The Antrim Historical Society presents a conversation about the WWII unit "The Ghost Army"
Event topic: WWII Ghost Army
Date/Time: 06/19/2022, 3:00PM
Location: Antrim Presbyterian Church
Attention history buffs, lovers of suspense and intrigue. On June 19th at 3:00 pm at the Antrim Presbyterian church the Antrim Historical Society is sponsoring a conversation with Keith McKane of Keene NH. Keith’s father, Mickey McKane was a member of the WWII unit known as the “Ghost Army”. So secret that Information about this unit was not declassified till 1996, and subsequently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in Feb of 2022.
On January 20, 1944, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in US Army history. Consisting of an authorized strength of 82 officers and 1,023 men under the command of Army veteran Colonel Harry L. Reeder. This unique and top-secret unit was capable of simulating two whole divisions—approximately 30,000 men—using visual, sonic, and radio deception to fool German forces during World War II’s final year..
Armed with nothing heavier than .50 caliber machine guns, the 23rd took part in 22 large-scale deceptions in Europe from Normandy to the Rhine River, the bulk of the unit arriving in England in May 1944, shortly before D-Day. The brainchild of Colonel Billy Harris and Major Ralph Ingersoll, both American military planners based in London, the unit consisted of a carefully selected group of artists, engineers, professional soldiers, and draftees, including famed artists such as fashion designer Bill Blass, painter Ellsworth Kelly, and photographer Art Kane. Many West Point graduates and former Army Specialized Training Program participants were assigned to the 23rd, and it was said to have one of the highest IQs in the Army with an average of 119. The unit waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects, and even phony generals, using imagination and illusion to trick the enemy while saving thousands of lives along the way. The 23rd, along with the 3133rd Signal Service Company in Italy, helped liberate Europe from the grip of Nazi tyranny. The unit was part of the ruse to confuse the Nazis forces in thinking that General Patton would lead the invasion force through Calais instead of Normandy.
Ghost Army member Freddy Fox described his unit as “a traveling road show that went up and down the front lines impersonating the real fighting outfits.” From D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge, the Ghost Army performed more than 20 missions throughout the European theater of war in 1944 and 1945.
Following the war, the unit’s soldiers were sworn to secrecy, records were classified, and equipment packed away. Except for a newspaper article right after the war, no one spoke publicly about the deceivers until a 1985 Smithsonian article. Though knowledge of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was then public, it was still officially classified until the mid-1990s.
WWII The National WWII Museum, The History Channel and PBS have published exhibits and documentaries about the Ghost Army.
Through images and artifacts, Keith will illustrate his father’s experience in the unit and take us through what made him uniquely qualified for this groundbreaking role in the European Theater of Operations. He will also share Mickey’s post-war life in New Hampshire, and how he was sworn to secrecy for nearly half a century.
The Antrim Presbyterian Church recommends masks for fully vaccinated individuals and required for non vaccinated and asks individuals to sign in when arriving to ensure the Antrim Historical Society can contact individuals in the event someone there comes down with COVID. In addition please contact the Antrim Historical Society if tested positive for Covid immediately after the event. ]
Light refreshments will be offered. Please contact Rick Wood of the AHS with any questions @ rd_wood@comcast.net or 603 345 0121