Cavalry Recon Mecz (Part One)

2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
2nd Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)

The 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Horse), including 1st Squadron, became the 2nd Armored Regiment, 9th Armored Division, in July 1942. Reactivated on 2 January 1943 as 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (Mecz), with the cadres from the 15th Cavalry.

Redesignated 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Group, in December 1943 it arrived in England on 30 April 1944 and entered in Normandy, France over Utah Beach on 19 July 1944.
Entered Brittany attached to 4th Armored Division during breakout from Normandy. Screened Loire River in early August, then led XII Corps advance toward Nancy. Caught up in Lorraine tank battles beginning 18 September in Luneville.
The 2nd Cav Recon Fought in the Parroy Forest until November, then screened XII Corps flank. It moved then to Luxembourg in January 1945, screened corps flank along the Moselle River. Passed through the Siegfried Line (West Wall) in early March and reached the Rhine River on 16 March.
It crossed the Rhine on 25 March and screened XII Corps’ advance into Czechoslovakia.

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3rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
3rd Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)

The 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized) became the 3rd Armored Regiment, 10th Armored Division, in February 1942. In January 1943, the regiment was reorganized as the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized), with formal activation on 15 March.
On 3 November 1943, the regiment was converted into the 3rd Cavalry Group; its old 1st Squadron was reconstituted as the 3rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron.
It arrived in the UK in June 1944, landed in France over Utah Beach on 9 August and served as 4th Armored Division’s spearhead during drive across northern France. The 3rd Cav Recon Sq fought near Metz and along Moselle River beginning in September, entered Germany on 17 November north of Metz, operated along the Siegfried Line and crossed the Rhine River on 29 March heading over 50-miles to reach the Fulda area. It entered Austria in April to link with Soviet forces.

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4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
4th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)

Active as 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized), as of November 1939; the regiment was re-designated 4th Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) on April 16 1942. The Squadron was then re-designated as 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on December 21 1943 and arrived in England on December 15 1943. The 4th Cav landed piecemeal in Normandy beginning on D-Day. Most of the squadron fought across the Cotentin Peninsula in June and early July, mainly attached to 9th Infantry Division. Supported 3d Armored Division and 9th, 4th, and 1st Infantry divisions during Cobra breakout beginning 26 July 1944.
It captured Villedieu on August 1, screened 1st Division flank during Battle of Mortain, rolled across France attached to XIX and VII corps and entered Belgium on September 3 1944. It crossed the German border on September 14 1944 with 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Group, screening 9th Infantry Division’s flank.
The 4th Cav Recon held sections along the Siegfried Line until 10 November. Committed to the Hürtgen Forest November 23 - December 13 1944 and joined Battle of the Bulge on December 23.
The 4th Cavalry Group was attached to the 84th Infantry Division for the counterattack on 3 January 1945, crossed the Roer River on 25 February attached to 104th Infantry Division, entered the Remagen bridgehead across Rhine on 21 March 1945.
It formed part of the Ruhr Pocket line in late March and early April and finally advanced into the Harz Mountains, where offensive operations ended on April 22 1945.

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6th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
6th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)

Known as 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized), it was assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division until December 1, 1939. The regiment was re-designated 6th Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) on July 21, 1942. Re-designated, again, as 6th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Cavalry Group, on January 1, 1944.
The 6th Cav Recon Sq arrived in Normandy July 9-10 1944, out posted Third Army command post and functioned as part of the Third Army “Army Information Service” August 1 1944 to December 1, 1944. It patrolled near Thionville, France, attached to 3rd Cavalry Group in late September, participated in Third Army’s winter offensive December 1 1944 to December 16 1944 near Volklingen and provided also 4th Armored Division flank protection during the drive to Bastogne beginning 24 December. The unit remained in Bulge area until February 15 1945, operating along Siegfried Line and the west of the Rhine River until 29 March. Advanced across Fulda River toward Eisenach in early April, shifted to First Army on April 22. Ended war on old German-Czechoslovakian border.

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15th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
15th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)

Reactivated on March 22, 1942 as 1st Squadron, 15th Cavalry (Mechanized) it was re-designated 15th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in December 1943.
The 15th Cav Recon Sq Arrived in England on May 18, 1944, at Cherbourg on July 6, 1944 and fought in Brittany August 3 1944 to September 20 1944, It spearheaded the advance to St-Malo. Outposted on the Loire River from late September until November and joined containment operations at St-Nazaire in January 1945
It then shifted to Belgium in mid-February, relieved 8th Armored Division in Holland late in month and advanced to the Rhine River early March 1945, covering Ninth Army’s left flank.
It crossed the Rhine River on March, screened XIX Corps advance around the southern side of the Ruhr Pocket and performed security missions in the Ruhr Pocket in April. The 15th ended it’s war near Paderborn.

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16th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
16th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
Reactivated on June 15, 1942 as element of the 16th Cavalry (Mechanized) it was re-designated 16th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in late 1943. It arrived in England November 28, 1944, in France February 26 1945. Entered battle at Waldrach, Germany, on 13 March as part of the 316th Provisional Cavalry Brigade, advanced to Mainz, crossed the Rhine, and rolled to vicinity Kassel by 1 April. Took up occupation duties 7 April.

