Cambrai-Fritsch

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Darmstadt, Germany
6911th Radio Group Mobile
Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne



Frankfurt, Germany
6911th Radio Group Mobile
Detachment 1
Rhein-Main Air Base

"Proud, Fierce, and Fearless"

Humbly Dedicated To

Able

Baker

Charlie

Dog

Easy

Det-1

For every red-blooded American boy who served in the USAFSS God Bless You! Homecoming is not far away! MAY YOU BE BLESSED! DON'T YOU MISS IT! Click Here! (if you get an error message at the end, start over at the main link and scroll down afterwards to the next item.)

 Classified Information Notice: Information about the activities of the USAFSS was cloaked in secrecy until September, 1997, when the veil was lifted. Since then several TV programs have told its story, along with a number of military magazines, websites, and books. Equipment involved in the science of cryptology during this time period is on public display at the National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland, on the grounds of the National Security Agency, just behind the commemorative display for 60528, the C-130 shot down over Soviet Armenia.

For more on declassification at NSA read this link:

http://fas.org/irp/nsa/almanac-elint.pdf

Former 6911th RGM Operations Site - "Ops"

My, my, how the parking lot grew!
And here is "the way we were":

6911th RGM Det-1

"Home of the Bloody Deuce"

The USAFSS Command Emblem: The globe symbolizes worldwide influence, the lightning bolt symbolizes transmissions, the wing symbolizes the Air Force itself, and the sword symbolizes protection and security. The USAF Security Service was established on 20 October 1948 at Arlington Hall Station, Virginia. HQ USAFSS moved to newly constructed HQ building 2000 the 1st week of August 1953. It further symbolizes the command mission. It consists of a shield divided equally into quarters by a vertical and horizontal line and identifying scroll. Significant of the command's worldwide influence, the first quarter is blue, thereon a green sphere with yellow land markings. Pertinent to transmission, the second quarter is red, thereon a yellow lightning streak. Significant of the United States Air Force, the third quarter is yellow, thereon a blue half wing. Symbolic of protection and security, the fourth quarter is blue, thereon over a sword with point to base (hilt and pommel yellow), a white shield, thereon a yellow flame shaded red. The emblem design by A2C William Rogers and was approved by Headquarters USAF in August 1952. SA-Lute, Airman Rogers!

6911th RSM/RGM

THIS IS A CALL for former members of the 6911th Radio Group Mobile between the years 1955 and 19?? to come forward! Bring your photographs and your memories and we will post them to this site, or you can tell us where they are already posted! If you will share information about those who are no longer with us, we will place their names on our Fallen Heros memorial page.

From the Official U.S. Air Force Historian
Organizational Titles/History

The 6911th Radio Group Mobile was activated and organized as the 6911th Radio Squadron Mobile at Darmstadt, Germany, on 8 May 1955. It had previously been known as the 2nd Radio Squadron Mobile, which was transferred from the Department of the Army to the Air Force on 1 February 1949. The 139th Signal Radio Intelligence Company had been activated as of 14 February 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida, acquiring its members from the 402 Signal Company-Aviation, in Tampa.  On 16 March 1944 the 139th Signal Radio Intelligence Company was redesignated as the 2nd AAC Radio Squadron, Mobile.

On 26 February 1949 it relocated from Herzo Base, Herzogenaurach, Germany, to Darmstadt. On 1 September 1956 the 6911th RSM was redesignated the 6911th RGM. It was known as "The Home of the Bloody Deuce." On 15 May 1961 the 6911th was inactivated. The 6911th was reactivated as the 6911th Security Squadron Mobile at Darmstadt on 1 July 1963 and assigned to the 6910th Security Wing. On 1 June 1972 it moved to Rhein Main Air Base, Frankfurt, Germany, and on 1 July 1975 it was relocated to Hahn Air Base, Germany. It was redesignated the 6911th Electronic Security Group on 1 August 1979. On 30 September 1980 it was assigned to Electronic Security, Europe. It was redesignated as the 6911th Electronic Security Squadron on 1 July 1981. On 15 July 1988 it was assigned to the 691st Electronic Security Wing. On 3 April 1991 the USAF converted it from a temporary Major Command Controlled Unit to a permanent Air Force Controlled Unit. It was reassigned to the 26th Intelligence Wing on 1 October 1991, and inactivated on 1 April 1993.

On 1 October 1993 the 2nd RSM was reconstituted and consolidated with the 6911th Electronic Security Squadron and redesignated and activated as the 402 Intelligence Squadron at Bad Aibling, Germany. God Bless Us All, We Are Alive and Well!

To Summarize.....

