Greek / American Operational Group Office of Strategic Services (OSS)
Memoirs of World War 2

Group 4 Operation and Personnel
September 10-12, 1944

Group 4 was my group. Following is just one of the many missions by Group 4 as reported in the National Archives documents. Photos of the group are included in this page.

Quotation from the U.S. National Archives Documents [note]
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Group 4

On 10 September, Captain Robert E. Eichler received word that there was a target on a railroad near the town of Polyneri and he, with Lieutenant Skinner, British Army, and one native guide set out to join Major Miller, British Army, at Kastanies. Captain Eichler arranged radio contact with Lieutenant Pope before departing.

Leaving Oropedion:

At 0800, Captain Eichler with SCR-536 contacted Lieutenant Pope at 1000, giving orders to leave two men to guard equipment left behind and bring the remainder of the men with weapons, toilet articles, two bazookas, two Bren guns, ammunition, and basic weapons and food for two days and join him at Kastanies. With six Antartes and four mules to carry equipment, Lt. Pope and the group departed Oropedion at 1300, joining Capt. Eichler at Kastanies at 1700. The men were bedded down, and Captain Eichler and Lieutenant Pope conferred with the British officer about the target which was a bridge to be struck the next night. The group was to lay an ambush for a train and, at the same time, furnish security for the demolition party.

On 11 September, Captain Eichler and Captain McElroy, British officer, had reconnoitered the bridge before. Captain Eichler wanted to make a personal reconnaissance before his group participated, but due to the urgency of the operation, he left orders with Lieutenant Pope to follow in four hours. Accordingly, Lieutenant Pope with the group, Lt. Skinner, eight Antartes, including demolitions on the mules, additional equipment, departed from Kastanies at 1400. They moved along cautiously to Pastrova where they were met by a guide sent back by Captain Eichler to bring Lieutenant Pope and Sergeant Christie to observe the target in daylight and assist in selecting positions for the security on each side of the bridge on the railroad. Lieutenant Pope left orders with the remainder of the group to follow in two hours time and that radio contact would be each half hour. He then proceeded with Lieutenant Skinner and Sergeant Christis and joined Captain Eichler and Captain McElroy at Polyneri at 1800 hours. They then proceeded with an able guide to the target area and made their observations, picking the various positions for the group and, at the same time, noting any movements. When the entire group was assembled at the observation point at 2230, Captain Eichler gave them a short but thorough briefing. The security parties then moved out and took their positions on the railroad track on each side of the bridge. This was done to cover each approach to the bridge and protect the demolition crews.

With the aid of three SCR 536 radios, Captain Eichler could easily control the group, and as a supplement, he had arranged a whistle signal.

All parties moved into position quietly as no noise was heard by either party. The derailing charge was then set on the railroad. This completed the security and Captain Eichler then notified the demolition crew to move in and place their previously prepared charges for blowing the bridge, which was done at 0030. Captain Eichler ordered the security parties to withdraw back 300 yards as previously arranged for the safety of the personnel. The order was carried out promptly, and the bridge was blown up at 0045, 12 September. After the explosion, the security parties went back into position, and Captain McElroy observed the destruction of the bridge at a close interval.

Five to seven trains carrying troops and supplies for the Bulgarians passed over this bridge daily. The bridge was a two-span 35-foot steel girder span. In the operation one span was completely destroyed, and the pier was shattered.

It took the Bulgarians 14 days to repair the bridge. On this, we have the official word from the Bulgars who capitulated 13 September.

Captain Eichler, after the operation, ordered all parties to the rendezvous point. We regrouped at Polyneri at 0145, 12 September and returned to Kastanies at 1000 hours of the same day.

The mission was completed in complete surprise without a shot being fired, although there was a guard consisting of 20 Bulgars at a tunnel 500 yards northeast of the bridge, and the railroad was frequently patrolled.

Men on Operation
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T/Sgt. Christ Christie S/Sgt. Nick Cominos S/Sgt. Bill Kirtatas S/Sgt. David Christ S/Sgt. Tom Georgalos Cpl. Steve Voulgarakis Cpl. Alexander Phillip Cpl. Perecles Phillips Cpl. Andrew Mousalimas Cpl. Pete Lewis Cpl.John Bitsikas T/4 James Karvouhas T/5 George Kalliavas T/5 Alexander Gewlas T/5 Andrew Grevis T/5 Andrew Karabatsos	Officers Captain Robert E. Eichler 1st Lieutenant Paul Pope
	Men Left With Kit T/5 James Antonakis T/5 Dionisios Fotinatos T/5 Nick Amigdalitsis

Submitted by Captain Robert E. Eichler

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Note

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• U.S. National Archives, Greek U.S. Operational Groups, Operations in Greece 1944, p. 157 (report filed at OSS Headquarters, 24 December 1944).

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