Current Exhibit, 'Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of WW2' Created Deceptions To Fight the Nazis
- CURRENT Exhibition, Nevada Museum of Art: "Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II." - ON VIEW * March 4, 2023 - July 23, 2023.
- Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II relates the unique story of more than 1,100 men who deceived, sketched, and painted across Europe to manipulate Hitler’s armies during World War II. Activated on Jan. 20, 1944, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army,” was the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in US Army history.
Consisting of an authorized strength of 82 officers & 1,023 men under the command of Army veteran Colonel Harry L. Reeder, this unique and & top-secret unit was capable of simulating 2 whole divisions—approximately 30,000 men—and used visual, sonic, and radio deception to fool German forces during World War II’s final year. The unit consisted of a carefully selected group of artists, engineers, professional soldiers, and draftees, including famed artists such as fashion designer Bill Blass, painter Ellsworth Kelly, and photographer Art Kane.
The unit waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects, and even phony generals, using imagination and illusion to trick the enemy while saving thousands of lives along the way. Armed with nothing heavier than .50 caliber machine guns, the 23rd took part in 22 large-scale deceptions in Europe from Normandy to the Rhine River, the bulk of the unit arriving in England in May 1944, shortly before D-Day. The 23rd, along with the 3133rd Signal Service Company in Italy, helped liberate Europe from the grip of Nazi tyranny.
🪖 Produced by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, this exhibition brings together archival photography, historical artifacts, uniforms, sketches, and life-sized recreations of inflatable military equipment used during combat. Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II is exclusively sponsored by the E. L. Wiegand Foundation. While the exhibition is on view the Museum will proudly offer free admission to active military members, their families, and veterans thanks to generous support from the E. L. Wiegand Foundation. - READ MORE + DISPLAYS...https://www.nevadaart.org/art/exhibitions/ghost-army-the-combat-con-artists-of-ww-ii/
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ALSO: The National World War II Museum, New Orleans 'Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II' Exhibit.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/ghost-army-combat-con-artists-world-war-ii
- Smithsonian, WW2 Ghost Army Used Art to Deceive Nazis, D-Day, Rhineland - Artists, Designers, Engineers, Painters
https://www.democraticunderground.com/11633183
- MORE:
* Goodreads Book, "Ghosts of the ETO: American Tactical Deception Units in the European Theater," 1944–45.
“An excellent, balanced history of the 23rd Special Troops . . . may be one of the most important books to come out of World War II.” — Engineer Magazine
No history of the war in Europe has ever taken into account the actions of the men of the US 23rd Special Troops. These men took part in over twenty-two deception operations against the German army. Some of these operations had tremendous impact upon how the battles in Europe were fought. The men who participated in these actions were sworn to secrecy for fifty years and are only now willing to talk about their role.
The 23rd was composed of four main units. A signal deception unit to broadcast fake radio signals, an engineer camouflage unit to set up rubber dummies of tanks and trucks, a combat engineer unit to construct emplacements and provide local security, and a sonic deception company. The sonic unit was developed to fool German listening posts by playing audio recordings of various sounds, such as tanks moving up or bridges being built.
The 23rd was the only tactical deception unit of the American Army in World War II combining all aspects of deception. This book also covers the birthplace of sonic deception, the Army Experimental Station at Pine Camp, and the 23rd’s smaller sister unit, the 3133rd Sonic Deception company that saw action for fourteen days in Italy.
“Highly recommended reading as being a simply fascinating military history of a hidden aspect of World War II that would have a profound and lasting influence on military strategy and tactics.” — Midwest Book Review
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/10382400