OGs, most of those persons went home off base after their days work Apart from a base headquarters unit which included an MP detachment, the OGs were the only military personnel living there.

The main club house facility provided office and work space for the OSS non-OG personnel, office space for the military/MP HQ unit, living quarters for the OG officers, dining facilities for all, and recreation facilities in the ball room, bowling alleys and swimming pool for the OGs (when the training schedule, which went from early morning until about 9-10 PM each day, provided a break at the end of each two week period)


The golf course was fully used for OG training. Special obstacle courses, pistol firing ranges as well as open air class rooms were located there. Such resources as the Potomac River, the Potomac River Locks and other local landmarks and facilities nearby were also fully utilized for operational problems.

Basic OG training was built on physical conditioning, map reading, night reconnaissance, demolition's operations, special weapons use and hit-and-run commando tactics - with much of the latter taken from the British commando experience; and special visits by British Colonel Fairbaine who provided training in special uses of the 45 caliber pistol and for techniques for use in hand-to-hand combat; and for use of the stiletto, a special issue for the OGs. The courses were designed to make all OGs proficient in use of small arms of both American and foreign make; map reading and the use of compass for night operations in scouting, patrolling and reconnaissance; proficiency in the handling and use of demolitions and for living off the land.

During the period of basic training at Area F the formal T/O and command assignments of individual OG units (i.e., Norwegian, Italian, French, Greek and German) were generally completed and designated overseas station assignments established. From that point additional training was more specifically tailored for particular operational needs envisaged for the areas in which they would be working. Some of that training was conducted at other OSS and military facilities in the United States, and some at OSS, military and allied facilities overseas. For example, while all OGs received parachute jump training, for those who would be dropped using special exit holes that were cut in the belly of bomber aircraft, extra training was given. That training was given at OSS parachute training facilities overseas. Some OG units also received ski training and some received amphibious training.


The basic organizational structure of an OG section consisted of two officers and thirteen enlisted men ( the enlisted men were non-commissioned officers - no privates). As noted above, all members of the team were equally prepared in weapons and operational skills, with two being specialists - one a medical technician and the other a radio operator. The fact that all had the same operational capabilities (except for the medic and the radio operator specialties) was a major factor which enabled flexibility of assignment and deployment to fit varied mission requirements. As you read reports in other sections of this website you will find many examples of that flexibility; most notably the China Report where the OGs organized, trained and cadred the first Chinese Commandos into operations against the Japanese.

In the absence of a requirement for the OG units to submit end-of-mission reports, efforts to reconstruct a comprehensive history of the activities and accomplishments of the OG experience has required searching many sources. The “Operational Report, Company B, 2671st Special Reconnaissance Battalion� (the military designation given the Algiers-to-France OG) which was compiled in September 1944 in Grenoble, France is one end-of-mission report which was voluntarily produced under the direction of Major Alfred T. Cox, the unit’s commanding officer. Other information results from the sharing of information on occasions when unit reunions have been held. While commercially published works have also been screened, a most productive source of raw material has come from the diligent efforts of several former OG officers who have searched the National Archives—knowing what to look for and appreciating any nuances that were there.

Included in this latter source was basic reporting from the radio operator, in the field, which was provided using dots and dashes with the use of the telegrapher’s hand key. All of these messages, to and from the HQ unit, were encoded and decoded in five letter groups using a one time pad

[ChaoticVirtuoso]

Good lord, learn something new everyday... Thankyou for sharing the extensive knowledge!

[Razor]

Ah, yet another convert. I'll have to go check some sources, but I think I remember reading the OSS also had a maritime branch that was responsible for underwater combat swimmer-like offensive operations. So I guess you could say that our fine flippered friends in the Navy owe at least a part of their lineage to the OSS as well.

[krader]

Is the name of a book written by Patrick O'Donnell. All about the OSS I saw him today on CSPAN book TV talking about the OG and other units, even the marintime one. He gave a very interesting talk, with alot of the men and women present whom he was talking about. Seems like a good book from the reviews, I have it waiting at the library. Anyone here read it?? Sorry to intrude. Like the site you all have here.

krader

[NousDefionsDoc]

Originally posted by Razor
Ah, yet another convert.

LOL - first the Eggroll gear and now this. You are becoming an influence.

[Airbornelawyer]

In reading through some of the various OG AARs, it seems that there are some good scenarios and there is some good information - on things that go right as well as what can go wrong - that might be of value in Pineland. An example, the AAR of OG Pat, one of the OGs deployed from Allied-occupied Algeria to Southern France in 1944:
_____________________________________

Personnel:

1st Lt. C. E. LaGueux
1st Lt. M. A. DeMarco
T/Sgt. J.L.Vezina
S/Sgt. R. M. Esquenazi
S/Sgt. B. Gautier
Sgt. A. C. Kitchen
Cpl. R. E. Cote
Cpl. H. Shapiro
T/5 H. Berger
T/5 J. Fischer
T/5 M. Landry
G. H. Maddock
T/5 R. Picard
T/5 V. Quercia
T/5 R. Spaur

Mission:

To harass the enemy and cut communication and supply routes in the area of the triangle Toulouse, Bedarieux, Severac.

