The ghost army was looked on as kind of nut cases, recalls former cpl. Information about the 23rd headquarters special troops was classified top secret until 1996. Jack masey, who went on to a career designing exhibits all over the world, including the site of the famous kitchen debate. He wants to make a documentary about this army, that fought by peaceful methods and possibly saved the lives of 40,000 soldiers by deceiving the wehrmacht and prevented them from attacking. Rick beyer ghost army cbs news new york the previously unknown story of an army of artists who helped america win world war two is being told in a new documentary, showing how the artists used. The ghost army used military special effects to mislead germany into. After the war designed exhibitions around the world for the united states information agency.
Using inflatable tanks and trucks, playing sound recordings of the movement of heavy. An exhibition designer and author, he was held in high esteem internationally for the role. The ghost army of world war ii, princeton architectural press, 2015. The soldiers of the secret 23rd special forces played a unique role in world war ii. Victor dowd, art kane, and jack masey landed in france to conduct a secret. Jack masey, whose exhibitions showed american culture to world. The ghost army of world war ii is the first publication to tell the full story of how a traveling road show of artists wielding imagination, paint, and bravado saved thousands of american lives. The ghost army of world war ii by beyer, rick ebook. We were told we were going to be using inflatable equipment to try and fool the germans into thinking that we were a. Jack masey was born on june 10, 1924, in brooklyn, where he grew up in dire poverty in the bedfordstuyvesant neighborhood. Opening reception and book signing, sunday, june 14 flag day, 24 pm. New museum exhibit reveals secrets of world war iis ghost army. P, masey had printed during the war for the others in his. He wrote the greatest stories never told book series and produced.
Ghost army veterans, plus the author, rick beyer april 2015. Ben affleck will direct and is attached to star in ghost army for universal pictures. This is an art book about world war ii, or a military history book about art. As jack masey, who was recruited into the ghost army at age 18, remembered. Cbs evening news story by correspondent jim axelrod. It is a riveting tale told through personal accounts and sketches along the wayultimately, a. Armed with truckloads of inflatable tanks, a massive collection of soundeffects records, and more than a few tricks up their sleeves, their job was to create a. Jack masey, whose exhibitions showed american culture to. The ghost army of world war ii by rick beyer and elizabeth. Ellsworth kelly, bill blass, jack masey, arthur singer, and art kane. Jack masey, a designer for the united states information agency whose.
Rick beyer well host ghost army legacy project president and exhibit consultant rick beyer who will speak about his book, the ghost army of world war ii. In the new book the ghost army of world war ii, authors rick beyer and. Jack masey s you on kp book of caricatures spent several weeks at the northeast document conservation center, where it enjoyed the spa treatment for old books. On the battlefield, the ghost army also did sonic deception.
Ghost army artist jack masey created the caricature of blass abovepart of a book, you on k. The sonic deception unit would record the sounds of troops amassing in tanks and trucks and then be able to play those sounds back over loudspeakers. The ghost army of world war ii describes a perfect example of a littleknown, highly imaginative, and daring maneuver that helped open the way for the final drive to germany. Mickey and priscilla moved to new hampshire and bought a gift shopmail order business, the stagecoach, and grew a successful business until the late 70s together they raised 3 sons. Jack viewed his wwii experiences in the ghost army as a bit of a lark. Dahl served in the 603rd camouflage engineers, which was one of four units that made up the 23rd headquarters special troops also known as the ghost or phantom army. Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced in 2019 to award a congressional gold medal to the ghost army. Rick beyer second from right and ghost army vets from left. Jack masey served in the 603 rd camouflage engineers, the visual deception army of the ghost army. See more ideas about army, world war ii and world war. The ghost army is a unique book in many ways, which is little surprise given its. Kneece, author of ghost army of world war ii, the germans thought they were up against a 30,000man phantom army. Thursday june 18 at 7 pm there will be a screening of the ghost army documentary followed by a panel discussion including beyer, sayles, and two ghost veterans whose art is part of the exhibit. We got this document courtesy of jack masey a corporal in the ghost army.
