In 2008, I began research work on a book that would – for the first time – provide extremely detailed information about the Tennessee Maneuvers, including: which units were involved with each maneuver where and when action occurred the logistics required to transport and supply large numbers of soldiers what the objectives were for each exercise interaction with civilians air support fatalities commanding officers communications health issues and a wealth of other topics. Army Divisions that participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers fought in the European Theater during WWII. Because the terrain so closely resembled France, Belgium and Germany, all but three of the 25 U.S. The Tennessee Maneuvers occurred on property mostly owned by civilians - and in cities and towns - across much of middle Tennessee. So realistic, in fact, that more then 250 men and a number of civilians lost their lives during the demanding exercises.

Seven of these were conducted in Tennessee, involving more than 850,000 soldiers in very realistic simulated combat. Army conducted 48 large-scale or specialty purpose maneuvers across the United States. And while all this activity directly related to the maneuvers was occurring, the skies overTennessee were filled with bombers from training bases at Dyersburg and Smyrna, with planes moved by the Air Ferry Command in Nashville, and with new fighters and bombers from Consolidated-Vultee inNashville.įrom 1941 to 1944, the U.S. Jackson,South Carolina).īarrage Balloons from Camp Tyson (in Paris,Tenn.) were frequently involved in air operations by defensive forces. At the start of each exercise, ground officers were given a demonstration of airpower atTaylorsville– while their air commanders participated in air ground schools (including one atFt. For example, they might have reconnaissance aircraft for one exercise but none in the next – or fighter and bomber support this week but not in the next week. The air commands for each side had an ever-changing toolbox, as air units available to them could change from exercise to exercise. TASCO, headquartered inLebanon, provided a variety of services to the air commanders representing Blue and Red forces, including: assistance with planning, assignment of personnel and air units, handling of administrative matters and other tasks.Īir commanders for the Red and Blue sides had staff members including liaison officers for air units involved in each exercise, signal officers (for radio, teletype and telephone), and other personnel. The air operations were conducted under the authority of the Tennessee Air Support Command (TASCO) – which served as a neutral air advisory body to both sides in each exercise. Numerous other airports were used for the six other Tennessee Maneuvers, giving additional air units training opportunities.

Bowling GreenAirport (Bowling Green, KY) - Blue/Red Air Support.

Evansville Army Air Field (Evansville, IN) - Blue Air Support.

Sturgis Army Air Field (Sturgis, KY) - Blue Air Support.Godman Field (Ft.Knox KY) - Blue Air Support.CampCampbell (Kentucky/TN) - Blue Air Support.Lovell Field (Chattanooga, TN) - Red Air Support.SkyHarborAirport (Murfreesboro, TN) - Liaison.GallatinAirport (Gallatin, TN) - Liaison.Lebanon Airport ( Lebanon, TN) - Liaison & Utility.Below are two charts showing aircraft assigned/used in just one of the Tennessee Maneuvers this data comes from the maneuver conducted between April 26 and June 20, 1943.įor this maneuver, aircraft flew from nine airports in Tennessee, Kentucky andI Indiana: The number and type of aircraft involved varied in each exercise in each maneuver. Typical missions for air units included bombing and strafing to support ground troops, emergency air supply, observation by umpires, reconnaissance by opposing forces, transporting airborne units, evacuating wounded personnel and liaison work for messages and materials. For each of the Tennessee Maneuvers to provide realistic simulations of combat, a variety of aircraft had to be involved in a number of roles.

World war 2 maneuvers for air combat