Item Description
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a once-in-a-lifetime offering including original invasion plan book with report of operations and after action reports for the 532nd Field Artillery Battalion during Operation Forager, the Philippine Campaign, and the Ryukyus Campaign, and for XXIV Corps during Operation Iceberg, the Assault on Okinawa. These documents are nearly impossible to source today, making this an extremely scarce offering.
The group includes:
- Operational Plans - Volume One - 532nd Field Artillery Battalion. This book includes the Report of Operations for Operation Forager on the Marianas Islands, Report of Operations during the Philippine Campaign, and Action Against Enemy Report for the Ryukyus Campaign. This book is the ACTION AGAINST ENEMY REPORT for this battalion only. It dates from June 15th to August 1st, 1944. There is first a report on Operation Forager with in-depth information on the embarkation, voyage, debarkation, reconnaissance, Support of Saipan operation, and recommendations. There are also annexes with organization charts. Next is the same format for the Philippines Campaign from August 1st to December 25th, 1944. Lastly is the same format for the Ryukyus Campaign from March 31st to June 30th, 1945. TOP SECRET or SECRET is printed at the bottom of each page. This book measures 9¾ x 11½”. The book is signed in the front cover to Major Reifsnider.
- Operational Plans - Volume Two - XXIV Corps. This book includes the Invasion Plans for Operation Iceberg: The Assault on Okinawa. It goes into detail about the different divisions and units within the Corps, including the 7th ID, 10th Army, 96th ID, 382nd Infantry, etc. There is an integral envelope with HQ XXIV CORPS OPNS MAP ANNEX 3A TO FO 45A and OPNS OVERLAY ANNEX 3B TO FO 45B, some fantastic material. There’s also a fold out organizational chart with all individual units noted in the organization. There is so much fantastic information in this book, far too much to record. All sheets are dated February 8th, 1945 with TOP SECRET at the bottom of each page. The end has a Distribution list with how many copies are sent to each unit. This book measures 9 x 11¼”. The book is signed in the front cover to Major Reifsnider.
- Binder with ephemera and other documents from Major John L. Reifsnider and his brother, Rear Admiral Lawrence F. Reifsnider. These include letters and photographs, a great photo of Lawrence on his flagship, the USS Panamint off of Okinawa, some newspaper articles, passes, and the “Performance of Corps Artillery on Okinawa” typed up by General John R. Hodge. There’s also a historical sketch of Amphibious Group Four, a six-page document with the history of the group through Guadalcanal, Guam, Okinawa, Ie Shima, and more. Then there are some printed photos of the ships and a printed history of the Panamint.
This is a fantastic group of some unbelievably scarce documents. Comes ready for further research and display!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
