HEADQUARTERS
                      243RD FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION

                                                                 APO 403
                                                                 1 April 1945

SUBJECT:  After Action Report for March 1945.

TO     :  Commanding General, Third Army, APO 403, U.S. Army.
          (Attn: Historical Officer)


     1.  On 1 Mar 1945, Headquarters Battery and Battery “A” were in position
in vicinity of Onsdorf, Germany.  Battery “B” and Service Battery were in pos-
ition in vicinity of Ober Sost, Germany.  Battery “C” was attached to the 204th
 FA Gp. in position in vicinity of Bedersdorf, Germany.  This battalion less
Battery “C” was attached to the 195th FA Gp., XX Corps.

     2.  On 3 Mar 1945, Headquarters Battery and Battery “B” displaced to vici-
nity of Welten, Germany.  Battery “C”, 270th FA Bn in position near that town
was attached to this battalion.  Battery “A” displaced to a new position near
Oberemmel, Germany and was attached to the 270th FA Bn.  On 4 Mar, Service Batt-
ery moved from Ober Sost, Germany to Freudenburg, Germany.  On 17 Mar, Head-
quarters Battery, Battery “B”, Service Battery and Battery “C”, 270th FA Bn re-
leased from this battalion and Battery “A”, 243d FA Bn returned to battalion
control.  On 18 Mar, this battalion less Battery “C” displaced to new positions
in vicinity of Munchweiler, Germany.  Service Battery displaced to Losheim,
Germany.  On 19 Mar, Battery “C”, 270th FA Bn was attached to this battalion.
On 20 Mar, Battery “C”, 270th FA Bn was released from this battalion.  This
battalion less Battery “C”, 243d FA Bn moved to a bivouac area in Winterbach,
Germany.  On 21Mar the battalion less Battery “C” moved to a bivouac area in
Weilerbach, Germany.  On 22 Mar, Battery “C”, 243d FA Bn arrived at bivouac
area in Weilerbach, Germany and returned to Battalion control.  On 24 Mar,
Headquarters Battery, Battery “B” and Battery “C” moved to a bivouac area in
Lollbach, Germany.  Service Battery and Battery “A” moved to a bivouac area in
Jeckenbach, Germany.  On 26 Mar, Headquarters Battery and Battery “C” moved into
bivouac in Bosenheim, Germany.  Service Battery, Battery “A” and Battery “B”
moved into bivouac in Hackenheim, Germany.  On 27 Mar, Headquarters Battery and
Service Battery moved to Ober Olmer, Germany.  Battery “C” went into position in
the vicinity of Ober Olmer, Germany.  Battery “A” and Battery “B” went into posi-
tion in the vicinity of Klein Winternheim, Germany.

     3.  On 30 Mar, this battalion was relieved from attachment to 195th FA Gp
and XX Corps and received orders to work in operational conjunction with the
503d Mp Bn.  On 30 Mar, Headquarters Battery, Service Battery and Battery “A”
displaced to bivouac in Simmern, Germany.  At the same time Battery “B” displaced
to bivouac in Keidelheim and Battery “C” to Numbdehn, Germany.


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     4.  Batteries under control of this battalion fired a total of 121 missions,
expending 487 rounds of 8 in. ammunition and 508 rounds of 240mm during the month
of Mar. 1945.  This included 6 registrations, 18 TOT's, 29 unobserved harassing
missions and 1 observed mission with the 8 in. gun, and 2 registrations, 36 TOT's
and 29 unobserved harassing missions with the 240 mm hows.




                                                       JOSEPH G. RUCKS
                                                       Lt Col., 243d FA Bn,
                                                       Commanding.


3- Incls:

   Incl. # 1 – Report of Missions Fired.
    “    “ 2 – Unit Journal.
    “    “ 3 – Journal File.



 cc 195th FA Gp.
 cc XX Corps, Attn Historical Officer.


AG 314.7 – GNMCF                  1st Ind.
  (1 Apr 45)
HQ. THIRD US ARMY, APO 403, US Army, 2 April 1945.

To   Commanding General, ETO US Army, APO 887, US Army.



                                                               R. W. H. 
3 Incls: n/c





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