The Story of Antwerp X - A Combined Defense

Unit History 50th AAA Brigade

History will record many outstanding feats and accomplishment of this war, but, none will overshadow the heroic defense of the port of Antwerp against flying bombs by 22000 of the world's finest antiaircraft artillerymen.

Brigadier General Clare H. Armstrong, who commanded Antwerp X, had a booklet published after the war telling the story of the battle. This soft cover booklet was published by the 50th AAA Brigade in late 1945, as a permanent record of the defeat of the flying bomb attacks on Antwerp during the period from October 1944 to April 1945.

The defense of Antwerp against air raid and V-1 rocket attacks was a combined American and British operation. The Story of Antwerp X has numerous colored maps and illustrations illustrating the placement of AAA units around Antwerp. In addition to the placement maps there are charts of daily V-1 attacks, Brigade organization, and Ground Defense Plan.

click on the images to enlarge

T/5 Gordon M. Schlenker

T/5 Gordon M. Schlenker

C Battery - 126th AAA Gun Battalion

Gordon M. Schlenker was born on April 1, 1925, in New York City, New York, to Emily Maps and Vesper Schlenker. He grew up as a city kid in New York City during the 1920's.

Gordon Schlenker was drafted, #35065747, on June 9, 1943 and served as an auto mechanic in Europe with the US Army's 126th Anti-aircraft Battalion, part of Antwerp X.

After the war, he graduated from Cleveland Trade School in diesel mechanics, married Margaret Jenks in 1948 and moved to Gaston Indiana where he farmed his grandmother's farm, repaired diesels in Muncie and eventually owned and operated a repair shop for 10 years at their home. He was a master mechanic who enjoyed overcoming the challenges that came with repairing complex machinery. After retirement, Gordon moved to Florida.

Gordon Schlenker, 88, of Venice, Florida, died April 30, 2013. His Wife Margaret Schlenker died on May 14, 2015, in Macon, Georgia, when she was 88 years old.