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17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
17th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
Reactivated on March 22 1942 as 2nd Squadron, 15th Cavalry (Mechanized) it was re-designated 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on 15 March 1944 while in the UK. Disembarked across Utah Beach July 15 1944 and entered Brittany with Task Force A on August 3 1944. Headed east for Holland 12 October, served in reserve and defensive positions in Roer sector, fought at tail end of Roer offensive in mid-December. Mopped up behind Ninth Army advance in early March 1945. Crossed Rhine circa 25 March and advanced with XIX Corps during April as far as Hergern.

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18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
18th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
Activated as the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron on July 8 1943, the unit was re-designated as 18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on November 10 1943. It arrived in England on Sept 5 1944, disembarked over Omaha Beach Sept 30 and arrived in Belgium on October 19, assigned Task Force X along Siegfried Line.
Moved to Losheimer Gap 11 December, hit by German Ardennes offensive 16 December. Re-equipped and reorganized in January 1945. Deployed along Roer River in early February. Advanced to Rhine in early March, crossed river at Remagen on 17 March, attacked southward along bank. Reconnoitered and screened 99th Infantry Division advance toward Giessen. Performed security duties in early April, transferred from First to Third Army 18 April. Reached Danube River on 25 April, mopped up vicinity Kelheim. Reached Inn River 2 May.

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19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
19th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
Reactivated as Squadron of the 16th Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) on June 14 1942, it was re-designated 19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 16th Cavalry Group on November 19 1943 and arrived in England November 28 1944; at Le Havre, France, 27 February 1945. Arrived Trier, Germany, 10 March 1945, attached to 3rd Cavalry Group for advance near Irsch as part of the 316th Provisional Cavalry Brigade and for mop-up of Saar-Moselle triangle. Crossed Rhine 29 March, supported 89th Infantry Division drive toward Kassel. Assigned to Fifteenth Army 1 April 1945 for security duties.

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23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
23rd Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
Activated as the 96th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion on 15 July 1943 organic to the 16th Armored Division, the 23rd was re-designated 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, on Sept 10 1943. It arrived Le Havre, France, 19 February 1945; Kaiserslautern, Germany, 18 April. Committed to battle near Ingolstadt 28 April, pushed to Nürnberg and into Czechoslovakia by May 1945.

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24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized
24th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
Active as 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized) as of Nov 1939, the regiment re-designated 4th Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) 16 April 1942, while squadron re-designated 2nd (tentative) Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. The squadron was finally re-designated as 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on Dec 21 1943.
The 24th arrived in England on Dec 15 1943. Landed piecemeal in Normandy beginning on D-Day and participated in the battle for Cherbourg, attached the 2nd Armored Division during the Normandy breakout.
The 24th Cav Recon Sq protected the south flank of VII Corps during the drive across France and entered Belgium on Sept 3 1944 and Germany on Sept 16 with 4th Cavalry Group.
It held sections of the Siegfried Line until Nov 10 and was committed to the Hürtgen Forest area Nov 23 - Dec 13. It joined the Battle of the Bulge on Dec 23.
The 4th Cavalry Group was attached to 84th Infantry Division for the counterattack on Jan 3 1945 then crossed the Roer River on Feb 25. It crossed the Rhine River in Bonn, helped seal Ruhr Pocket in late March and early April. Advanced into the Harz Mountains area, where offensive operations ended on April 22 1945.

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25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized
25th Cav recon Sq (Mecz)
Activated in April 1941 as the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion organic to the 4th Armored Division the Squadron was re-designated the 84th Reconnaissance Battalion later in year and as 84th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion by January 1942.
Re-designated the 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, in August 1943 it arrived in England on Jan 10 1944, disembarked in Normandy on July 11, entered the line six days later.
Participated in the Normandy breakout and advanced into Brittany in late July and early August. Raced eastward with division beginning 16 Aug, acted as communications hub for XII Corps 17-24 Aug, while screening Loire River line.
The 25th crossed the Meuse River on Sept 5 and the Moselle River eight days later then was caught up in the German counterattack in Lorraine on Sept 22. It participated in the Third Army’s Nov offensive, deployed to Ardennes beginning Dec 20 and fought along the Kyll River beginning Feb 27 1945. It Then joined division’s blitz across the Moselle River in March.
It crossed the Rhine River on March 24, screened division flanks during advance from Munster through the Fulda area, and Gotha in April 1945. The 25th Cav recon Sq took up occupation duties in Bayreuth area beginning April 24 1945.

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28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized
28th Cav Recon Sq (Mecz)
As 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized), assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division until Dec 1 1939. The regiment was re-designated 6th Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) on Jul 21 1942 then was sent oversea and arrived in England in (probably) Dec 1943.
Re-designated, then, as 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Cavalry Group on Jan 1 1944, it arrived in Normandy across Utah Beach on Jul 10 1944, where it out posted the Third Army command post. Functioning as part of Third Army’s “Army Information Service” Aug 1 to Dec 17 1944, it moved to Carlsbrunn, Germany, and fought along Saar River beginning Dec 20. Shifted with the 6th Cavalry Group to the Bulge on Dec 24 and remained in Bulge area until Feb 19 1945.
It then operated along Siegfried Line and west of Rhine River until Mar 27 and advanced through the Giessen - Butzbach area in April. The28th ended the war along the old German - Czechoslovakian border.

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