Per the deadline report, ghost army tells the story of a secret force that relied on sleight of hand and illusion to trick the nazis in 1944. Now 87 and still working full time as president of new yorkbased metaform design international, masey sketched and painted from normandy to the rhine river as a corporal in company b of the 603d camouflage engineers. The hardcover book is large it is of what one would call coffee table proportions, measuring about eight by ten inches and about 240 pages long. Singer, victor dowd, art kane, and jack masey landed in france to conduct a secret mission. Jack masey, seymour nussenbaum, nick leo, john jarvie, and gil seltzer. The art of the ghost army of wwii strathmore artist papers. Ben affleck to star in and direct wwii drama ghost army. The ghost army of world war ii ebook by rick beyer. Ben affleck to direct and star in ghost army moviehole. Sayles, and two ghost veterans whose art is part of the exhibit. His works include the ellis island immigration museum in new york winner of a presidential design award and the national.
Photos courtesy of william sayles, dick syracuse, nathaniel dahl, jack mcglynn, and. The inflatable tanks that fooled hitler, the atlantic, may 22, 20. Exhibit and film celebrate world war iis ghost army the. World war iis ghost army photo 1 pictures cbs news. The ghost army is a unique book in many ways, which is little surprise given its subject. Ben affleck set to bring world war iis ghost army to. The ghost army of world war ii is the first publication to tell the full story. Ghost army of world war ii by jack kneece goodreads. Jack served in company b of the 603rd camouflage engineers.
Elizabeth sayles is the awardwinning, bestselling illustrator of more than twentyfive books for children. Allied ghost army deployed inflatable tanks, aircraft to. One of the ghost army members is jack mcglynn of medford, the citys former mayor and father of the current mayor, michael mcglynn. One of the veterans, jack masey is going to be at the fit screening. Susan collins rme introduced a companion bill, s 1421. Thursday june 18 at 7 pm there will be a screening of the ghost army. Steven heller included the ghost army of world war ii in a roundup of visual books on may 31, 2015. He was good friends with bill blass, and created a book of caricatures of the men in.
Her father, william sayles, was a member of the ghost army, and she grew up listening to his war stories. New museum exhibit reveals secrets of world war iis. World war ii ghost army used decoy art to dupe the nazis. I was very excited to find this book, purchased it immediately, and began reading the. The ghost army of world war ii princeton architectural press. Ellsworth kelly, arthur singer, victor dowd, art kane, and jack masey landed in france to conduct a secret mission. Using inflatable tanks and trucks, playing sound recordings of the movement of heavy equipment, and using simulated radio transmissions to give the impression of a large military presence to. His works include the ellis island immigration museum in new york winner of a presidential design award and the national wwii museum in new orleans. The ghost army of world war ii king county library. In the field of deception, the actions taken that are described in ghost army of world war ii by jack kneece have got to be right near the top of the list. What made it different is that its troops were composed of artists, actors, meteorologists, and sound technicians, and their true mission was not to fight, but to deceive the german army. Representatives annie kuster dnh and peter king rny have introduced hr 2350, the ghost army congressional gold medal act.
Young and nervous, far from home, he had no idea what to expect. Cbs news the existence of the ghost army remained classified for more than halfacentury after the war. A group of soldiers including future luminaries bill blass, ellsworth kelly, arthur singer, victor dowd, art kane and jack masey landed in france to conduct a secret mission. P, masey had printed during the war for the others in his company. He was there to join up with the newly formed 603rd engineer camouflage battalion special. Remembering jack masey astonish, bewilder and stupefy. I have been researching this army unit for a couple of years, since my father harold j. A photo montage featuring some of the 1,100 men of the ghost army, from the book the ghost army of world war ii. On this document was the mission that the 23rd headquarters special troops had to complete, and the equipment that they used for a particular operation. Interview with rick beyer about top secret ghost army of.
Giant speakers could project sound as far as 15 miles. Jack designed international exhibitions for the us government, including the 1959 moscow exhibition that was the site of the famous kitchen debate between khrushchev and nixon. Jack masey of new york was another member of the ghost army. Interviews with rick beyer and ghost army veteran jack masey. This document let us see an official report for the 23rd headquarters special troops, and what they ghost army actually did. Jack masey, now 88, was a 19yearold aspiring artist when he was drafted into the special unit. All images from the ghost army of world war ii by rick beyer and elizabeth sayles.
Private ned harris was only eighteen years old when he reported for duty at fort meade, maryland, in 1942. Ghost army of world war ii audiobook by jack kneece. The ghost army unit was comprised of approximately 1,100 men who used inflatable military equipment, such as the pictured armored vehicle, along with. His father, who had been gassed during world war i, worked only. It is a riveting tale told through personal accounts and sketches along the wayultimately, a story of success against great odds. The ghost army of world war ii the ghost army of world war ii describes a perfect example of a littleknown, highly imaginative, and daring maneuver that helped open the way for the final drive to germany.
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