History of the 1st Guided Missile Brigade

46^th Field Artillery Group

This Group was originally activated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 46^th Field Artillery Brigade, at Camp Livingston, Louisiana, on 10 February 1941. The unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 46^th Field Artillery Group on 16 September 1943. The Group was inactivated at Camp Livingston on 31 January 1944. There it was attached to the Southern Line of Communications and assigned to Seventh Army.

On 18 February 1945, the Group moved to Epinal, France, and on 21 February it moved on to Hochfelden, about 15 miles northwest of Strasbourg, where it was given the mission of supporting VI Corps, reinforcing fires of the 36^th Infantry Division with the 938^th Field Artillery Battalion. Shifting to the northeast, towards the German border, the Group continued during March to furnish general support, harassing and interdiction fire for VI Corps sector. During the week of 21-28 March, the Group was attached to the 13^th Field Artillery Brigade.

By 1 April, the Group had moved south to Rheinau on the left bank of the Rhine and continued to operate as “T” Force, VI Corps, indexing and investigating targets assigned by Seventh Army and investigating targets of opportunity within the VI Corps area. On 5 May, the Group reached Innsbruck, Austria. It was still acting as “T” Force, VI Corps, at the end of hostilities. Following a few months of occupation duty, the Group returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 16 November 1945. It is credited with participation in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns.

The 46^th FA Group was reactivated in June 1954. Colonel Thomas J. Badger assumed command in 23 August 1954. The Group was assigned to 1^st GM Brigade.

On 1 December 1954, the 550^th FA Rocket Battery, 762mm, self-propelled, was attached to the 46^th FA Group.

The 601^st FA Missile Battalion was activated on 15 February 1955 and attached to the 46^th FA Group approximately 1 March 1955. The 531^st FA Missile Battalion was attached to the 46^th FA Group upon its activation on 1 March 1955. On 1 April 1955, the 557^th FA Missile Battalion was activated and attached to the 46^th FA Group.

By 1 May 1955, the 601^st had grown to approximately 400 men and 9 officers. About 10% of the Ordnance Corps’ Corporal equipment was available by 1 May 1955, but the receipt of sufficient Corporal equipment to commence Annual Target Practice on 15 May 1955 appeared extremely doubtful.

The 550^th FA Rocket Battery shipped one launcher, wind set, 5-ton ammo truck, pole trailer, and dummy missile to Fort Benning, Georgia on the 27^th of April for demonstration and firing. Sixteen men and two officers followed by air to Fort Benning to perform the mission. The launcher and wind set were then subsequently shipped to Fort Sill, Oklahoma on permanent change of station orders.

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 46^th FA Group moved to the field on 18 April 1955 and participated in Exercise Breechblock B until 28 April 1955. Attached units for this operation were the 294^th FA Battalion and the 247^th FA Missile Battalion. The outstanding highlight of the exercise, according to Colonel Badger, was the flexibility and versatility shown by Group Headquarters in completing their mission.

On 24 June 1955, the 531^st, 557^th, 558^th, and the 559^th FA Missile Battalions were re-activated, adding to the nucleus of the 46^th Field Artillery Group. All units under their new redesignation were assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas as Field Artillery Missile Battalions.

In September, the 550^th deployed for Operation “Big Delta” to Alaska. One platoon of this unit went to Stallion Site and the 3^rd platoon to WSPG to complete research and development of the 762mm self-propelled rocket for Continental Army Command (CONARC) Board Number 4.

The 530^th, 543^rd, and 570^th FA Missile Battalions were activated and attached to 46^th Group Headquarters. Thus, in less than a year and a half the 46^th Group had grown from a Headquarters Battery to a Group consisting of eight FA Missile Battalions and one Rocket Battery.

After successful completion of Army Training Tests, the units of this command were selected to become a part of the European Continental Defensive Plan. With the departure of the 532^nd in January 1956, the Group completed the movement of its first battalion deployed to Germany.

The 557^th FA Missile Battalion departed Fort Bliss for Germany in February 1956, followed by the 601^st and 558^th FA Missile Battalions in March 1956. With the departure of the 559^th and 530^th FA Missile Battalions for Germany in April 1956, the Group had completed the movement of six Corporal Battalions to Germany.

After successfully completing their Army Training Tests, the 543^rd Field Artillery Missile Battalion departed for Italy in September 1956, followed by the 570^th Field Artillery Missile Battalion in November 1956. This completed the movement of two Corporal Battalions to Italy.

The 550^th Rocket Battery deployed elements of the Battery in September 1956 to Fort Benning, Georgia in support of demonstrations and firings.

The 259^th Field Artillery Missile Battalion was attached to the 46^th FA Group by General Order Number 26, 1^st Guided Missile Brigade, dated 18 September 1956.

The 46^th Group as of November 1956 consisted of its organic Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, the 550^th Rocket Battery, and the 259^th FA Missile Battalion.

On 16 February 1957, the 247^th FA Missile Battalion and the 523^rd FA Missile Battalion was attached to the 46^th FA Group from the 2^nd Guided Missile Group.

In February, the 259^th FA Missile Battalion successfully completed Army Training Test 5.

Also in February, the 550^th FA Rocket Battery sent detachments to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Carson, Colorado, and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for purposes of testing Honest John and Little John equipment.

Early in the month of March, 46^th FA Group units began supporting overseas units for their Annual Service Practices.

On 15 March, the 550^th FA Rocket Battery was redesignated the 550^th FA Rocket Battalion.

The 523^rd FA Missile Battalion and the 550^th FA Rocket Battalion each had displays set up for the public on Armed Forces Day, 18 May 1957.

The 550^th FA Rocket Battalion sent a detachment of men to Fort Sherman, The Canal Zone, Panama early in early June.

On 14 June, the 247^th FA Missile Battalion and the 259^th FA Missile Battalion each fired a missile as a demonstration for West Point Cadets.

6 July was Organization Day for the U.S. Army Air Defense Center. All units in the Group had some type of concession along with static displays of equipment.

At the present time, the 46^th FA Group is under the Command of Colonel Charles J. Blake, Jr. The Group continues to be very busy testing its own equipment and supporting Annual Service Practices for the overseas units.