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WWII travel tours

Discussion in 'WWII Activities and Hobbies' started by Class of '42, May 4, 2020.

  1. Class of '42

    Class of '42 Active Member

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    I know it's not a good time to travel right now but wondering how many in here have done those WWII group battlefield tours??? I know Normandy and Pearl Harbor have been the most popular over the years but I am thinking of going elsewhere by next year...perhaps Bastogne?, Tarawa?, Volgograd?, Remagen? El Alamein?..just something different for our travel itinerary.
     
  2. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

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    The US National WW2 Museum education programme is very good, and the profits go to running the museum.

    I am one of their local guides for the Easy Company Tours covering the UK and occasionally Normandy. The tours are often accompanied by really well know historians and for the Easy Company tours one of the cast members of Band of Brothers.

    If you want to do Stalingrad, I prepared a virtual battlefield study tour for the British military looking at urban warfare. The itinerary: Stalingrad, Ortona, Aachen, Berlin, Mandalay, Hue, Grosny. Not run yet. The clients are otherwise engaged on Covid 19 test stations.
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2020
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  3. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    I'd really like info on tours for the SWPA. New Guinea area preferably.
     
  4. Class of '42

    Class of '42 Active Member

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  5. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

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  6. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Thanks I may look into this. I'd really like to follow the New Guinea campaign from Port Moresby to Biak Island :rolleyes: and/or parts in between. With a side trip to IeShima possibly sometime.
    Just have to find a travel companion (s). Wife says go-have fun. Oh and save a Lot of pennies :)
     
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  7. Class of '42

    Class of '42 Active Member

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    Perhaps some of us can meet in the future and do this tour together..drink some beers in-between..sounds great.
     
  8. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Sorry I only do Finnish Victory Winter War tours and Tali-ihantala 1944.
     
  9. Riter

    Riter Well-Known Member

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    Noted author and researcher Martin Pegler does battlefield tours in France.

    BTW, I visited Luxembourg and Belgium and saw some things over there. Went via a private group.
     
  10. minden1759

    minden1759 Member

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    If you are interested in the Italian Campaign I can help. I am a battlefield guide for Salerno, Cassino, Anzio and the Gothic Line - all of whom had a strong US presence. A fascinating part of the Second World War and hugely controversial.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  11. Class of '42

    Class of '42 Active Member

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    My Dad was in the Italian Campaign until the end....always wanted to retrace his footsteps from his scrap book...I'll keep you in mind Frank when the time comes.
     
  12. minden1759

    minden1759 Member

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    What unit did he serve in?

    Frank
     
  13. Class of '42

    Class of '42 Active Member

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    He was with the 3485th Ordnance Medium Automotive Maintenance Company...which I believe was under the 73rd Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion. I think he once mentioned they got as far north as the Po Valley. So much for the '"soft underbelly of the Axis" that Churchill was famous for quoting.

    Picture of my Dad quietly filling out paperwork around late '44..look closer behind him and I wondered how he got anything done with that distraction..;)

    Dad at work 3485th Ordnance Medium Automotive Maintenance Italy circa 1945.png
     
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  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Member

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    I have had a look at the units that came under command US Fifth Army in Italy.

    3485 is sown as an Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company (Q)

    Regards

    Frank
     

    Attached Files:

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  15. adamsmitt

    adamsmitt New Member

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    Once I have been to tank museum in England, it was awesome. I have seen the T-34 first in my life.
     
  16. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Visiting places with veterans where thousands were killed is something you never forget. Back in 2004 I was visiting Tali-Ihantala where Finland´s future was decided in July 1944. Germany had sent At-weapons and we managed to counter the attack and Stalin gave up. There were some 2,000 veterans you could hear the medals hitting each other. The local Soviet police youngsters were laughing at the sight of old people. If I had said that in Russian ( if I could speak Russian ) that this is where all your granfathers died from Finnish fire I probably would have ended in prison. This is where our military leader Mannerheim said "this is where we stop the enemy.. If you don´t there is nowhere left to hide or go." A month later a Russian division tried to cut Finland half in mid-Finland. As I said the knowledge and living in the forest is a thing that gives you the benefit. The division was surrounded and crushed. Poor soldiers, Stalin did not understand that all the men, artillery, planes did not win it. the will of the soldier did it.
     
