Unit Command Posts in the ETO, 1944-45 - Skylighters | The Web Site of the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion

An American GI pauses during a march near Ste.-Mère-Église, France, June 7, 1944.
Photo by Bob Landry/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

NOTES: By all accounts, the location listed as “Omaha Beach, FR” was, in actuality, the village of St. Laurent-sur-Mer. In addition, elements of Headquarters Battery landed a day earlier than indicated in the official records, 16 June, and spent the night on the bluffs between Exits E-1 and E-3, more or less between St. Laurent and Colleville-sur-Mer. The dates are largely when “administrative staff” (including clerks) arrived and were able to type up the morning reports.

Battalion Headquarters

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	19 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Deaux Jumeaux, FR*	19 June 1944	2 August 1944	N/A	N/A
Lenauderre, FR	2 August 1944	4 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Rennes, FR	4 September 1944	27 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Bretigny-sur-Orge, FR	27 September 1944	16 October 1944	N/A	N/A
Savonniere-en-Perhois, FR	16 October 1944	1 January 1945	N/A	N/A
Metz, FR	1 January 1945	18 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Konigstein, GER	18 April 1945	29 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Kitzingen, GER	29 April 1945	7 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Rosstal, GER	7 June 1945	15 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Munich, GER	15 June 1945	N/A	N/A	N/A

* It is not clear if any 225th batteries set up defenses at Airfield A-4 at Deux Jumeaux. More info on A-4 is here.

Battery A Headquarters

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	17 June 1944	19 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Isigny, FR	19 June 1944	24 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Blosville, FR	24 June 1944	25 July 1944	N/A	N/A
Cherbourg, FR	25 July 1944	30 August 1944	N/A	N/A
Camp DeMuecona, FR	30 August 1944	12 September 1944	N/A	N/A
St. Jean, FR	12 September 1944	15 October 1944	N/A	N/A
Reims, FR	15 October 1944	17 November 1944	N/A	N/A
Etain, FR	17 November 1944	14 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Waldorf, GER	14 April 1945	7 May 1945	N/A	N/A
Mainbernheim, GER	7 May 1945	11 May 1945	N/A	N/A
Rosstal, GER	11 May 1945	8 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Raitersaich, GER	8 June 1945	15 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Erding, GER	15 June 1945	16 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Unter Biberg, GER	16 June 1945	NA	N/A	N/A

Battery A, 1st Platoon

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	17 June 1944	26 June 1944	N/A	N/A
St. Mere Eglise, FR	27 June 1944	4 August 1944	A-6	N/A
Cherbourg, FR	4 August 1944	6 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Vannes, FR	6 September 1944	14 September 1944	A-33	N/A
Coulommieres, FR	14 September 1944	17 October 1944	A-58	N/A
Reims, FR	17 October 1944	17 November 1944	A-79	N/A
Etain, FR	17 November 1944	14 April 1945	A-82	N/A
Waldorf, GER	14 April 1945	7 May 1945	R-73	N/A
Mainbernheim, GER	7 May 1945	11 May 1945	R-6	N/A
Rosstal, GER	11 May 1945	8 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Raitersaich, GER	8 June 1945	15 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Unter Biberg, GER	16 June 1945	24 June 1945	R-85	N/A
Penzing, GER	24 June 1945	N/A	R-54	N/A
Paris, FR	28 June 1945	N/A	N/A	Assigned to illuminate the Eiffel Tower

Battery A, 2nd Platoon

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	17 June 1944	26 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Carentan, FR	27 June 1944	4 August 1944	A-10	N/A
Tourlaville, FR	4 August 1944	9 August 1944	N/A	N/A
Maupertus, FR	9 August 1944	28 August 1944	A-15	N/A
Chateaudun, FR	28 August 1944	16 September 1944	A-39	N/A
Florennes, BEL	6 September 1944	5 March 1945	A-78	N/A
Metz, FR	5 March 1945	5 April 1945	Y-34	N/A
Finthen, GER	5 April 1945	16 April 1945	Y-64	N/A
Sulzbach, GER	16 April 1945	28 April 1945	Y-73	N/A
Furth, GER	28 April 1945	11 May 1945	R-30	N/A
Rosstal, GER	11 May 1945	6 June 1945	N/A	N/A
Furth, GER	6 June 1945	15 June 1945	R-30	N/A
Holtzkirchen, GER	15 June 1945	3 July 1945	R-93	N/A
Reim, GER	3 July 1945	N/A	R-82	N/A