Darmstadt
1949-55: 2nd Radio Squadron Mobile
1955-56: 6911th Radio Squadron Mobile
1956-61: 6911th Radio Group Mobile
1963-1972: 6911th Radio Squadron Mobile

Rhein Main
1972-1975 6911th Radio Squadron Mobile

Hahn
1975-93
http://www.jambra.net/6911/

Bad Abling
1993-

Additional Details

Detachment 1
1955-60: 6911th Radio Group Mobile Detachment 1 Rhein-Main, subordinate to the 6911th Radio Group Mobile, Darmstadt, becoming the 6916th Radio Group Mobile, direct supervision by the 6900th Security Wing, IG Farben Building, Frankfurt. Relieved of that assignment and reassigned as the 6916th Radio Squadron Mobile 29 December 1959. See also http://www.6916th.org/.

6911th
1963-72: 6911th Security Squadron Mobile, subordinate to the 6910th Security Wing

6911th Electronic Security Group
6911th Electronic Security Squadron

6911th Electronic Security Squadron, subordinate to the 691st Electronic Security Wing

 402nd Intelligence Squadron

Commanders/Adjutants for the 6911th
Col. Richard D. Small, CO
Col. Hardbrot
Lt. Col. Ira Wilson
Maj. Leonard S. Machado
(Initial CO of Det-1, Rhein-Main, as well)

Capt. Larson, WO Adams

Sergeant Major
Edwin Goehring

First Sergeant
Lee Cain

Acting First Sergeants
Crist
Ignarski

Are you aware of any Distinguished Unit Citations or Individual Citations received by the 2nd RSM, 6911th RSM/RGM, or our 6911th RGM Detachment 1? Can anyone comment on the possibility that the 6916th RSM was on tap for a Presidential Unit Citation? I've been unable to confirm this information. Please let the Webmaster (Don Watson) know!!

CLICK HERE for available Individual Citations!

Remember the sign at Cambrai Fritsch, right under 6911th Radio Group Mobile? "Home of the Bloody Deuce"? The 2nd RSM, forerunner of the 6911th RGM at Darmstadt, holds annual reunions. It was originally constituted as the 139th Signal Radio Company on 7 Feb 1942. The unit was redesignated the 2nd Radio Squadron Mobile (G) on 19 Feb 1944 and the 2nd Radio Squadron Mobile on 14 Nov 1946.

2nd RSM

If you were in the 2nd RSM up until 8 May 1955, the Website is found at the following URL:

http://2ndrsm.home.comcast.net/
2006 Photo! great bunch of heros from a strategic era - on the frontlines! SA-lute!!

HISTORY OF THE USAFSS

The "United States Air Force Security Service" (abbreviated "USAFSS") was the United States Air Force's intelligence branch. Its motto, "Freedom through Vigilance," was added after the USAFSS emblem was established. USAFSS was created in October of 1948 and operated until 1979, when the branch was redesignated the Electronic Security Command (now the Air Intelligence Agency).

Composed primarily of airmen culled from the cream of the Air Force's enlisted recruits, the USAFSS was a secretive and tight-knit branch of Air Force cold warriors tasked with monitoring and interpreting military voice and electronic signals of countries of interest around the world. They were designated under the "69" numbering system: 6901, 6911, 6933, 6989, and so on. USAFSS intelligence was often analyzed in the field, and the results transmitted cryptographically internally, and to the National Security Agency for further analysis and distribution to other intelligence recipients. Urgency of transmission ranged from "flash" to "routine".

Individual airmen stationed at locations scattered across the globe, ranging from Alaska to Pacific Islands to The Far East to Mediterranean Countries to The Middle East to Western Europe to North Africa did a variety of jobs, almost all of them related to listening to and interpreting Soviet and the Eastern Bloc (Warsaw Pact of East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and more), Communist Chinese, North Korean, North Vietnamese and other hostile military communications. Some airmen were linguists who listened to voice communications. Others monitored Soviet and other nations' military Morse Code broadcasts. Some were engaged in monitoring other types of radio signals such as facsimile transmissions. The information collected in the field was usually sent via a closed-door cryptological section, early on, via land- and radioteletype, later by sophisticated computers employing the latest in cryptological security. The information shared went to a co-located group of USAFSS analysts who would interpret the data, format reports, and send them on to the National Security Agency or other recipients, using the appropriate urgency indicator and cryptanalytic code.

These jobs, which required top secret codeword clearances, were extremely high pressure and were considered essential to U.S. cold war efforts. Members of the USAFSS were not allowed to discuss their jobs with outsiders. In fact, USAFSS members could not talk about their specific assignment outside of their own control group, and most were not cleared to see inside the cryptological communications room. Because of their value as targets (in Cold War Berlin, the capture of a USAFSS member was worth several thousand dollars), while stationed overseas, their off-base travel was severely restricted. When confronted by a foreign national, USAFSS members revealed nothing about their actual assignment. A voice-intercept-operator might reply to a question about his duties that he was a cook, or worked in the motor pool, or gate security, and so on.

