U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers - Amphibious Forces, U.S. Navy Monument
[western face:]
U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers
Loop Shack Hill
Advanced Amphibious Training Base, Ocracoke (AATB)
December 1943 to January 1946
In December 1943, the U.S. Navy Section Base became the Advanced Amphibious Training Base (AATB) for the Beach Jumpers. Experienced officers and men from earlier units were brought back to assist in the training of Units 6, 7, 8 and 9 personnel, who would later serve in the Pacific. These units were trained in bothe classroom and live exercises of seaborne deception. To simulate full forces invasions along the beach while on board the 63 ft. ARBs (air-sea rescue boats). The boats were capable of high speeds and carried time delayed explosives, amplifiers, recorders (sound effects), smoke pots, radar, radios, rocket launchers and two sets of twin 50 caliber machine guns. They also used radio and radar counter measures to deceive the enemy. In making them believe an invasion was taking place along the beach. The base was closed in early 1946, after World War II ended and the boats were returned to Little Creek Amphibious Base, VA.
[insignia:]
U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers, World War II,
Amphibious Forces, U.S. Navy
[Rendering of Loop Shack Hill, AATB, Ocracoke - WWII]
[eastern face:]
U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers
Turbo Vestri Hostilis
March 1943-1972
Beach Jumpers were United States Navy tactical cover and deception units which were organized under Vice Admiral H.K. Hewitt, then Commander, Amphibious Forces U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and all U.S. Naval Forces in Northwest African Waters and Western Mediterranean. The concept for Beach Jumpers came about as a result of then-Lieutenant Douglas E. Fairbanks, Jr., the Hollywood actor-turned navel officer during World War II, having been detached from “blue water” duty on the high seas and assigned to duty with British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Combined Operations (Commandos) in England.
[insignia:]
U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers - Naval Special Warfare
United States Navy
Hyde County Heritage Trail
[Rendering of three Navy ASR Boats -WWII]
[photo:]
Lt. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Marker is on Irvin Garrish Highway (North Carolina Route 12) east of Ocracoke Village.
Courtesy hmdb.org
