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| On leave in Detroit in Dec. 1943. Note the Army Air force Badge on the shoulder under the Airborne tab. Grandpa belonged to the 877th Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion (AbnEAB) which was attached to the 9th Air Force. They were trained to fly into enemy territory with gliders carrying small bulldozers and scrapers to repair a captured runway. Shortly after this photo was taken he shipped out to England and then later to Normandy on D+30. |
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| Dreux Airfeild: After building the first Allied Bomber Airfield in France, the 877th was shipped to England in preparation for Operation Market Garden. After the 877th was wisely dropped from the operation, H Company was sent from England to do airfield maintenance in Dreux, France. |
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| A few photos of the weapons section that Grandpa belonged to. After spending the winter in Druex, Tauno decided to volunteer for the Army Officer Candidate School to become a Rifle Platoon Leader. Shortly before completing the training, the war in Europe ended and he ended up being attached to another engineering battalion headed for the Pacific. |
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| Lt. Col Smotherman and other 877th officers. |
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