Battery B Headquarters

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	19 June 1944	N/A	N/A
St. Pierre-du-Mont, FR	19 June 1944	21 June 1944	N/A	N/A
La Commune, FR	21 June 1944	26 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Deaux Jumeaux, FR	26 June 1944	25 July 1944	N/A	N/A
Blosville, FR	25 July 1944	2 September 1944	N/A	N/A
St. Brieuc, FR	2 September 1944	16 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Rennes, FR	16 September 1944	18 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Bretigny-sur-Orge, FR	18 September 1944	7 October 1944	N/A	N/A
Vitry-le-Francois, FR	7 October 1944	1 December 1944	N/A	N/A
Mesmil-sur-Orge, FR	1 December 1944	9 December 1944	N/A	N/A
Verdun, FR	9 December 1944	5 January 1945	N/A	N/A
Reims, FR	5 January 1945	10 January 1945	N/A	N/A
Hallignicourt, FR	10 January 1945	15 January 1945	N/A	N/A
Glorelux, LUX	15 January 1945	8 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Differdange, LUX	8 April 1945	16 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Finthen, GER	16 April 1945	19 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Mainz, GER	19 April 1945	27 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Karlsruhe, GER	27 April 1945	16 May 1945	N/A	N/A
Kitzingen, GER	16 May 1945	6 June 1945	R-6	N/A
Buchschwabach, GER	6 June 1945	17 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Unter Biberg, GER	17 June 1945	N/A	R-85	N/A

Battery B, 1st Platoon

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	28 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Cardonville, FR	29 June 1944	5 August 1944	A-2	N/A
Cherbourg, FR	5 August 1944	6 September 1944	A-6	N/A
St. Brieuc, FR	6 September 1944	17 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Ligomes Fourches, FR	17 September 1944	7 October 1944	N/A	N/A
Vitry, FR	7 October 1944	28 November 1944	N/A	N/A
Vertus, FR	28 November 1944	1 December 1944	A-63	N/A
Mesnil, FR	1 December 1944	9 December 1944	A-77	N/A
Verdun, FR	9 December 1944	5 January 1945	N/A	N/A
Reims, FR	3 January 1945	9 February 1945	N/A	N/A
Verdun, FR	9 February 1945	8 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Differdange, LUX	8 April 1945	16 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Finthen, GER	16 April 1945	19 April 1945	Y-64	N/A
Mainz, GER	19 April 1945	27 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Karlsruhe, GER	27 April 1945	16 May 1945	N/A	N/A
Kitzingen, GER	16 May 1945	6 June 1945	R-6	N/A
Buchschwabach, GER	6 June 1945	17 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Unter Biberg, GER	17 June 1945	N/A	R-85	N/A
Erding, GER	17 June 1945	2 July 1945	R-91	N/A
Salching, GER	2 July 1945	11 August 1945	R-68	N/A
Paris, FR	28 June 1945	N/A	N/A	Assigned to illuminate the Eiffel Tower

Battery B, 2nd Platoon

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	28 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Criqueville, FR	29 June 1944	25 July 1944	A-3	N/A
St. Mere Eglise, FR	25 July 1944	2 September 1944	A-6	N/A
St. Brieuc, FR	2 September 1944	16 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Bretigny-sur-Orge, FR	16 September 1944	10 October 1944	N/A	N/A
Chalons, FR	10 October 1944	20 November 1944	N/A	N/A
Mourmelon, FR	20 November 1944	27 December 1944	A-80	N/A
Hallignicourt, FR	27 December 1944	2 March 1945	A-64	N/A
Verdun, FR	2 March 1945	8 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Luxembourg City, LUX	8 April 1945	16 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Finthen, GER	16 April 1945	19 April 1945	Y-64	N/A
Mainz, GER	19 April 1945	27 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Karlsruhe, GER	27 April 1945	16 May 1945	N/A	N/A
Kitzingen, GER	16 May 1945	6 June 1945	R-6	N/A
Buchschwabach, GER	6 June 1945	17 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Erding, GER	17 June 1945	13 July 1945	R-91	N/A
Penzing, GER	13 July 1945	N/A	R-54	N/A

