World War II Honoree

James 'Red' William Niederhofer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hagerstown, Maryland

Honored By

Pamela Kelley Buchenauer

Relationship

Friend

1941 ENLISTED AND INITIALLY IN THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD, DOING B-17 FLIGHTS ALONG THE EAST COAST THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY. SELECTED FOR THE 3572ND ORDNANCE BATTALION. THE ARMY MOVED THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ARTILLERY RECOIL MECHANISM THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER EVERY 200 FIRINGS TO ENGLAND THEN FRANCE FROM THE ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE TURN AROUND TIME. THE 3572ND WAS ABLE TO REDUCE THE TIME FROM 1 WEEK TO 24 HOURS. IN ENGLAND HE WAS HOUSED WITH THE BRITISH ARMY AT DONNINGTON IN NEISSEN HUTS. IN FRANCE THEY WERE AT THE PEUTOT ARSENAL.