WW II 79th Field Artillery Bn. Gas Mask Training, 1944

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This photo was taken 29 January 1944 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia as members of the 79th Field Artillery Battalion were undergoing gas mask training. The photo shows them as they were about to enter the test gas chamber after putting on gas masks and other protective gear. The masks appear to be the M3 or M4 Lightweight Service Gas Mask.

The 79th FA Bn. was a unit of African-American soldiers from Ft. Clark, Texas. About six weeks after this photo they were shipped to Europe.

The Signal Corps logo is on the lower left of the photo.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.