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  17. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Oh yes, and the one message writer who did not use code but sent the Red Army attack time in clear language. Helps a lot to start the big guns fire in a very detailed area.
     
  18. Christian Durante

    Christian Durante New Member

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    Hi Frank!


    My name is Christian Durante. I am the grandson of my own Hero Grandpa, Private Angelo J. Durante. I am assembling a World War II Scrapbook of my Grandfather's Experiences during World War II. NARA recently sent me two pages of information that didn't contain much information.

    I was wondering if someone can help find some information of my grandfather experiences in the 180th Infantry. They sent me a AG 210.5 Form from the Headquarters of the 180th Infantry. It says the following:

    Headquarters of the 180th Infantry
    Office of the Regimental Commander
    APO 45 Postmaster
    New York, New York

    July 25th, 1943,

    Subject: Award of the Purple Heart
    To: Individuals Concerned

    They list 11 people concerned: My Grandfather is listed as follows:

    Pvt. Angelo J. Durante, 32197612, Company "B", 180th Infantry, for wounds received in action near Biscari, Sicily, 17th of July 1943. (Medal No. 214200). Purple Heart with Oak Leave Cluster

    Can someone search the After-Action Reports or 180th Archives and see if my Grandfather is mentioned. I am looking to collect any WWII Paperwork on him for the family scrapbook.

    I followed his footsteps and joined public service. I am serving my country as Federal Employee in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and volunteer as U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

    Grandpa Angelo Durante Enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 4th, 1942 in Camp Upton Yaphank, New York.
    He was honorably discharged on September 27th, 1945. His separation center was Fort Dix, New Jersey.
    His last rank and grade and unit was Technician, Fifth Grade. 3485 Ordinance Company.

    His Battles and Campaigns on his Honorable Discharge was the following: North Apennines, Naples-Foggia, Sicily, Rome-Arne.

    My questions:

    1. Can anyone find some photos or information on him in any books or websites that you come across?

    2. What is a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster? He received 2 Purple Hearts. Both have 3 stars on them.

    3. What did the 3485 Ordinance Company do during WWII?

    4.He also got wounded in October 1943 in Italy. I have no paperwork on that.

    5. I have a award certificate saying he completed training as a Infantryman of a Heavy Weapons Company during the period of February 13th, 1942, to May 16th, 1942, at the Infantry Replacement Center Training Center at Camp Croft, South Carolina. It says his training unit was Co. D, 30th Infantry Training Battalion. What is this training and company about? What was Camp Croft?

    6. Grandpa Angelo Durante also Earned the Bronze Star Medal during the Naples Foggia Campaign. I really want to know what he specifically or generally did to earn the medal. Would the After-Action Report List That? Can someone find the Medal Justification.

    Any help is appreciated.

    Sincerely,

    Christian Durante

    I can provide my private email if anyone finds anything during their research. Please see attachments for more information.
     

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  19. WendyStanley

    WendyStanley New Member

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    Hey there! I know this is an old post, but I'm new here and thought I'd reply. I've actually been on one of those WWII group battlefield tours before and it was incredible! I did Normandy and it was definitely worth it. As for your question, those other places you mentioned sound super interesting! I haven't been to any of them, but I'd love to check them out sometime. And if you're looking for cheap business class flights, try checking out some of those flight aggregator sites like Kayak or Expedia. They usually have some pretty good deals. But yeah, I totally get what you mean about wanting to switch up your travel itinerary. Sometimes you just gotta step out of your comfort zone and try something new.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2023
  20. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I've been to Pearl Harbor, Peleliu, Singapore, and Hiroshima, among others. (Won't list the European or North African sites, tooo long.) Weirdest was a place up in the Atlas Mountains. Drug lord had collected US armored vehicles after the war and built his own private army. Needed it to protect his kief production. I was told I had a good time there.
     

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