The 160 Engineer Combat Battalion built a lot of bridges in Europe but the one that Dad talked about most was the longest tactical bridge in the world, built across the Rhine River at Mainz, Germany. It was 1,896 feet long, used 154 pontons and was built under enemy fire. Dad remembers that there were many tent camps just west of Mainz. Camped there were engineers building the bridge, the U.S. Navy operating boats getting men and supplies across and the others were waiting for a bridge to get across the Rhine. These are a few pictures from those days.
Description from battalion book.
Map from battalion book.
Aerial view of the bridges across the Rhine at Mainz.
Four men have hands on treadway and are trying to squeeze ponton under by putting weight on it, Dad is third man from left with helmet highest.
Last treadway on far shore.
View showing anchoring of bridge.
U.S.Navy ferries across Rhine, doesn't come back empty.
Bridge ready for traffic.
Men who worked on bridge taking their bows. We cannot positively identify anyone in the photographs.
Herman S. Landrith and Edwin N. Blasingim at Mainz.
Herman S. Landrith and Oscar G. Anderson at Mainz.
Oscar G. Anderson at Mainz.