Military Geology Unit of the U.S. Geological Survey during World War II

Abstract

On June 24, 1942, the temporary Military Geology Unit of the U.S. Geological Survey was formalized after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested them to prepare terrain intelligence studies to meet wartime priorities. The entire Military Geology Unit wartime roster was 114 professionals, including 88 geologists, 11 soil scientists, and 15 other specialists; 14 were women. Assisting staff (illustrators, typists, photographers, and others) totaled 43. The unit produced 313 studies, including 140 major terrain folios, 42 other major special reports, and 131 minor studies. These reports contain about 5,000 maps, 4,000 photographs and figures, 2,500 large tables, and 140 terrain diagrams. Most products were designed in the beginning for general strategic planning in Washington and later for detailed strategic planning overseas; they utilized graphics and nontechnical, telegraphic-style tabular texts. The Military Geology Unit's principal effort was the preparation of the terrain folios titled Strategic Engineering Studies. They varied somewhat in content and format, but the key components usually were introduction, terrain appreciation, rivers, road and airfield construction, construction materials, and water resources. The folios, produced at an average rate of about one per week and at an average cost of $2,500, were compiled from scientific journals, books, maps, and photographs available in the Washington area by a team of 3 to 8 scientists; 8 to 12 teams might be working concurrently. MGU personnel took great pride in never having missed a delivery deadline. In 1944, 5 Military Geology Unit consultants were sent to Europe and 5-man teams were assigned to the Southwest Pacific Area and to the Central Pacific Area. Each team produced large-scale terrain reports, mostly from aerial photographs, and consulted with engineer units and tactical officers in the field. By the end of the war, a consolidated 20-man team worked in Manila at the headquarters of the Armed Forces Pacific.

Specialist Maps of the Geological Section, Inter-Service Topographical Department: Aids to British Military Planning During World War II

“…MGU was established from June 1942 (six months after the United States entered the war in December 1941). Its initial roster included only ten geologists, a typist, and an illustrator, but this group grew to peak of about a hundred in 1945 (Terman, 1998). The total wartime roster of 157 personnel comprised 114 professionals (88 geologists, 11 soil scientists, 6 bibliographers, 5 engineers, 3 editors, and 1 forester) plus 43 support staff (illustrators, typists, photographers, and reviewers).…”

Specialist Maps Prepared by German Military Geologists for Operation Sealion: the Invasion of England Scheduled for September 1940

“…armed forces were ultimately to employ about 400 geologists during the Second World War, mostly in the military geological service: the largest organization developed by any nation to contribute military applications of earth science in wartime (Häusler, 1995a, b;Willig, 2003), and in stark contrast to the much smaller numbers of military geologists employed by the British (<12: Rose and Rosenbaum, 1993b) and even the Americans (<90: Terman, 1998). They were equipped from the start of hostilities with several military geological textbooks based on First World War operational experience, notably that by Bülow, Kranz and Sonne (1938).…”

Hydrogeological support to United States military operations, 1917–2010

“…A cooperative agreement between the USGS and USACE directed the MGU to produce terrain intelligence reports for designated areas. These reports included sections on topography, geology, soils, water supply, construction materials, possible airfield sites and road construction (Terman 1998b). …”

“…Approximately 90% of MGU's work was for the Military Intelligence Division, Office of the Chief of Engineers, and focused primarily on planning at the strategic and operational levels (Terman 1998b). The amount of detail contained in these reports was constrained by the strict deadlines imposed by the Army.…”

“…In fiscal year 1945 (July 1944 to June 1945), five-man teams were assigned to each of the three theatres. One team was assigned to the Southwest Pacific Area and included hydrogeologist A. Nelson Sayre, who was awarded the Medal of Freedom for his contributions during the spring and summer of 1945 (Terman 1998b). Two USGS geologists, D.J.…”