What was "681st Sig. A.W. Rep.Frontier.Spec."?

[Mikkel Plannthin]

I am researching a Danish national who at the time of his naturalization as a US citizen according to the records, in September 1942, was assigned to

681st Sig. A.W. Rep.Frontier.Spec. at Drew Field in Tampa, Florida

Am I right in translating this into:

681st Signal Aircraft Warning Reporting Frontier Special?

I have not been able to find any information about this unit. Was it part of Aircraft Warning Corps?

Kind regards

Mikkel

[FrankieS]

685 or 686 possible ?
(see also many others with designation 'frontier' in the following list)

https://www.mobileradar.org/army_units_600_2691.html

685th Signal Aircraft Warning Company (Special)
Activated: 9 June 1942, as 685th Signal Aircraft Warning Reporting Company, Special, at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida
Redesignated: 5 September 1942, as 685th Signal Aircraft Warning Company (Special)
Relocated: Newfoundland Base Command
Relocated: Plant Park, Tampa, Florida
Relocated: 1 March 1945, Drew Field, Tampa, Florida, to await disbandment orders
Disbanded: 6 July 1945

686th Signal Aircraft Warning Company
Activated: 9 June 1942, as 686th Signal Aircraft Warning Company, Special, Drew Field, Tampa, Florida
Redesignated: 16 September 1942, as 686th Signal Aircraft Warning Company, Special
Relocated: Hato Field, Curacao, Netherlands, Antellies
Subordinate to: Antellies Air Command, Serving in the British West Indies and Netherlands, West Indies
Note: Hato Field was located on the island of Guracao in the Caribbean within sight of the Venezuelan shoreline
Disbanded: 15 December 1944

[FrankieS]

... disgressing ... but interesting 685 story


http://www.c-and-e-museum.org/Pinetr...l/rds44-1.html


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fogo_I...d_and_Labrador)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCR-270

[Mikkel Plannthin]

FrankieS
Thank you!

I had a look at the first reference before posting. The record very clearly states "681st", but either that is an error or he was in a unit closely linked to the ones you mention.

The reference is a naturalization record and transcription errors is of course possible. Witnesses to the proces was an Air Corps captain Glover R. Tullly and a M/Sgt Robert Ross from 314th Base Sq HQ.

Mikkel

[FrankieS]

Hi dear Mikkel,

I feel, a separate 681 seems still possible (between the existing factual numbers
680 and 683). maybe it was only shortlived and anyway top secret ?

[Mikkel Plannthin]

I am quite sure that the Captain who witnessed to naturalization was Cpt. (later Lt Col) Glover Emerson Tully.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/..._emerson-tully

Mikkel

[Mikkel Plannthin]

I have now found a newspaper reference of a man discharged from 681st Signals and Aircraft Warning Bn on Nov 1945:

Adolph Heintz, 681st Signal and Aircraft Warning Bn., 501 South Washington, Lodi. Wears Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medals. Served in the Army for three years with 35 months overseas.

So it was not short-lived.

Mikkel

[FrankieS]

o.k.