Items related to Ghost Army of World War II

Jack Kneece Ghost Army of World War II ISBN 13: 9781565548763

Ghost Army of World War II - Hardcover

 
9781565548763: Ghost Army of World War II
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 

The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was a force of only 1,000 men who, with skilled deceptions, often masqueraded as 34,000.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap:

In 1939, Americans were still resistant to the idea of joining the war in Europe. The army's enlisted strength, including the Army Air Corps, was only 130,000, much of the equipment, including only 1,700 biplanes, was left over from World War I, and seriously out of date. Following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the tide of public opinion and official government action changed. Within hours after the attack, machine guns appeared on the roofs of the White House and the Capitol building, which reassured the nation of American resolve to fight and win. Few people knew that the guns were fakes.

The United States realized that it lacked the necessary troop strength to wage war in Europe, but kept this lack of preparedness secret while working to prepare for war. Gen. George Catlett Marshall proposed a solution: the formation of a small, top-secret, special tactical army group that would function in much the same way as the guns atop the White House, but on a far more elaborate and sophisticated scale.

The details of the efforts of this army group have, until recently, been classified. It is now known that in all of their missions, over 40,000 lives were saved. Composed of actors, designers, meteorologists, photographers, and sound technicians, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops repeatedly caused Axis troops to prepare for attacks that would ultimately come from a different direction, mass troops in defensive positions that left them exposed to the allies, and waste ammunition on a phantom enemy.

Jack M. Kneece interviewed many surviving members of the Ghost Army, including Bill Blass, after the information was declassified in 1996. Kneece was the first reporter to interview Bobby Baker at the height of the Baker/Lyndon Johnson scandal in 1967, and he has since worked for a number of newspapers and wire services across the country. He lives in Peak, South Carolina, where he writes full time.

From the Back Cover:

Discover the secrets of the small army of actors, sound technicians, and artists who duped the Germans successfully in twenty-one separate operations during World War II, often within a few hundred yards of the front lines.

The German Army referred to the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops as the "Phantom Army" because one day it was in one place, and the next, in another. Though most American, British, and Free French troops never knew of the existence of this highly trained army, all were affected by it.

Though it sounds more like a movie plot than the real thing, the Ghost Army was real, and was a significant force in the Allied victory. The Ghost Army specialized in illusion: these 1,000 men were practiced in all the arts required to give the strong impression that they were as many as 30,000--and heavily armed. Until recently, all information about these operations has remained secret, while the brave soldiers who saved many lives during the war were denied the medals--even the Purple Heart--which they had earned for the sake of preserving this great military secret.

In 1996, information about this grand illusion was declassified, and author Jack Kneece set out to interview surviving members of this special group of soldiers. The Ghost Army of World War II tells the history of this force and contains never-heard firsthand accounts of its exploits.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherPelican Publishing
  • Publication date2001
  • ISBN 10 1565548760
  • ISBN 13 9781565548763
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages280
  • Rating

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Seller Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican Publishing (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 10
Seller:
booksXpress
(Bayonne, NJ, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9781565548763

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 20.73
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Front Cover Books
(Denver, CO, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover1565548760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 37.42
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.30
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican Publishing (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenWavesOfBooks
(Fayetteville, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_1565548760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 37.73
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican Publishing (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Wizard Books
(Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard1565548760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 38.24
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.50
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
LibraryMercantile
(Humble, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # newMercantile_1565548760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 38.74
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican Publishing (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldBooks
(Austin, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think1565548760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 47.96
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Ghost Army of World War II Kneece, Jack M.
Published by Pelican Publishing (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Aragon Books Canada
(OTTAWA, ON, Canada)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # DCBAJ--0114

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 39.00
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 23.00
From Canada to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack Kneece
Published by Pelican Publishing (2001)
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
BennettBooksLtd
(LOS ANGELES, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 1.3. Seller Inventory # Q-1565548760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 64.24
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 5.09
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Jack M. Kneece
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
AussieBookSeller
(Truganina, VIC, Australia)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Though it sounds more like a film plot than the real thing, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was a significant force composed of artists, actors, and sound technicians who specialised in illusion: 1,000 men were practised in all the skills required to give the impression that they were as many as 30,000 -- and heavily armed. Until recently, all information about these operations has remained secret, while the brave soldiers who saved many lives during the war were denied the medals -- even the Purple Heart -- which they had earned for the sake of preserving this great military campaign. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first black men allowed into combat, flying over 1,500 missions over the course of the war and winning a significant battle against segregation at home. Young readers will experience for themselves the triumphant pride of these men in serving their country. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781565548763

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 44.32
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 37.00
From Australia to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Jack M. Kneece
ISBN 10: 1565548760 ISBN 13: 9781565548763
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
CitiRetail
(Stevenage, United Kingdom)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Though it sounds more like a film plot than the real thing, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was a significant force composed of artists, actors, and sound technicians who specialised in illusion: 1,000 men were practised in all the skills required to give the impression that they were as many as 30,000 -- and heavily armed. Until recently, all information about these operations has remained secret, while the brave soldiers who saved many lives during the war were denied the medals -- even the Purple Heart -- which they had earned for the sake of preserving this great military campaign. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first black men allowed into combat, flying over 1,500 missions over the course of the war and winning a significant battle against segregation at home. Young readers will experience for themselves the triumphant pride of these men in serving their country. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781565548763

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 36.37
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 46.68
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds