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Cambrai-Fritsch
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Copyright © Don Watson™
®
1996-2009. All Rights
Reserved.
No portion may be reproduced without the
written permission of Don Watson
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2009 REUNION DEADLINE APPROACHING!
GET RESERVATION AND FEES IN NOW! SEE IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR "ELVIS THE KING"
DAY!
6911th RSM / RGM Caps Available!!
SEE BELOW!!
Here are the results of YOUR voting
for
future reunion sites:
2009 Nashville
2010 South Dakota/Deadwood
2011 San Diego
2012 Chicago
2013 St. Louis
2014 San Antonio & Las Vegas (tied with 2 votes each)
2015 Miami & Cruise (tied with 1 vote each)
Please Report Missing Links At
This Site!
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"
Communism - Straight
Ahead
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Humbly Dedicated To
Able
Baker
Charlie
Dog
Easy
For every red-blooded American boy who served in the USAFSS  God Bless You! Homecoming is not far away!
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| We are a group of rapidly aging and steadily disappearing veterans
of a war that was fought with skills and talents not normally associated
with the military, nor understood by the general public. Our pride is in
accomplishments that are often secret, and memories are about things that
happened, but will be officially denied.
--Bill Mahan, 15 June 2008 |
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
| National Cryptologic Museum |
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Former 6911th RGM Operations
Site - "Ops"
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My, my, how the parking lot grew!
And here is "the way we were":
| OPERATIONS!!! The way we were... |
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 6911th RGM
Det-1
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"Home of the Bloody Deuce"
The globe symbolizes worldwide influence, the lightning bolt symbolizes
transmissions, the wing symbolizes the Air Force itself, and the sword symbolizes
protection and security.
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!!
| 6911th Royal Air Force Chaps - Photos! |
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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!
| Online Account of the USAF Security Service! |
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| THE
SHOOTDOWN OF OUR
60528
17 Brave Young Men _______________________________________________ Fallen Heros Tribute Page |
THE SOVIET SIDE OF THE STORY - TRANSLATED |
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| USAFSS Intelligence
Aircraft "The Prop Wash Gang" |
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| "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!
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| A memoir that includes twenty years with USAFSS (San Antonio, Alaska,
Trabzon, Bremerhaven, Berlin, Nha Trang, San Vito, Darmstadt and Augsberg).
More information can be found by going to this website: |
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| Read this report from
LARRY TART about his
recovery from prostate cancer, side-effects of radiation, and a treatment program for sufferers! |
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TENSH-HUT! EYES FRONT!
6911TH ANNUAL REUNION
ALL 6911TH MEMBERS & GUESTS
THE 2009 REUNION WILL BE IN OPRY-LAND USA,
PAT & RICH MERRILL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reservations direct line: 1-615-889-0800 or the 800 number: 1-800-333-3333 September 24 through 27, with checkout Monday the 28th. Price: $117.00 per night (plus taxes..and taxes are high in Tennessee)
PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS! In lieu of registration on Thursday, 24 September, there will be a SPECIAL event! 60 tickets for the 6911th are reserved for "Elvis the King," a 2-hour musical event, seating for us at 6:30pm sharp, $23 per person. You MUST let us know if you will be there! Confirm via E-Mail or however! We can hand out name tags as you arrive in lieu of registration. I'll have them in my briefcase. ALL fees for dinner, tours, etc., are payable 30 days PRIOR to the event. We must KNOW that we have enough tickets! If you delay notifying us you may be out of luck since only the first 50 seats are guaranteed. "Elvis the King" is already booking seats! The Event is JUST ACROSS THE STREET from our hotel!! CONTACTS, PLEASE! HELLO? CONTACT US! TOURS - ALL TOURS ARE OPTIONAL Friday, 25 Sep 9a - 3p Jack Daniels Distillery guided tour. Learn the history of Jack Daniels and observe the whiskey-making process. Afterwards, enjoy free time, lunch on your own in the quaint town square of Lynchburg. Minimum of 30 passengers. Price per person $45.00 Saturday 26 Sep 9a - 3p Nashville City Tour. Guided tour of Nashville includes BiCentennial Mall, Historic Second Avenue, Music Row, Vanderbilt University, The Parthenon, and more. Tour includes admission to Historic Ryman Auditorium and Country Music Hall of Fame. Enjoy free time and lunch on your own at Opry Mills Complex before enjoying a Delta Boat Ride through the interior of the fabulous Gaylord Opryland Resort. Price per person $65.00 Sunday 27 Sep 9a - 3:30p Belle Meade Plantation, Loveless Cafe and Grand Ole Opry Museum. Tour begins with a trip to the Belle Meade Farm, home of the Kentucky Derby winners, and one of the largest private estates in Nashville. The group will have lunch at the nationally acclaimed "Loveless Cafe" serving a wide variety menu, including southern-fried chicken, biscuits and homemade preserves, country ham and red-eye gravy. Final destination will be a tour of the Grand Ole Opry, with tributes and exhibits honoring many country legends: Patsy Cline, Tex Ritter, Roy Acuff, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Jim Reeves, Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks. Minimum of 30 passengers. Price per person $65.00 Sunday 27 Sep 6p Cocktail Hour, followed at 7p by the Buffet Dinner at the Radisson. Photos will be taken during the cocktail hour. Price per person $45 Annual Dues $10 All fees (dinner, tours, Elvis tickets, and more) MUST BE PAID BY AUGUST 23, 2009. ALL FEES PAYABLE TO:
Keith Butt PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS! There is an attrition clause in our hotel contract. I did not overbook this hotel, as it would cost us for unused rooms. I booked only 25 rooms (the same as in the past) so as not to pay a penalty for any unused rooms. Rooms will be added to the contract as needed. Nashville is an extremely busy place, and rooms fill up. Tickets are sold a year in advance. Reservations can always be cancelled for individuals WITHIN 24 HOURS of the even. IF YOU WAIT THERE MAY NOT BE A ROOM AVAILABLE! THIS IS NASHVILLE, OPRYLAND, y'all!
11021 WEST OREGON PLACE
LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80232
Themesong
"Over in the Old Country, many years ago,
Just a simple tour-of-duty
6911th, 2nd RSM, 69-One-Zero
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Jim
Fodor's |
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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!!
Were you in the 2nd RSM, 6911th RSM / RGM, or 6910th? Do you live
on the West Coast? Could you scope out a site for a USAFSS get-together?
Doesn't have to be formal, just a link-up with guys living out west who can
meet for bbq, coffee, whatever. Any former USAFSS member can scope one out,
of course. Post a notice at
http://tinyurl.com/yp5b43,
or get in touch with Patrick Mower
pmower@dslextreme.com.
CONNECTIONS: Europe & General
Ideas for this site?
Don Watson (29251, 29151)
dwats (at) cox . net
World War II Veterans ~~ They are leaving us, folks.
CONNECTIONS: Other
Outfits
CONNECTIONS: Far East
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USAFSS and
The
Free
World 
