Constituted 29 January 1942 in the Army of the United States as 817th Engineer Battalion Aviation (Separate). Activated 15 February 1942 at Langley Field, Virginia. Redesignated 817th Engineer Battalion (Aviation ) 1 April 1942. Departed the New York Port of Embarkation on 1 July 1942 and arrived in England on 12 July 1942. Redesignated 817th Engineer Aviation Battalion 1 August 1942. Committed to combat in the African Theater of Operations and landed in North Africa on 21 November 1942. Landed at Salerno, Italy on 9 September 1944. Transfrred to Corsica on 18 March 1944; Italy on 21 June 1944 and Corsica again on 15 July 1944. Assaulted France on 20 August 1944 then returned to Italy on 11 October 1944. The unit was at Sesto, Italy less Company A, B & C at Perestols, Italy at the end of World War II (15 August 1945 location). Inactivated in Naples, Italy on 15 September 1945.
Reactivated 6 October 1946 at Geiger Field, Washington.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
(World War II):
Tunisia (Ground)
Naples-Foggis (with arrowhead)
Rome-Arno
North Apennines
Po Valley
Southern France
Arrowhead: For initial Assault Landing on Selerno, Italy, 9-10 September 1943. Unit cited per DA GO 37, 1950).
DECORATIONS:
None.
BLAZONRY
SHIELD: Gules, two piles argent each charged
with a feather palewise of the field, in
base a broken column of the second.
CREST: None.
MOTTO: Vincere Laboramus (We will Work to
Conquer)
DESCRIPTION:
Red and white are the colors of the Corps of Engineers. The wedge-shapped devices, symbolic of stakes, are associated with Engineers, and the feathers indicage the special aviation mission of the battalion. The Roman classic column reresents the organization's North African and Italian campaigns in World War II.
DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA
The distinctive insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms (approved, Ltr 8 April 1954).
Insignia #2: On a transparent red shield a gold grader superimposed upon a white triangular airfield symbol; the motto is on a blue scroll. This was the original insignia (unofficial) as worn by the original battalion personnel.
Veterans! You are welcome to use this site. Do you have photos or narratives or a unit history to share? Please contact: 1SG Charles W. Aresta, The Hawaiian Military Insignia Collectors and Study Group, 1813 Sereno Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-2318 (Ph or fax: 808-537-2753) or e-mail: ra1sgt@aol.com
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