The Red Ball Express

THE RED BALL EXPRESS "KEEP 'EM ROLLING !"

The Red Ball Express adalah  was a famed truck convoy system that supplied Allied forces moving quickly through Europe after breaking out from the D-Day beaches in Normandy in 1944. In order to expedite cargo to the front, trucks emblazoned with red balls followed a similarly marked route that had been closed to civilian traffic. These trucks were also given priority on regular roads.

The system originated in an urgent 36-hour meeting and began operating on August 25, 1944, staffed primarily with African -American soldiers.At its peak, the Express operated 5,958 vehicles, and carried about 12,500 tons of supplies a day. It ran until November 16, when the port facilities at Antwerp,  Belgium  were opened, some French rail lines were repaired, and portable gasoline pipelines deployed.

The Red Ball Express adalah julukan bagi satuan logistik tempur tentara amerika selama perang dunia ke 2 di Perancis pasca pendaratan tentara sekutu di Normandia Juni 1944. Untuk mendukung satuan tempur pasukan Amerika yang mengalami kemajuan pesat tentunya memerlukan supply logistik yang cukup seperti : amunisi, bahan makanan, obat-obatan dan bahan bakar. Proses angkut supply ini sendiri tidaklah mudah karena menjadi salah satu target utama bagi Luftwaffe (angkatan udara tentara jerman) dan di daratpun sering mendapat sergapan dari angkatan darat Jerman yang minim pasokan logistik. Setiap konvoi terdiri dari lima truck yang dikawal depan dan belakang oleh jeep dari Military Police yg dilengkapi dgn senapan mesin. sebagian besar pengemudi dan crew adalah African-American (Negro).