On the morning of July 1, 1958, a formation of soldiers representing all of the 11th Airborne Division units stood on the parade ground of Flak Kaserne, Augsburg. The occasion was the retiring of the 11th Abn Div colors and the activation of the 24th Infantry Division.

At the order "change patches," the men ripped the old 11th Abn Div insignia from their left shoulders to reveal the patch of the Victory Division.

Maj Gen Ralph C. Cooper, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division presided over the ceremony during which he subsequently assumed the command of the 24th Inf Div.

With the new division's activation, the 24th became the first "composite" division in the US Army. The division's infantry component included three infantry battle groups and two airborne battle groups:
1st BG, 19th Inf, Gablingen Kaserne, Augsburg (activated July 1, 1958)
1st BG, 21st Inf, Munich (activated July 1, 1958)
1st BG, 34th Inf, Munich (activated July 1, 1958)
1st Abn BG, 187th Inf, Gablingen Kaserne, Augsburg (retained from the inactivated 11th Abn Div)
1st Abn BG, 503rd Inf, Warner Barracks?, Munich (retained from the inactivated 11th Abn Div)

One of the missions of the newly formed 24th was to support Army Task Force 201 by providing the airborne elements of ATF 201: two airborne battle groups, a composite artillery battalion and a quartermaster parachute (& maintenance) company.

During the Lebabon Crisis in the latter part of 1958 when part of ATF 201 was deployed to the Middle East, plans were prepared to shift the task force to the 8th Infantry Division which was earmarked as the reserve division.

As a result, the 8th Inf Div, Bad Kreuznach, was reorganized as a composite division on December 1, 1958 and assumed the airborne support of ATF 201.

The Gyroscope movement plans already made in early 1958 for two airborne battle groups of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., to be sent to Germany in late 1958 to replace the two Abn BG's of the 24th Inf Div were changed to send the units directly to the 8th Inf Div:
1st Abn BG, 505th Inf (left Ft. Bragg in December for Mainz, Germany)
1st Abn BG, 504th Inf (left Ft. Bragg in January 1959, also for Mainz)

Concurrent with the arrival of the two Ft. Bragg units, the two 24th Division airborne units returned to the States and were subsequently replaced by two infantry battle groups:
2nd BG, 2nd Inf (left Ft. Riley, Kan. in December for Augsburg, Germany)
2nd BG, 28th Inf (left Ft. Riley in January 1959, also for Munich, Germany)

On February 5 1959, the 24th Infantry Division was reorganized as a standard (pentomic) infantry division.

I was stationed at Flak Kaserne with the 24th Sign. Bn. (A Co. and later C Co.) between Oct.1962 and Nov.1964. I notice your Website does not have any info. on the 24th Sig. Bn. I take it no one that was with the 24th Sig. Bn. (during this time) has contacted you until now?

I do have pic.'s from that time period if you think anyone is interested in viewing them?

I do have a question that I would like to ask? During the time I was with the 24th Sig. Bn. In Augsburg, we had a communication outpost in the forest,that, we would go on alerts,etc. As I recall, it was located on a forest hilltop some 10-15 miles from Augsburg. There was a small farm town at the base of the hilltop that had a family run guesthouse, that, we would go to for beers and play cards. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of that small farm town?

My Army buddy who was stationed with me in Augsburg during the same time and I think the small farm town outside Augsburg where we had our Communication outpost in the forest above the town was "Gersthoven", on Route2.

Just wondering if you have contact with anyone that was stationed at Flak Caserne that would recall the name of that small town?

I was with the 34th Sig. Bn. for a short time beofre being transferred to the 24th. First arriving at Krabbenlock Kaserne in early June, 1962, for about two months, then, TDY at Kelly Barracks in Stuttgart for about two months. Finally, transferred to Flak Kaserne in Augsburg with the 24th Sig.Bn. for the balance (30 months) of my service in the Army.

Just wondering if there is any way of locating an individual (Steve Weeks) status? Steve was a few years older than me at the time, maybe 22 years to my 19 years and also stationed with the 34th Sig. BN. at Krabbenloch Kaserne. Steve had his own private vehicle at the time and took me to town (Ludwigsburg) for my first taste of German beer/ bier. By the time we returned to the barracks, it was spinning - need I say more? Lol. I still have a picture of Steve Weeks while we were out in the field doing our (war games) exercises. The pictures shows Steve, me, and about eight young German children (from the local village) climbed on Steve's army vehicle.

In 1963 I was assigned to Warner Kaserne (Munich) but recruited by Lt. Groth to be re-assigned to the 24th. Div. L.R.R.P. attached to Div. Hq. at Flak Kaserne. After two weeks at Warner I was sent to Flak where I spent 1963 to 1964.

2nd Lt Groth was promoted to 1st Lt and transferred out of the L.R.R.P. and was replaced by 2nd. Lt. Stillwell (Great Grandson of General Stillwell ” Vinegar Joe”).

In all of my searching I have never found any mention of the L.R.R.P. at Flak or in the 24th. It was 60 to 80 men and was there several years before I arrived and was there several years after I transferred out We were physically located at the end of Building 207 and our morse code radio school was in part of Building 206. My radio repair shop was in the basement of Building 207 across the hallway from Hq. supply.

We also had a repelling tower near the back gate and next to Building 203.

If you could validate this information and update the site it would be nice. I have for years tried to find some of those that served with me but we have no common place to communicate.

Webmaster note: Bob Stefanowicz' excellent web site, Eaglehorse.org, has a write up on the 3rd Inf Div LRRP that includes some general information on the organization and operations of LRRPs in the early 1960s in Germany. Link to the article.  

If you have any additional information on the Long Range Recon Patrol detachment of the 24th Infantry Division, please contact the webmaster (see email link at top of page).