V CORPS ARTILLERY D-DAY WW II

UNITED STATES ARMY

V CORPS FLAGS & GUIDONS • D-DAY ORGANIZATION • CORPS ARTILLERY
1944 Regulations

US Army Corps Artillery consisted of a headquarters and headquarters battery, a field artillery observation battalion and a variable number of FA groups and battalions. Most groups had two or three battalions but as many as four could be attached if necessary. V Corps Artillery had eleven battalions: two 105mm howitzer (self-propelled), one 4.5-in. gun, four 155mm howitzer, two 155mm gun and two 8-in. howitzer. Eight of these were under the FA groups and the other three were separate. Most nondivisional field artillery was towed and by 1944 tractors had mostly replaced trucks as prime movers.

On D-Day the two 105mm SP battalions were detached to the 1st Infantry Division, the 187th FA Group was in direct support of that division, and the 190th FA Group was in direct support of the 29th Infantry Division.

The group organization for nondivisional field artillery had been adopted in 1942, replacing the regimental organization. Most nondivisional FA regiments had two battalions. As reorganized, the regimental headquarters became a group headquarters and the two battalions were separately numbered. Thus, for example, the 333rd Field Artillery Regiment was reorganized as the 333rd FA Group, the 333rd FA Battalion and the 969th FA Battalion. Usually the newly separate battalions were attached back to the group. By 1944 there were over 300 nondivisional FA battalions, many of them new units with no previous regimental affiliation. To control these battalions, numerous additional FA groups were raised.

Distinguishing flags for FA groups were diagonally divided from upper hoist to lower fly in the Field Artillery branch colors, scarlet over yellow, with the unit number centered and countercharged. Distinguishing flags were made of wool bunting; dimensions were 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly. The distinguishing flag was always carried or displayed with a National Standard, Service of the same material and dimensions with an additional 2 1/2-inch fringe of knotted yellow silk. The group headquarters vattery guidon was of the same design as the distinguishing flag; the battalions had scarlet guidons with the Field Artillery branch insignia, numerals and letters in yellow. All guidons were made of cotton or wool bunting; dimensions were 20 inches at the hoist by 27 inches on the fly with a 10-inch fork.