The 830th Engineer Aviation Battalion in the European Theater of Operations

Across America, the Atlantic, and Europe with the 830th E.A.B.

This impressive map captures the route of the 830th Engineer Aviation Battalion during World War II. Beginning with activation in Boise, Idaho, the path traverses much of the U.S. before the long deployment across the Atlantic, training in England, and the assault across Europe. An interesting oblique perspective is used to show the incredible geographic expanse of the territory covered by the 830th.

Small dots represent the numerous airfields constructed by the battalion, twenty-one in all. Surrounding the image are the names and dates of twenty-four separate locations visited by the troops during the two years they were engaged in the conflict. Along the bottom of the sheet are illustrations of the different types of machinery used by aviation engineers as they constructed airfields, runways, hangars, and more.

Tucked amid the road graders, excavators and tractors is a band being pulled on a flatbed trailer – likely referencing a real group of musicians used to boost morale. The decorative title cartouche includes the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the motto of the 830th – “Get the Damn Job Done.”

Signed in the lower right corner by what appears to be the name W.E. Weir. Weir designed a similar map of the 925th Aviation Regiment, a unit to which the 830th was attached for much of the war. Both versions are scarce. This is the first example of the 830th E.A.B. map I’ve handled and it is unlisted in WorldCat as of January 2025. One example has been identified in the archives of the IX Engineer Command.

Source.