Battery C Headquarters

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	19 June 1944	N/A	N/A
St. Pierre-du-Mont, FR	19 June 1944	26 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Deaux Jumeaux, FR	26 June 1944	12 August 1944	N/A	N/A
Mandeville, FR	12 August 1944	8 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Morlaix, FR	8 September 1944	11 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Rennes, FR	11 September 1944	23 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Coltainville, FR	23 September 1944	13 October 1944	N/A	N/A
Hallignicourt, FR	13 October 1944	27 December 1944	N/A	N/A
Rosieres-en-Haye	27 December 1944	29 December 1944	N/A	N/A
Marbache, FR	29 December 1944	20 January 1945	N/A	N/A
Moineville, FR	20 January 1945	13 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Oppenheim, GER	13 April 1945	10 May 1945	N/A	N/A
Mainbernheim, GER	10 May 1945	30 May 1945	R-6	N/A
Kitzingen, GER	30 May 1945	5 June 1945	R-6	N/A
Clarsbach, GER	5 June 1945	19 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Unter Biberg, GER	19 June 1945	N/A	R-85	N/A

Battery C, 1st Platoon

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	26 June 1944	N/A	N/A
St. Pierre-du-Mont, FR	27 June 1944	10 August 1944	A-1	N/A
Colleville, FR	10 August 1944	12 September 1944	T-2	N/A
Morlaix, FR	12 September 1944	16 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Rennes, FR	16 September 1944	27 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Chartres, FR	27 September 1944	13 October 1944	A-40	N/A
St. Dizier, FR	13 October 1944	27 December 1944	A-64	N/A
Rosieres-en-Haye, FR	27 December 1944	2 April 1945	A-98	N/A
Trier, GER	2 April 1945	11 April 1945	Y-57	N/A
Sulzbach, GER	11 April 1945	17 April 1945	Y-80	N/A
Oppenheim, GER	17 April 1945	25 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Bingen, GER	25 April 1945	10 May 1945	N/A	Assigned to Rhine River bridge defense
Mainbernheim, GER	10 May 1945	30 May 1945	R-6	N/A
Kitzingen, GER	30 May 1945	5 June 1945	R-6	N/A
Clarsbach, GER	5 June 1945	19 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Unter Biberg, GER	19 June 1945	N/A	R-85	N/A
Kaufbeuren, GER	1 July 1945	N/A	R-70	N/A
Paris, FR	28 June 1945	N/A	N/A	Assigned to illuminate the Eiffel Tower

Battery C, 2nd Platoon

Location	Arrived	Departed	Airfield	Notes
Omaha Beach, FR	18 June 1944	26 June 1944	N/A	N/A
Deaux Jumeaux, FR	27 June 1944	10 August 1944	A-4	N/A
Le Molay-Littry, FR	10 August 1944	12 September 1944	A-9	N/A
Morlaix, FR	12 September 1944	16 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Rennes, FR	16 September 1944	27 September 1944	N/A	N/A
Dreux, FR	27 September 1944	16 October 1944	A-41	N/A
Bar-le-Duc, FR	16 October 1944	4 December 1944	N/A	N/A
Jouaville, FR	4 December 1944	20 January 1945	A-94	N/A
Moineville, FR	20 January 1945	13 April 1945	A-94	N/A
Oppenheim, GER	13 April 1945	25 April 1945	N/A	N/A
Mainz, GER	25 April 1945	10 May 1945	N/A	Assigned to Rhine River bridge defense
Mainbernheim, GER	10 May 1945	5 June 1945	R-6	N/A
Clarsbach, GER	5 June 1945	19 June 1945	R-42	N/A
Erding, GER	19 June 1945	3 July 1945	R-91	N/A
Gersthofen, GER	3 July 1945	7 August 1945	R-77	N/A