Air Defense Gun- M1 (40mm) Towed Anti-aircraft Gun, U. S. Army, Fort Lee, Virginia, U. S. Army Women's Museum

            The 40mm M1 gun on display outside the U. S. Army Women's Museum was an anti-aircraft weapon designed in the 1930s by the Swedish arms manufacturer A. B. Bofors. The single mount 40 mm Automatic Gun was deployed with U. S. Army and Marine Corps units in World War II. 

STORY: In World War II over 450 members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs) were assigned to a secret experiment.  It called for creation of coastal gun battery, comprise of both men and women, with the mission to protect the Military District of Washington.  Requested by General George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, and dubbed "Battery X", women were mixed into the ranks of the 71st and 89th Coastal Artillery Regiments, thus creating the first-ever composite units.  They graduated from the Anti-aircraft Artillery Command school in January, 1943.

The WAACs were assigned to the gun batteries, searchlight units and regimental headquarters.  They trained extensively on the 90-mm Antiaircraft Gun M1 and the 40-mm Bofors Automatic Gun M1 AA.  In August, 1943 the experiment was over; women were needed in other areas of service.  However, they had proven that if needed women could be called upon to serve in antiaircraft units.  The story of Battery X was not declassified until the 1970s.  Many of their experiences still remain unknown and are yet to be uncovered, (Source: U. S. Army Women's Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia)

Taken on: February 4, 2019

Tags:

Fort Lee

U. S. Army

Museum

40-mm Bofors Automatic Gun

Virginia

U. S. Army Women's Museum

anti aircraft weapon

World War II

Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs)

women in the military « less

Sets appears in: • Military, Weapon, Ground-to-Air Guns and Missiles

Groups appears in: • What is the Story?

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