Red Ball Express: The Allies’ Unprecedented Lifeline to Victory

While supply and logistics may seem like dull, dry topics, they are absolutely essential to military operations, for no victory can be achieved without a steady, uninterrupted flow of food, fuel, ammunition, clothing, medical supplies, and other key matériel.
Never was this so clearly the case than when millions of men crossed from southern England to northern France in June 1944. To get the supplies to an army on the move became the role of the U.S. Army’s “Red Ball Express.” Far from being dull, the story of this vital operation was filled with action, adventure, and danger.
The Red Ball Express was the result of a sudden and unplanned situation that the U.S. Army recognized and responded to quickly as it advanced across northern France in the summer of 1944. The operation––born out of necessity––lasted only three months, from August 25 to November 16, 1944, and involved thousands of men and thousands of vehicles.
Adding to the logistics crisis that necessitated the operation were continually changing requirements and the activities of Paris gasoline gangs. The Express also presented an opportunity for African-Americans to prove themselves and contribute to the campaign in Europe.