USAREUR Units - 360th Sig Bn

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360th Signal Battalion
STRATCOM-EUR
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me.

360th Sig Bn

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360th Signal Battalion

Bremerhaven NODAL tower, 1974 (Greg Nelson)

CRE van at the base of the Bremerhaven NODAL tower, 1973 (Greg Nelson)

360th Signal Bn DUI

(Source: SIGNAL CORPS, by Rebecca Robbins Raines, 2005 (Army Lineage Series))

360th SIGNAL BATTALION LINEAGE

Activated 24 September 1964 in France

Inactivated 13 November 1967 in Germany

NOTE: Although not mentioned in the SIGNAL CORPS Lineage, the 360th Sig Bn was rebuilt in northern Germany after its inactivation in Nov 1967 and took over a segment of the E-TA network in Northern Germany and the Netherlands.

360th Signal Support Battalion, Olivet, France

1963

(Source: Email from Bill Alston)

Our base, Belle Aire (or Bel-Air?), was in a clearing in the woods down a dirt road, and consisted of a dozen or so old quanset huts.

We called ourselves a sub post, as there was no one else there. There were about seventy five of us there most of the time.

We had some sites scattered around France, but we were the battalion headquarters.

My MOS was fixed plant carrier equipment repair, but because we were not operational, I became the mail clerk.

My understanding was that the 360th was a new battalion. Our initial group of 35 or so men were all transferred from other signal units in Germany. I was from a company in Ulm, Germany, I forget the unit number.

We were the initial occupants of Bel-Air along with other MOS's that arrived from other areas.

The sub post had been vacant for a number of years, and we reactivated the location.

The mission was Stratcom, microwave troposcater, as was the unit in Ulm, Germany that also was not yet operational.

There were some sites scattered around France, I remember one in Nancy, but we were the battalion headquarters.

We were at Bel-Air for maybe ten months. Then we were moved to a brick building closer to town for my last two months or so. I understand that they tore down all the quonset huts that made up Bel-air shortly after we left.

If there is any one still around who was at Bel-Air, please contact me.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The former camp of the 360th Signal Battalion in France, 1966 (IGF website)

Yes, the above aerial photo is the 360th at Bel-Air.

I was incorrect on one point. There were a few soldiers already at Bel-Air when my group arrived: motor pool, cooks, some officer staff, etc, but not many.

I met a guy who was stationed at nearby Maison Fort Army installation about a year and a half after the 360th moved out of Bel Air. The Army started to tear down the Quonsets at Maison Fort while he was there.

It appears that the 360th Signal Battalion was activated with the mission of operating the ET-A network in France.

I am looking for additional information on the battalion - organization, site locations and any other significant historical information. For example: How as the battalion organized (lettered companies or detachments); when was the ET-A equipment installed at these sites; was the French segment of the ET-A network fully functional at the time that the US Army had to leave France in 1966; etc.?

Bremerhaven

1966

(Source: Email from Ken DeBold)

I was assigned to HQ Company of the 360th Signal Battalion in Bremerhaven from 1966 to 1969.

Don Johnston, Mike Underwood and I, along with the guidance and help of Bob Steele (ITT tech rep), created the Troposcatter Module Repair Shop in Bremerhaven.

I remember many trips to the mainline tropo sites at Bremerhaven, Linderhofe (really enjoyed and remembered why it is called the site you cannot find a road to!) and Giessen along with the many, many tributary sites we helped get on the air. Each mainline site had up to 30 tributary sites connected via troposcatter link to it. The mainline sites had 250-foot towers each with 4 each 60-foot dishes for the mainline communications and 15-foot dishes for the link with each of the trib sites. Since Bremerhaven was the end of the line, there are only two 60 foot dishes. Linderhofe, Giessen and other mainline sites would have four 60 foot dishes.

Besides Northern Germany, we also had 2 tributary sites in the Netherlands (Hoek Van Holland and T'Harde). However, I do not believe the site names were the actual names of the locations/towns where they were located.

