U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers, Ocracoke
A large black granite marker that commemorates the U.S. Navy beach jumpers.
Western face:
U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers
Loop Shack Hill
Advanced Amphibious Training Base, Ocracoke (AATB)
December 1943 to January 1946
In December 1943, the U.S. Navy Section Base became the Advanced Amphibious Training
Base (AATB) for the Beach Jumpers. Experienced officers and men from earlier units were brought
back to assist in the training of Units 6, 7, 8 and 9 personnel, who would later serve in the Pacific. These
units were trained in bothe classroom and live exercises of seaborne deception. To simulate full forces
invasions along the beach while on board the 63 ft. ARBs (air-sea rescue boats). The boats were capable
of high speeds and carried time delayed explosives, amplifiers, recorders (sound effects), smoke pots,
radar, radios, rocket launchers and two sets of twin 50 caliber machine guns. They also used radio and
radar counter measures to deceive the enemy. In making them believe an invasion was taking place along
the beach. The base was closed in early 1946, after World War II ended and the boats were returned to
Little Creek Amphibious Base, VA.
Insignia: U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers, World War II, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Navy
Rendering of Loop Shack Hill, AATB, Ocracoke - WWII
Eastern face:
U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers
Turbo Vestri Hostilis
March 1943-1972
Beach Jumpers were United States Navy tactical cover and deception units which were organized under
Vice Admiral H.K. Hewitt, then Commander, Amphibious Forces U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and all U.S. Naval
Forces in Northwest African Waters and Western Mediterranean. The concept for Beach Jumpers came
about as a result of then-Lieutenant Douglas E. Fairbanks, Jr., the Hollywood actor-turned navel officer
during World War II, having been detached from “blue water” duty on the high seas and assigned to duty
with British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Combined Operations (Commandos) in England.
Insignia: U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers - Naval Special Warfare
United States Navy
Hyde County Heritage Trail
Rendering of three Navy ASR Boats -WWII
Photo: Lt. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
2009
35.106180 , -75.968590
No related materials.
Yes
Black granite
In 1943, Ocracoke hosted an advanced amphibious training base where tactical cover and deception units, precursors to the Navy Seals, were trained for the U.S. Navy. This undercover military project was known as the Beach Jumpers. These tactical cover and deception units also monitored hidden German submarine activity off the eastern coast of the United States during the war. As part of the project, a facility was also built on Loop Shack Hill that monitored underwater vessel passage between Ocracoke to Buxton.
Marker is on Irvin Garrish Highway (North Carolina Route 12) east of Ocracoke Village.
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