Ghost Army: Combat Con Artists of WWII - June Exhibit Entry

246 Main Street,Keene NH 03431

02 June, 2021

Description

Ghost Army: Combat Con Artists of WWII tells the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops Ghost Army: Combat Con Artists of WWII tells the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops—the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in US Army history. Activated on January 20, 1944, the unique and top-secret “Ghost Army” unit was comprised of 82 officers and 1,023 men. Under the command of Army veteran Colonel Harry L. Reeder, the group was capable of simulating two whole divisions (approximately 30,000 men) by using visual, sonic and radio deception to fool German forces during the final year of World War II. Armed with nothing heavier than .50 caliber machine guns, the 23rd took part in 22 large-scale deceptions in Europe from Normandy to the Rhine River. The Ghost Army consisted of a carefully selected group of artists, engineers, professional soldiers and draftees, including fashion designer Bill Blass, painter Ellsworth Kelly and photographer Art Kane. Ghost Army veteran Micky McKane (1922-1990) moved to Marlborough and then Keene with his wife Priscilla. Together they ran the Stage Coach Gift Shop on route 12 in Swanzey for many years. On June 2, 2021, Ghost Army: Combat Con Artists of WWII will open at the Historical Society of Cheshire County, 246 Main Street in Keene, NH. Visitors can learn the comprehensive story of the 23rd and their role in Allied victory. The exhibit will feature inflatable military pieces, historical narrative text panels detailing unit operations, profiles of unit officers, archival photography, and sketches and uniforms from unit officers. Timed entry tickets are available on our website at www.hsccnh.org, $7.00 per ticket for the general public, $5.00 per ticket for Children 6-18 and Members of the Historical Society of Cheshire County, free for children 5 and under. The Historical Society of Cheshire County is a Blue Star Museum, allowing all military veterans and their families free access to the exhibit. Blue Star families are asked to contact Director of Education Jennifer Carroll at [email protected] for tickets. The Historical Society of Cheshire County is supported in part by C&S Wholesale Grocers, Savings Bank of Walpole, The Putnam Foundation, Bergeron Construction Company and Price Chopper.