The Red Ball Express was an enormous truck convoy system created by Allied forces to supply their forward-area combat units moving quickly through Europe following the breakout from the D-Day beaches in Normandy. The route was marked with red balls and closed to civilian traffic while the trucks were marked with the same red balls and given priority when on regular roads. The Red Ball Express supply plan originated in a 36 hour urgent committee meeting, and was co-designed by Lt. John Bridener Guthrie, Jr..
The system lasted only three months, from August 25 to November 16, 1944, when the port facilities at Antwerp, Belgium were opened, some French rail lines were repaired, and portable gasoline pipelines were deployed.
The Red Ball Express was primarily operated and driven by African-American soldiers.
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