The 360th was originally in Orleans, France and was relocated to Bremerhaven after DeGaulle decided the American Military was no longer welcomed in France. I joined the 360th about a month after it settled in Bremerhaven. What was interesting about traveling to these sites (Don Johnston and I were battalion level tech support for the ITT troposcatter equipment) was that it was illegal to cross a NATO border in anything of the olive drab color (military vehicles, fatigues, etc) unless it was part of a registered convoy. And, a single vehicle was not considered a convoy. It took us almost 24 hours to get approval to cross the Netherlands/West Germany border in an OD 3/4 before we could get to the trib site and get it repaired.

So our Commanding Officer (LTC Alan Wiegand) came to me a couple weeks later and gave me the keys to our new tech support vehicle (a white 1966 Chevy pickup truck with a small camper cover) to make sure the many thousands of dollars worth of test equipment would be protected in case of rain.

Hope to hear from others who remember and were a part of this organization.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I did notice on current GoogleMaps, the base is long gone as well as most of the Army hospital that was off base. Our housing was across the street from the hospital and about 90% of the apartment buildings used as off base housing have been torn down to make space for retail and office buildings. Interestingly, the building we lived in still exists today (Kleiner Blink 36/6). My oldest son was born in the military hospital and spent his first 9 months living at KleinerBlink 36/6.

Building 250 housed the 360 Sig BN Headquarters, including my repair depot. Building 8 was the barracks for the HQ detachment personnel and Company C personnel.

The tower had been built when I arrived in early 1967 but the tropo system was not yet activated. When we brought the 10KW transmitter alive, we ran outside to watch the seagulls as when the transmitter was off, the seagulls like to perch on the feed horn. When we powered up the transmitter and power amplifier, it turned one incoming seagull into something that closely recognized a charcoal briquette. After that, not one seagull ever tried to get near the feed horn again. They all flew either below or above the 60 foot dishes.

The motor pool used to be located off base. Also, the commissary was located off base - it was in town but I just cannot remember exactly where. Since I got paid once per month - usually only went there once per month.

There was only one gas station (primarily for refueling POV's using ration cards we got each month from the PX - very fond memories of 14 cents per gallon gasoline costs) when I was there and now there appears to be two. The area that we knew as the athletic field (flag football, baseball and soccer intracompany competitions) now looks to be the motor pool/gas stations area.

There was no helipad on the way to the tropo tower - but there was a grass landing strip for small transport aircraft (usually DeHavilland Beavers and Otters). Many times I would need to order emergency parts to repair the tropo radio systems and would meet the Beaver/Otter at the strip after it flew in from Mannheim or Frankfort.

All services were represented at the base:

Army: The 360th Signal BN Hqs and maintenance. A transportation unit that trucked from the port to other US bases in West Germany and handled incoming and outgoing POV's from US military personnel changing duty stations.There was also an MP company

Navy: Very secret listening post duties (even their wives did not know what they did at work). All spoke several languages fluently.

Marines: Provided guard duties

Air Force: Air transportation and some secret stuff

Coast Guard: Very small detachment that helped with guarding NATO country shores. Occasionally we would see a Coast Guard ship moored at the port but not very often.

1967

(Source: Email from Heiko Stehmeier, Germany)

Just surfing on the Net I tried to find some information regarding my time in the armed forces. I am a retired Staff Sergeant in the German Air Force and served in the signal troops from 1964 - 1968. I was stationed at the Rifle Range Garlstedt from 1967 till 1968. Garlstedt is located at the direct road between Bremen and Bremerhaven. I was leader of a German radio site with 12 soldiers.

In the same area, in a barracks approx. 50 metres away from our shelters, approx. 20 soldiers of C Co, 360th Sig Bn where stationed. They operated a signal station in 24 hour shifts and trained radio/signal personnel. The staff was located in Bremerhaven.

I remember the following names of personnel who served there at that time:

	Site OIC: Captain Pritchard Site NCOIC: Sgt Bob Dobschuetz, was replaced mid-1967 by SSgt Norman. L. Edmonds (from Omaha,Nebraska) was still there when I left the site mid-1968 Spec3 Gene S. Stigleman Spec3 David S. Lang Spec. John D. White Spec…..Miller (from Gary, Indiana) Spec. Gary Evans

I have forgoten the names of others in the last 35 years, but I have had a great time there with your guys. I think a short time later the Garlstedt site was upgraded by replacing our shelters by a big "Kaserne" incl. Living quarters etc.

