801st Aviation engineer Battalion banner

 

 
Important dates in the history of the 801st Engineer Battalion in World War II
1943

1 February
801st Engineer Aviation Battalion activated at Davis Monthon Field, Tucson Arizona;
Second Lieutenant Arthur F. Paulsen, C.E., commanding; consisting of 37 enlisted men
 
11 February
  Captain Erland L. Curtis, C.E. takes command
 
2 March
  Battalion leaves by train for Gowen Field, Idaho
 
4 March
 

Major Ralph C. Brown, C.E. takes command
Battalion consists of 28 officers and 63 enlisted men 
 

18 April
  Flood control activities on Boise River
 
30 June
  Survey party of one officer and eight enlisted men leave for Wendover Field, Utah
 
July 20
  Lieutenants Guldermam and Moffatt take 100 men to Wendover field to pave taxiways and landing strips
 
22 July
  Battalion moves to Snake River bivouac
 
24 July
  T/5 Maurice Halbruner and Pvt. Andrew Micelli drown in Snake River
 
5 August
  Lt. Col. Phillip J. Galanti, C.E. takes command
 
24 August
  The Wendover field detachment returns
 
30 August
  Runway C completed at Melba Bombing Range
 
3 September
  Dedication ceremonies for Runway C
 
10 October
  Battalion field day in Nampa
 
15 October
  Runway D completed at Melba Bombing Range
 
23 October
  Battalion returns to Gowen Field
 
11 November
  Battalion participates in Armistice Day parade in Boise
 
November
  Company parties in Boise
 
18 December
  Battalion receives notification to ready for transport to Port of Embarkation
 
20 December
  Battalion leaves for east coast on two trains at 1700 and 2000 hours
 
25 December
  Christmas dinner on trains
 
26 December
  Battalion arrives Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia for overseas processing and preparation
 
1944
January 3
  Most of battalion sails from Hampton Roads in convoy UGS-29 on John Clark,
LST44 and LST228
 
17 January
  Battalion anchors in Angra harbor, Azores
 
19 January
  Severe storm causes LST228 to ground on rocky reef
 
20 January
  Battalion finishes setting up camp
 
21 January
  Second storm causes fire on LST228; vital heavy equipment is lost
 
22 January
  H&S company mess begins feeding battalion American rations
 
1 February
  Gideon Wells arrives with remainder of battalion
 
3 February
  Men from Gideon Wells land and join remainder of battalion
 
8 February
  Quarantine ends; first passes to Praia
 
9 February
  Electric generator provides camp with electricity
 
February
  Work begins on runways, tank farm and contonment, to continue for next nine months
 
15 March
  Emergency Runway A ready for use
 
17 April
  Daily truck convoys to Angra begin for liberty men
 
June
 
  600 Allied aircraft pass through Azores during the month
14 October
  Hurricane strikes Azores
 
5 November
  Group leaves by air on furlough for States
 
30 November
  Last of three runways completed
 
1945

7 February
  801st was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Award for "superior performance of duty in the performance of an exceptionally difficult task"
 
23 February
  Battalion boards William S. Evarts
 
25 February
  William S. Evarts weighs anchor for the States
 
10 March
  William S. Evarts docks in Hampton Roads
 
11 March
  30 days leave (plus travel time) begins
 
21-22 April
  801st reforms at Geiger Field, Spokane, Washington
 
28 April
  801st takes first place in base parade
 
1 May
  Bronze service star awarded battalion personnel from Azores
 
19 May
  War Bond show in Cheney, Washington
 
24 May
  Battalion again takes first place in base parade
 
26 May
  War Bond show in Latah
 
28 May
 

War Bond show in Spokane
 

30 May
  Battalion marches in Spokane Memorial Day parade
 
15 June
  Live fire exercises at Yakima Gunnery Range
 
6 July
  Battalion boards trains for Seattle
 
7 July
  Battalion arrives Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington
 
16 July
  Part of battalion boards LSTs 205, 243, 731 and 790;
convoy sets sail at 1700 hours
 
28 July
  LST convoy arrives Pearl Harbor
 
6 August
  Remainder of battalion boards USS Pondera in Seattle; she sets sail at 1615 hours
 
12 August
  LST convoy reaches Eniwetok
 
14 August
  LST convoy sets sail for Saipan
 
18 August
  LST convoy reaches Saipan
 
19 August
  USS Pondera arrives Eniwetok
 
25 August
  USS Pondera arrives Ulithi
 
29 August
  LST convoy sets off for Okinawa
 
3 September
  LST convoy reaches Okinawa
 
5 September
  USS Pondera makes side trip to Guam
 
7 September
  Men unload from LST convoy
USS Pondera sets sail from Ulithi for Okinawa
 
12 September
  USS Pondera arrives Okinawa
 
13 September
  Advance party from USS Pondera go ashore
 
14 September
  Remainder of men on USS Pondera unload
 
7 October
  Typhoon Louise
 
14 December
  801st Deactivated