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51st
Ordnance Group |
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| Group History | |||
| 1945 - 1965 | |||
| (Source: 51st Maintenance Battalion History. Compiled by the 51st Maint Bn in the early 1980s) | |||
| The Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 51st Ordnance Group was constituted on 20
December 1943 and activated 10 January 1944 at Palm Village, California.
The Group was transferred to Pomona Ordnance Base, California, and
again to Camp Polk, Louisiana. The Group was shipped overseas to England in the spring of 1944 and provided maintenance and supply support to the First Army from the time of the invasion until VE Day, the 8th of May 1945. After supporting Ninth Army from 11 May 1945 to 15 June 1945, it was placed under the operational control of Seventh Army. Cancelling a move to the Pacific Theater, the Group moved to Bremen and operated Ordnance Section, Port Bremen. Later, the Group was moved to Zirndorf, Germany, assuming control and supervision of Ordnance units and activities in the Eastern Military District until deactivation on 20 January 1947. On 26 March, 1947, it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 308th Ordnance Group and reactivated at Richmond, Indiana, with the Organic Reserves. On 1 August 1949, it was redesignated from a Detachment to a Company and a year later inactivated at Indianapolis, Indiana. The redesignation of the 7848th Ordnance Group, USAREUR to the 51st Ordnance Group on 15 January 1953 reactivated the Group to Esslingen, Germany, assuming control of all Ordnance Activities in the Army area. From 1954 to spring 1965, 51st Ordnance Group played an important role in carrying out 7th Army's preparedness mission. The Group, to provide better customer support moved during June 1954 to Coleman Barracks, Sandhofen, Germany. In 1959, Group Headquarters was moved to Funari Barracks, in Mannheim and later still, Pioneer Kaserne in Hauau, Germany. In August 1965, the Group was redesignated as Headquarters and Company "A", 51st Maintenance Battalion (Direct Support) and was relocated at Coleman Barracks, Mannheim, Germany. NOTE: The unit's subsequent history as the 51st Maintenance Battalion will be posted on the 51st Maint Bn Page. |
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(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Nov 5, 1953) |
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The decision to institute an ordnance rebuild program for the European Theater was made in 1945 when it became necessary to decide on what to do with the vast amount of supplies and equipment left in theater after WWII. Transporting them back to the US for rebuild and then sending them back to Europe for use by US troops would have been very costly. A large portion of the surplus equipment was sold in Europe, but sufficient supplies and equipment for rebuild were retained to fill estimated needs of US forces. Eight rebuild shops in Germany carry out the rebuild program. They fall under the command of the 51st Ordnance Group in Esslingen. (CO of the Gp is Col Humbert O. Nelli.) The eight depots are located at:  AalenKarlsfeldEsslingenButzbachMainzSchwaebisch GmuendOber-RamstadtBoeblingen
They repair or rebuild, where economically feasible, equipment at a minimum cost. Items renovated under the ordnance rebuild program include tires (including tubes and other rubber products), assemblies for vehicles, small arms, fire-control devices, general-purpose vehicles (such as trucks, trailers, jeeps, sedans), combat vehicles, spare parts, tools and supplies. Since 1947, the rebuild program has saved the US Government and American taxpayers more than $1.1 billion dollars (1953 dollars). |
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| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 51st Ord Gp, please contact me. | |||
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| Aalen Ordnance Maintenance Depot | |||
| 1945 - 1954 | |||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, Feb 21, 1954) | |||
| The Aalen Ordnance Maintenance Depot, located in Wasseralfingen (east of Schwäbisch Gmünd), has ceased operations. The depot is part of the 51st Ord Gp. Originally, the depot started operations Dec 6, 1946 with the mission of rebuilding vehicles over 4-tons and Army busses. Eventually, over 1,400 German local nationals (over 70 percent of which were refugees) would be employed by the depot. In 1950, the depot was enlarged and designated as a depot in July of that year. The mission was expanded to include the rebuilding of major assemblies, axles, transmissions, steering gears, transfer cases, propeller shafts, winches, compressors, power takeoff units, and radiators for wheeled vehicles over 4-tons. Early in 1953, production at the plant shifted to support of MDAP (Mutual Defense Assistance Program) equipment. The depot began deactivation in July 1953. Recent CO's: Maj Phillip M. Biever (Nov 1950 - May 1953); Capt S.J.M. Winkowski (May 1953 - Oct 1953); Lt Col Fred L. Whittlesey Oct 1953 - present). |
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