If you would find a minute for a short answer to a "Kraut" who tried his best, preferrably with a possible contact to the old Garlstedt "Asbach Site" (as we called it because we did not like any alcoholics!).

1968

(Source: Email from Vance Feiler)

I was there from 1968 to 1970. Cemetery 58. 5th Artillery Group Hdqrtrs. I believe we were a tropo site w/ SSB as well. I also believe this site was a warhead depot.

Pretty tense time around there mid 1968. Cannot remember too much. Good duty, lived on the economy. Did a lot of other crypto work as well. This was in Bueren.

Company hdqrtrs (I believe it was Co. B.) was quite ways away. We had Dutch and Belgian troops at the location to provide security and other functions. Constant truck convoys in and out of the locations. Did maneuvers with the Brits as well.

Don't really remember other site numbers. We carried a lot of traffic being a group Hdqrtrs. The full bird there and I were familiar with each other. Pretty stract outfit. We also had the portable rig / back up generators (large 80kw diesels, 3 of them) and of course the generator wagon for the transportable gear. Dual safes for the crypto and security. Had trained site dog as well. It was good duty 3 or 4 on and 3 off. I was Asst.NCOIC.

Got home Xmas eve. '70.

(Source: Email from Bill Lichtenberg)

I was a Training Specialist in Co C Sig Bn 360 and 447 from 1968-70.

I was orignally in Co C Sig Bn 360 but it was disbanded sometime in 1969 and moved into the barracks area of Staging Area. I was a clerk in S-2 until the new company was set up and I was assigned to Sig Bn 447 as Training person.

I originally was the TTY operator of the Co. The CO set me up in my own office and I sent out training schedules to all the sites. I had lots of papers to shuffle but enjoyed my duty and got along great with all the personell. I remember the Mail Clerk, James Johnson, APO 09069; S-1 Robert Moore; Sgt Draper, motor pool; Top SGT Wagner; Company Clerk Poff. Site Personnel Gerber, Site SGT. Connell SC.

We had one of the best Microwave sites in the net. I would enjoy hearing from anyone who remembers me in the company. I am now 62 and those times are remembered and great!

I never went into electronics, Typewriters were obsolete and it was a new world with the computers. I worked for 30 years in Building maintenance. Specializing in High Rise buildings. My wife was a school teacher and we have 4 children, 10 Grandchildren and still going.

I cannot remember all of the Sites, whenever I needed anyone I would ask the German operator for Mannheim, Baumholder etc. If you need a list of the sites, I am still in contact with the Nodel chief, I will ask him for the list, if he remembers, it seems like we had quite a large net. I am going to ask him about Company C -- I remember it was Company C, Sig Bn 360 first and then changed to 447.

(Source: USAREUR STATION LIST, 30 June 1968)

ORGANIZATION (1968):

UNIT DESIGNATION	DUTY STATION	COMMENTS
Signal Battalion 360
Hq/Hq Det	Augsburg
Co A	Bonn
Co B	Neu Ulm
Co C	Kirchheimbolanden

Microwave Eqipment building with tower (Ed Wills)
(diesel generators are visible on the right, in front of the building used by contracted German
nationals who repaired the microwave requipment)

Main building at Linderhofe site with motor pool in background (Ed Wills)
(The open door on the far end was where the kitchen was located)

Former Linderhofe Communications Station (Google Maps)

1970

(Source: Email from Ed Wills)

Company C, Signal Battalion 447, 22 Signal Group, Europe -- well that's what it says on my DD214 anyway.

I had the occasion to pull a copy out recently as I found out I could submit for a Cold War Certificate. I was in Germany from November 1970 through September 1972.

