When not in use by
military traffic, Civilians were allowed to use this bridge probably over a
tributary to the Rhone River in southern France.
These Photos supplied by Don Jackson. Photos are from Company H.
Click on pictures for larger view.
When not in use by
military traffic, Civilians were allowed to use this bridge probably over a
tributary to the Rhone River in southern France.
A timber trestle bridge provides a RR overpass near Dole in Southern France. The debris from the masonry bridge, destroyed by the retreating enemy served to block the RR. First the roadway for trucks to use on the main supply route (MSR) was repaired. A few weeks later the debris had been cleared so that the RR could be put in operation when other demolished RR bridges on the line were repaired or replaced.
A repaired highway overpass in the Voges mountains of France provided unrestricted movement on a MSR.
A Bailey Bridge was built to carry traffic between the
abutment and the remainder of the masonry arch bridge which remained
usable, near Livron, France.
A
Bailey Bridge provided prompt replacement of the destroyed masonry arch. As the
infantry advanced, additional destroyed bridges required high priority to making
Bailey Bridge parts available for tactical bridges as 7th Army
advanced up the Rhone River valley. Here a Timber trestle has been constructed
so that the Bailey can be removed and loaded on trucks for transport to a
forward location.
This timber trestle bridge across the Mosel River in Epinal was built using the original piers and parts of the collapsed roadway as support. TNT explosives were used to break up the collapsed concrete roadway to clear the channel. Floating debris, tree branches, etc. under the bridges upstream created damns causing washouts. The released debris accumulating at the next bridge down stream. The clearing of this debris was a critical task requiring day and night vigilance.
After the 45th Infantry Division secured the far side of the Rhine
River near Ibersheim, Germany, the 40th
Due
to the small original size and high quality scan, this picture will be very
large when clicked. You will have to scroll to view the picture, but there
are some interesting details.
H Co. had the lead for the 3rd Bn. during the construction of this 624 foot steel pile bent bridge. Col. Beasley, CO of the 40th ECR wrote, "Once across the Rhine, an immediate need arose for a heavy-duty bridge across the Main River south of Aschaffenburg. Retreating German forces had demolished every bridge. Our Regimental Recon Team found a German Engineer Pontoon bridge school. All the pontoons had been rendered useless, but a generous supply of 10" steel "H" beams of adequate length was located nearby. Result: In less than a week a two-way high capacity steel pile bent trestle bridge was erected and ready for use. Construction required cutting torches and welding to provide support for the wood timber deck."
This
floating Treadway bridge across the Danube River in Austria was completed in time
for VE-Day on May 6, 1945.
Much of the training for Southern France took place in North Africa. After the 40th ECR soldiers completed this Floating Bailey Bridge at a bridge school near Mostagnem, Algeria, this halftrack operated by French soldiers crossed the bridge. In the Colemar Pocket, Alsace, during the winter of 1944-45 the 3rd Bn., the 40th ECR was attached to the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division which was a part of the French 1st Army.