The primary mission of the 439th Signal Construction Battalion while in the European Theater of Operations from 1942-1945, was to construct, supply, and maintain vital communication networks and communication lines between the fighter/bombers of the 64th Fighter Wing and ground units of the US 5th Army and 7th Army. This job was completed in all types of weather, during times of active combat operations, and on two continents.
Click on the Signal Corps emblem below to download the 1945 personnel roster for the
439th Signal Construction Battalion.
FIELD LINEMAN (SSN 641)
Field Wire Chief
Field Wire NCO
Lineman
Works as member of team in laying, maintaining, and taking up the wire or cable of a telephone or telegraph communication system.
Runs wire along the ground by guiding it from a wire reel of a wire truck. Fastens wire to poles, stakes, or trees, and carries it across roads or other obstructions by burying it in a shallow ditch or suspending it from trees, telephone poles, or lance poles. Locates and determines the cause of line trouble such as opens, shorts, and grounds by testing wire at intervals. Makes appropriate repair, such as splicing breaks and cutting out defective wire and splicing. May operate a portable field telephone switchboard. May establish telegraph circuits by superimposing them on existing telephone circuits, using repeater coils. May drive telephone repair truck.
Equipment used includes wire cutters, pliers, wire, insulators, climbers, lineman's belt, wrench, hammers, reel carts and reels, friction tape, loading coils, field telephones, switchboard, and repeating coils.
Burying cable with a cable plough at Anzio, February, 1944.
T/4 Huggins checking phone line, France, 1944.
T/4 Huggins eating chow at Anzio, February 1944.
Elements of Company B near the Padiglione Woods, Anzio Beachhead.
E.C.M Chambers (2nd row, 2nd from right) and crew, Schwabisch Hall, Germany, 1945.
SSGT Honeycutt's Crew, Scwhabisch Hall, Germany
T/5 Carl Biggs (1st row, right) and crew, Schwabisch Hall, Germany, 1945.
T/4 E.C.M. Chambers
1st Squad of Company B, Munich, Germany, 1945.
Non-commissioned officer's of Company B.
