Fred Fox '39, who starred in Triangle shows at Princeton, put his theatrical skills to use in World War II with the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a unit that aimed to mislead the Germans. This wartime portrait was created by an unnamed artist.
Courtesy Donald Fox k'39.
Video courtesy of Rick Beyer, author of this issue’s cover story and producer of an upcoming documentary about the Ghost Army.
Fred Fox '39, who starred in Triangle shows at Princeton, put his theatrical skills to use in World War II with the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a unit that aimed to mislead the Germans. This wartime portrait was created by an unnamed artist.
Courtesy Donald Fox k'39.
Dummy tanks like this one were part of the ruse set by the 23rd Headquarters "Ghost Army," giving the appearance of Allied installations.
Image: ghostarmy.org/National Archives
The Ghost Army also took care to make its markings consistent with the unit it was impersonating. In Metz, France, soldiers stencil 90th Division markings on the bumper of a jeep.
Image: ghostarmy.org/National Archives
Uniform markings were adopted as well. A sampling of patches worn by Ghost Army members, along with the Ghost Army logo at center.
Images: ghostarmy.org
Soldiers set up the dummy tanks near the Rhine River for the Ghost Army's final operation.
Photo: ghostarmy.org/Bob Tompkins
This hand-drawn map, providing a basic overview of Operation Viersen near the Rhine, is part of the Official History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. Fox wrote the history after the end of the war in Europe.
Image: ghostarmy.org/National Archives
Lt. Gen. W.H. Simpson commended the special troops for "careful planning, minute attention to detail, and diligent execution" in the Rhine operation.
Image: ghostarmy.org/National Archives