4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron

The U.S. Army's 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was a mechanized reconnaissance unit engaged in the European theater during World War II. The successor to a cavalry regiment whose origins predated the conflict, the 4th Cavalry was reorganized at the start of the war in accordance with new mechanized cavalry doctrines, designed to provide reconnaissance, security, and initial contact with the enemy for large armored and infantry units.

After training in the United States and then in the United Kingdom, the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron landed in Normandy in July 1944, shortly after D-Day. It was assigned to reconnaissance missions for the American forces engaged in the Battle of Normandy, operating ahead of the divisions to identify German positions, secure roads, and maintain contact with the enemy in the Normandy bocage.

Following the Allied breakthrough in the summer of 1944, the squadron participated in the rapid advance across France, conducting motorized and armored patrols to cover the flanks of the main units and reconnoiter the axes of advance. It successively crossed the Seine and the Meuse, pursuing the retreating German forces to the east.

In the fall of 1944, the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron operated along the German border, participating in reconnaissance and security missions as part of the Lorraine and Rhineland campaigns. It was engaged in missions to monitor enemy lines, secure recently conquered areas, and conduct deep reconnaissance in an environment marked by more structured German defenses.

During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, the squadron was engaged in cover and reconnaissance missions, tracking German movements and helping to coordinate American forces in the face of the offensive. It operated in difficult winter conditions, liaising between units and monitoring secondary routes.

In 1945, the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron took part in the final offensive in Germany. It was involved in operations prior to the crossing of the Rhine, then accompanied the advance of American forces into central Germany, conducting reconnaissance until the collapse of German forces. It continued its missions until the German surrender in May 1945, before being briefly assigned to security and control duties.

The service record of the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron includes campaign credits for Normandy, Northern France, Lorraine, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe. The unit provided continuous reconnaissance and security missions throughout the American advance from Normandy to the heart of Germany.