I attended Ft Monmouth for advanced training for AUTODIN Digital Repair. My MOS was 34D20K2. My original assignment was to be in Kaiserslautern. However I found myself diverted to Consol Remote Equipment (CRE) school in Mannheim for several weeks before being shipped off to Linderhofe.

Linderhofe is one of those "you can't get there from here" places. It was a microwave relay site on top of a mountain. The nearest town of any significance (population around 5,000) was Bosingfeld now called Extertal. At the junction of Autobahn 30 and 2 around Bad Oeynhausen, go East on 2 for about 10 kilometers to Rinteln then look South for 12 to 15 kilometers.

Looking at the Google Maps image (above):
(A) - Company Headquarters. At the north end (to the right of the photo), on the first floor, were the offices for company commander, 1st sergeant, administrative staff. The PX was on the second floor.

The billets were located between the two ends, mostly on the second floor. The bottom floor had the mail room, armory and supply room, etc.

The mess hall was on the first floor of the long section at the other end of the building (the part visible in the photo). The day room was on the second floor.
(B) - Motor Pool building.
(C) - Location of the CRE van.
(D) - Microwave building, Generator building, Tower.

If I remember the technology correctly, there were five rotating command centers that routed voice and digital signals through about twenty CRE sites (part of the European Command Control Console System) spread around Europe and Turkey. Each CRE had several tributary sites attached. The tributary sites were the missile, tank, troop, or other such sites. While I was there we did have one serious alert associated with the Baader-Meinhof gang.

The van was located at the top of the hill near the towers (Location "C" in the Google Maps image above). There was a building that housed all the microwave equipment that was supported by a different group (still same company). Also, we had German engineers that supported the microwave equipment. There was a third group in the company that supported field radio equipment. At the headquarters building, there were company command (capt, leut. top), supply, small PX, armory, rec room, and chow hall. Also on site was the motor pool (separate building).

One person operated the CRE van. We worked 12 hour shifts -- 3 days on, 3 days off, then 3 nights. Night and weekend shifts were "quieter" as there were less personnel around. The van had large arrays of circuit cards with transistors, resistors, etc. (then second generation technology). The technology allowed for rapid replacement of any defective card. We did periodic checks on the equipment and kept a log when the checks were completed. The same for the microwave equipment. I want to say that we performed several checks each shift plus cleaned and dusted (also logged).

I also recall that the Air Force came in and installed two dishes and some additional equipment. Not sure what it was used for.

We did have the company headquartered at the Linderhofe site. I want to say that when I was there it was called the 360 Signal Battalion Company C (maybe B). It was known as the Radar Station by the locals as the site was apparently that before the microwave towers were built. The site has been returned to the German people and since been demolished.

Some history (in German) (Lippische Landes-Zeitung)

I do have a few old pictures of the site that I could scan and send. I think somewhere I have the article on the decommisioning of the site that I could find, scan and send (above).

The CRE van was located at the top of the hill near the towers. There was a building that housed all the microwave equipment that was supported by a different group (still same company). Also, we had German engineers that supported the microwave equipment. There was a third group in the company that supported field radio equipment.

At the headquarters building, there were company command (capt, leut. top), supply, small PX, armory, rec room, and chow hall. Also on site was the motor pool (separate building).

One person operated the CRE van. We worked 12 hour shifts 3 days on, 3 days off, then 3 nights. Night and weekend shifts were "quieter" as there were less personnel around. The van had large arrays of circuit cards with transistors, resistors, ect. (then second generation technology). The technology allowed for rapid replacement of any defective card. We did periodic checks on the equipment and kept a log when the checks were completed. The same for the microwave equipment.

I want to say that we performed several checks each shift plus cleaned and dusted (also logged).

(Webmaster note: looking at the STATION LIST for June 1971, the lettered companies of Signal Battalion 360 were stationed as follows:

Company A, Linderhofe

Company B, Pendleton Bks, Giessen

Company C, Staging Area (CSK), Bremerhaven

There is no HHD for Sig Bn 360 listed.)