The USAFSS had two major areas of operations: ground based and airborne. Ground based units were scattered across the globe, and collected information from fixed sites with large antenna arrays and from mobile units equipped with electronic gear and antennas that skirted sensitive areas collecting data. Airborne units, from the C-47 early-on, to the awesome C-130, were associated with intercept reconnaissance units. Some were aligned with the Strategic Air Command, flying aboard SAC reconnaissance flights to collect data from shorter range communication systems and other types of signals. A primary job of USAFSS airborne linguists and Morse interceptors was to provide self-protection early warning of impending fighter or missile response by a target nation's air defense system. Any launch by a hostile government initiated a "flash" response to NSA and the entire military community.

The activities of the USAFSS have only recently been declassified. These young Airmen (and later, Airwomen), were proud, fierce, and fearless protectors of "the good 'ole USA" (back in the world), and free nations everywhere. SA-Lute!!

More Detailed Account Online!

"THE PRICE OF VIGILANCE" A Book on Airborne Signals Intelligence Recon by Larry Tart and Robert Keefe Get it at your bookstore or  CLICK HERE!

Jim Fodor's PHOTO GALLERY

REMEMBERING FALLEN HEROS Don Watson is looking for ANY photographs of him, or him and his wife, at the very first 6911th Reunion in Biloxi. He was scurrying around attending to reunion matters and got left out of photo opportunities! If you've got a photo socked away from Biloxi or know where he can find one, LET HIM KNOW!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTICE!!! U.S. Military leaving ALL facilities in Darmstadt! End of an Era Lincoln Village converted to German citizen housing Operations to remain open and staffed by U.S. Army from Wiesbaden! CAMBRAI-FRITSCH DEMOLISHED The Germans will use our former duty station for public housing! I feel like singing "Auld Lang Syne!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ United States Air Force - Germany Current News and Views - List of USAF Organizations and Locations CONNECTIONS: Europe & General 6901st Security Wing USAFSS Alumni Site 6911th RGM Det-1 6910th NSA CRYPTO STORY CRYPTO WALL      BUDDY LOCATOR USAF     MILITARY.COM ONLINE   USAF - Germany USAFSS Veteran and His Missionary Journeys!!! He share's a photo album with you!!! Gene Klapper Missionary Photos Gene Klapper Ministries (Be sure to come back here after viewing!) Ideas for this site? Don Watson, off-duty, "out on the economy," at our home in Eberstadt, 1958, and in 1998 at the Fort Meade MD Memorial for 60528, "busted" for taking photos! Don Watson (29251, 29151) Behind the Green Door --- Dog Trick dwats (at) cox . net                               Freedom Through Vigilance USAFSS Reunion Site CLICK HERE USAFSS Home Page CLICK HERE    USAF Military History Website CLICK HERE World War II Veterans ~~ They are leaving us, folks. Thanks, Vet! Thank You! God bless you, your sacrifice, your family. We're proud of you! CLICK HERE  Wait a minute, Airman! Please let me know you were here! Tell me about yourself and your service by registering at the USAFSS Register link. Proud USAFSS Veterans! USAFSS Entrenpreneur Links Support these proud veterans! (Use your BACK BUTTON to return here!)  These are sites owned by our USAFSS brothers and sisters, Veteran Entrenpeneurs!! USAFSS Paraphenalia   http://nooga.com/usafss-store/ Baseball Caps Rich and Pat have a new supply of 6911th baseball caps. You can buy yours from them. SIGN IN! At the USAFSS ROLL CALL WEBSITE!! www.usafssrollcall.com See all of Darmstadt! GLOBAL EARTH! Zoom in on your front door! Ladies and Gentlemen! The 6911th RGM Proudly Presents: The Fabulous Pharoahs and the Awesome New Del Vikings!!! Nalton "Goodie" Goode A Star Then and Now Read this article for Black History Month Team Tackled The Color Line CONNECTIONS: Other Outfits Welcome to Sunny San Vito! CONNECTIONS: Far East 6922nd CONNECTIONS: Other Services U.S. Navy - Liberty Cryptologists   Talk to USAFSS buddies FOR FREE! SIGN UP HERE After you sign up, follow the instructions. You must have a sound card, speakers, and a headset or microphone for voice chat. However, you can easily use the Text Chat function, instead.  Text Chat with the USAFSS gang at Yahoo Air Force Security SIGN UP HERE  Don Watson's German Genealogy Website CLICK HERE Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web donmar.org