2119th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon: A Brief History

       The 2119th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon arrived on station in April 1944, and was attached to the 24th Station Complement Squadron.  Organized stateside with a TO&E of one officer 28 enlisted men, once in England, platoons were scraped together will men from "cadres of existing full strength platoons."  When the 2119th arrived at Station 356, their purpose was to handle both crash crew and structural fire fighting duties.  During its tenure with the 4th Fighter Group, the platoon's complement never exceeded one officer and twenty-two enlisted men. 
       As the 24th already had a "well organized fire department of eight men," it was decided that the 2119th would handle crash crew duties on the air field exclusively, while the 24th continued to operate as the station's fire department and handle any structural fires on the base proper.  The platoon's history from April 1944 noted that their "equipment was particularly well-adapted for crash crew work." 
       On 13 September 1944, the platoon was officially detached from the 24th Station Complement Squadron to become an independent unit.  An orderly room was established, and worked in tandem with the Station Utilities Office, as the platoon CO was also the Station Utilities Officer.  Additionally, the men of the platoon were moved into new quarters, and for the first time the entire complement was housed together in one unit.  Both changes had a positive effect on unit morale.   
       On 15 April 1945, due to the provisions of 8th Air Force Headquarters General Order No. 52, the unit was disbanded and all personnel were transferred into the 438th Headquarters and Base Services Squadron.  
​

2119th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon Roster