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242nd Quartermaster Battalion
2nd Quartermaster Group
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 email me (webmaster).

Battalion History ()

 
Battalion History
1961 - 1965
(Source: Military History, 2nd Quartermaster Group, 1945-1965. Compiled by the 2nd QM Gp in the mid 1960s)
HISTORY OF THE 242ND QUARTERMASTER BATTALION

The 242nd Quartermaster Battalion was constituted on 18 March 1941 in the Regular Army and activated on 22 January 1942 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The mission of the newly formed unit was to provide quartermaster support to the units at Fort Riley. However, as the war progressed, it became necessary to transfer the 242nd to the newly formed Seventh United States Army. The 242nd mission during World War II was that of labor service -- the supplying of men for unloading, storing, stacking and etc.

After Seventh Army's conquest of Sicily on 17 August 1943, it began its push for Southern France and the 242nd Quartermaster Battalion became part of the 5th US Army. The mission of the 5th Army was the invasion of Italy and again the 242nd performance provided necessary services.

On 2 February 1944 the four companies which made up the Battalion were redesignated from lettered companies to numbered ones as follows: A, B, C and D changed to 3254th, 3255th, 3256th and the 3257th Quartermaster Service Companies, respectively.

With the cessation of hostilities, the services of the 242nd Quartermaster Battalion were no longer needed and the unit was returned to CONUS and inactivated on 9 November 1945 at Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming.

In answer to Russia's Premier Nikita Khruschev threat over Berlin, the United States began an immediate build-up of men and units in 1961. To support these units the 242nd Quartermaster Battalion was called into service and reactivated on 25 September 1961, by authority contained in USAREUR General Order 304, dated 29 September 1961.

The Battalion Headquarters is located at Freiham, Germany with Company A at Alabama Kaserne, Munich, Germany and Company B at Sheridian Kaserne, Augsburg, Germany. Based on the modern concept of Direct Support, the present mission of the Battalion is to provide a single source of quartermaster supply, services, and field maintenance to units of USAREUR and Seventh Army. This includes the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Class I: Operate Class I Supply Point -- Munich
Class II & IV: Operate the Class II & IV Supply Points in Munich and Augsburg. Operate ECP 49 in Munich. Operate clothing sales stores (including a mobile van) in Munich, Straubing, Augsburg and Ulm.
Class III: Operate Class III Supply Points in Munich, Bad Toelz, Augsburg, Landshut, Straubing, Regensburg and Ulm.
Maintenance and Services: Provide Quartermaster Maintenance to Munich, Augsburg and Bad Toelz.
 
If you have more information on the history or organization of the 242nd QM Bn, please contact me.