To organize and strengthen the resistance movement and to cooperate with them, to do everything possible to harass and destroy the enemy.

Summary:

6 August. Secton left Blida Airport at 2100 hours, flew in a Sterling bomber, and at 0007 hour on 7 July reached DZ, "Virgule" between Vabre and Lacaune in the Department Tarn. On the way, the plane was fired on by enemy AA. Plane maneuvered out of fire with no serious damage. Some men had good landings on a plateau but others landed on hillside slopes. S/Sgt. Esquenazi broke his leg and was taken to a French hospital in Brassac. Sgt. Kitchen was cut and bruised by tree branches. Reception was excellent and the Section was taken to the Maquis Command Post.

7-11 August. Discussions with the Maquis, preparation for operations, and reconnaissance.

12 Aug. Section and Maquis ambushed a German command car near Rialet. Later four motorcycles approached with arms which included a machine gun. In the exchange of fire S/Sgt. Gautier and T/5 Spaur were mortally wounded. The remaining seven OGs withdrew as a column of German vehicles started through. All the German motorcycle troops were reported killed.

Night of 14-15 Aug. With bridge at Mazamet selected for destruction, bus carrying the Section and explosives (C2) stopped a quarter of a mile from the target. Two old Frenchmen guarding the bridge were blindfolded and put in the bus. Charges were applied to the bridge, Lt. LaGueux pulled the 30-minute time pencil, bus was reloaded and at a safe distance the blast was heard. The two guards were released.

On the 15th seven Maquis who were sent out to see what had been done to the bridge were ambushed and killed. Subsequently the Section learned the bridge had been completely destroyed.

19-20 Aug. Maquis under Commandant Hughes moved to a cut 7 K west of Mazamet to ambush a train carrying German troops. Lt. LaGueux and demolition team set charges on the railroad. The train arrived at midnight, was stopped, and the Germans fired four 20mm. guns throughout the night. In the morning of the 20th the Maquis fired five mortar rounds and the enemy, an antiaircraft unit of a captain and 60 men, surrendered. Lt. LaGueux and Lt. DeMarco interrogated the prisoners and took military documents, some of them secret, which were turned in to the C.P. at Grenoble. The train carried much military equipment and plunder which was taken for use by the Maquis. The demolitions which had been placed were set off with derailing of engine and cars and cutting of tracks.

That night Commandant Hughes made terms of surrender with the Germans in Castres: 60 officers and 5800 men. The town of Albi was included in the liberation.

23 Aug. With entire Tarn region liberated, operations in the Carcassonne area were considered. Though Germans were reported in that area, reconnaissance there and in other areas revealed none. No further combat opportunities materialized and the Section, with Lt. Frizzell's Section reported to Grenoble on September 13.
__________________________

Map:

[Airbornelawyer]

Also, there was an article last summer in Special Warfare about OGs, written by Col. (ret'd) Ian Sutherland.

[Razor]

Originally posted by Airbornelawyer
Also, there was an article last summer in Special Warfare about OGs, written by Col. (ret'd) Ian Sutherland.

...that you will now post in its entirety for the benefit of those unable to get their hands on said publication in a timely manner.

[NousDefionsDoc]

I am very interested in the OGs. If anybody runs across anything, please post it.

[Solid]

ROFLMAO Razor...

Did the training take a highly unconventional slant like that of the nacent Commandos? I think I read somewhere that it did, but can't find the website.

Thank you,

Solid

[NousDefionsDoc]

Originally posted by Solid
ROFLMAO Razor...

Did the training take a highly unconventional slant like that of the nacent Commandos? I think I read somewhere that it did, but can't find the website.

Thank you,

Solid

Probably. It would seem they were all trained by the same people or with the same POIs.

[Solid]

I was watching a TV program on the Commandos a few days ago, and it's disappointing to see how standardized their training has become since WW2.

Solid

[CommoGeek]

Some of these may be of interest to the Board:

http://www.ossog.org/

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/oss/art05.htm

http://www.carpetbaggerops.org/

The first link has some links of it's own that may help too. Yes, they did have a maritime branch.

[NousDefionsDoc]

"The typical OG Team was described as "a small self-sufficient band of men who might be required to live and fight in the manner of guerrillas."

The OSS commandos were bilingual or multilingual, speaking the language and understanding the customs of the country they fought in...

The men, many of whom were drawn from the ranks of US Army paratroopers, numbered among the best trained and best equipped troops in the American military. In short, OSS's commandos were America's first Special Forces."

Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs-Patrick K. O'Donnell

I am only on pager 59 of this book and already it is worth the money. If you are interested in the subject, I recommend it highly.