The 655th Engineer Topographic Battalion (655th ENG TOPO BN) was a technical support unit formed to provide surveying, drafting, and map production activities for the US Army during World War II. With the beginning of the war in Europe, the U.S. realized that the existing European maps were inadequate for tactical purposes or use by artillery units, since existing map grids were inconsistent and did not match up between countries. The Engineer Topographic Battalion's wartime mission was the development of accurate 4-color topographic maps created through timely survey work, drafting, printing, and distribution of military maps as required by the Allied Armed Forces of the United States. The Battalion was first formed in December of 1943 and deactivated in December of 1946.
Formation
The 655th Engineer Topographic Battalion was activated at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin on December 17, 1943, as a technical unit for mapping and map reproduction activities, with the original squad consisting of 28 men and 1 officer transferred from the 650th Engineer Topographical Battalion, and 5 other officers drawn from other units. The Battalion was formed from personnel who had gone through the Army Specialized Training Program with experience in topographical survey and mapping processes and photomapping and reproduction techniques, and was rounded out with civilian trained personnel with the desired qualifications. The Unit was initially assigned to the Second Army and subsequently attached to the 17th Detachment Special Troops. Major John E. Unverferth assumed command of the unit on January 2, 1944. The first substantial gain in personnel occurred with the arrival of Company "A" of the 30th Engineer Topographic Battalion, who for the past three years had been training in topographic surveying and mapping work of North and South Carolina. Along with additions of other support staff, the battalion eventually grew to approximately 450 men as the gaps in personnel were filled in. On March 31, 1944, the 655th furnished cadres for the formation of the 598th, 599th, 656th and the 657th Engineer Topographic Battalions. At the same time, the 655th received 104 new recruits to refill its ranks.
Basic training included demolition, chemical warfare, and marksmanship drills, but also included conducting troop experiments on newly released GI winter clothing during the winter. After undergoing their winter training in Wisconsin, the Battalion then transferred via troop train to Camp Livingston, Louisiana, arriving July 26, 1944. There, the battalion received summer training including additional weapons practice and combat maneuvers, as well as training in the preparation of Planimetric maps using photographic and control data, based on aerial photos as reference. On August 22, 1944, the 655th Engineer Battalion was reorganized under T/O & E5-55 Engineer Topographic Battalion (Army), with three companies consisting of Headquarters and Services, Company A (Photomapping), and Company B (Reproduction). The Battalion now had an organizational strength of 19 officers, 3 Warrant Officers, and 423 enlisted men.
On November 28, 1944, the Battalion departed by troop train for Camp Shanks, New York for deployment. During the short stay there, 12-hour passes to New York were granted to the personnel for their last chance to see friends and family for many months.
Deployment
On December 8, 1944, the Battalion traveled to the New York City Port of Embarkation and boarded the HMT Esperance Bay (NY774), an English ship that had been converted into a troop carrier. Two weeks later it landed in Avonmouth, England, and the troops then went by troop train and truck to their new camp at Nine Yews, Cranborne, East Dorset, England, arriving on December 22, 1944. Their first task was to reassemble the printing and drafting equipment and prepare their supplies for relocation to the Theater of Operations. On Jan 28, 1945 the Battalion traveled to Camp Hursley, Southampton, England in anticipation of their next move. On January 30, 1945, the Battalion Personnel arrived by motor transport at the Southampton Port of Embarkation, and loaded onto the New Zealand Transport Ship HMNZS Monowai (F59) for the Channel crossing. After landing in LaHavre, France they were transported by trucks to Camp Twenty Grand (one of the "Cigarette" Camps) where they readied their equipment for rail shipment and awaited their assignment.