Linderhofe

1. 60-meter self-supporting tower

2. Tropo antenna

3. Equipment building

1971

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 21, 1971)

Brief mention was made in an article in the S&S issue cited above of the Custodial Radio Control Station at Garlstedt. Although no unit is named in the article, I believe it was part of Company C, Sig Bn 360 (headquartered at the Staging Area, Bremerhaven).

The article does mention that the STRATCOM-Eur radio site was located on the German tank training area at Garlstedt and that seven military personnel were assigned to the CRCS.

(Source: Email from Dana A. Ross)

I was stationed at the Garlstedt Signal Site from 1971-1973. SFC Norman Edmunds was the NCOIC then also.

The German Signal Site was still there and the Fire Station. I don't think I met SSG Stehmeier (see email above) but I was closely acquainted with the Hasselbrock family in Garlstedt and the Bushman family in Osterholz-Scharmbeck.

The Garlstedt Signal Site was a very isolated post during the early 70s. Located between a cow pasture and a conservation area, it was the training area for German Tank and Artillery Units. There were no mess or recreation facilities. All support came from Bremerhaven Staging Area (about 32km from Garlstedt). 8-14 men lived in the barracks and we all had the option to move off base.

The Hasselbrock family ran a roadside Gasthaus next to the base and that was where we got our meals. SFC Edmunds had created a good relationship with the host nation in Osterholz-Scharmbeck and many of the citizens came to the base on Tuesday's for German-American Night to watch movies and socialize.

Work there was always long and boring but important.

In late 1972 the 360th was changed to the 447th Signal Bn. The station closed right after I returned to the States and it was moved to Bremerhaven.

The 2AD (FWD) built a totally new base and moved into Garlstedt after the Signal Site moved.

I visited the Hasselbrock family in Garlstedt in 1979 and still write to them and the Bushman family today.

Several of the soldiers from the unit have contacted me over the years. In all I think it was a memorable assignment. I would like to hear from anyone stationed there in the early 1970s.

I was later stationed at Linderhofe with the 518th Signal Company from Jan 76 to Dec 79, working first in the Company S-2 then as the ANCOIC at Buren Communications Site. Although isolated, it was great duty. I played a lot of ping-pong (finally got the last place trophy). Ed Armour, the civilian tech, played a lot; Shwarz, Tutchler, Hagler and Ned Ross. Al Grob, Don Guinard, Jim Maillot at Buren. It would be great to hear from them.

1972

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Jan 5, 1972)

The Linderhofe radio station, operated by Co A, 360th Signal Bn, is located about 40 miles southwest of Hannover. (The nearest American installation large enough to provide logistical support for the remote site is Kassel, 87 miles to the south.)

There are 63 military personnel and two civilians stationed at Linderhofe.

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Nov 13, 1972)

Signal Battalion 360 has been deactivated and its subordinate (lettered) companies have been redesignated.

A Company, Sig Bn 360 has joined the Sig Bn 447 as C Co, Sig Bn 447, Linderhofe.
B Company, Sig Bn 360 is now D Co, Sig Bn 447, Giessen.
C Company, Sig Bn 360 has been redesignated as E Co, Sig Bn 447, Bremerhaven.

Concurrent with these changes, the former C Co, Sig Bn 447 has been redesignated as D Co, Sig Bn 68, Karlsruhe.

In addition to the above, SCC Facility Pirmasens at Husterhoeh Kaserne was redesignated as USASTRATCOM-EUR Signal Facility, Pirmasens.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Source: Don Elmore)
Walter, I just went through my orders again and this is what I came up with. It does not give the dates that any one Company was in which location, except that on the dates indicated, they were at those locations.

DATES ON ORDERS:
17 January 1968 Co D, Sig Bn 447 was in Giessen Germany
February 1969 Co B, Sig Bn 360 was in Giessen Germany
June 1971 Co D, Sig Bn 447 was in Giessen Germany
(447th Deactivated in March 1973).
March 1973 532nd Sig Co, 39th Sig Bn was in Giessen Germany
(39th Sig Bn activated in March 1973).

Some time between February 1969 and June 1971, I am told that Co B, Sig Bn 360 was in Pruem Germany. This information is from the Battalion S-4 Officer.

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