We are excited to announce that our historian Rick Beyer will be giving a lecture at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 from 6 to 7pm entitled “Artists of Deception: The Ghost Army of World War II.” In addition to leading the Ghost Army Tour for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, Rick Beyer produced and directed the award-winning PBS documentary The Ghost Army and co-wrote the book The Ghost Army of World War II.
In conjunction with the exhibition “Jim Steg: New Work,” Rick will discuss the vital role of this little-known division that was charged with creating battlefield props to trick Nazi armies. The deceivers employed an array of inflatables (tanks, trucks, jeeps, airplanes), sound trucks, phony radio transmissions and even playacting to trick the enemy. The largest of the four sub-units in the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, the 603rd handled visual deception. They could create dummy airfields, motor pools, artillery batteries, and tank formations in a matter of hours.
Prior to his long career as a Newcomb College art professor and experimental printmaker, New Orleanian Jim Steg was a soldier-artist in the top-secret World War II tactical deception unit known as the “Ghost Army.” The exhibition will run through October 8.
Since Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours is located in New Orleans, our home base staff plans on attending. If you live in the area please join us! Not only would we love to see you, but you will have the opportunity to talk with Rick and buy a signed copy of The Ghost Army of World War II.
About Rick Beyer
Rick Beyer is an award winning documentary filmmaker, New York Times best-selling author, and long-time history enthusiast. His most recent book, Rivals Unto Death, explores the intricate thirty-year rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.
Rick has been researching the Ghost Army for more than a dozen years, and has led our Ghost Army Tour since 2014. As noted, he produced and directed the award-winning PBS documentary The Ghost Army, and co-wrote (with Liz Sayles) of The Ghost Army of World War II. The book is now being developed as a Hollywood movie by the producers of American Sniper.
Over the last 20 years Rick has made numerous history documentaries for The History Channel, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, and others. He is the author of thef The Greatest Stories Never Told series. He has shared his unique take on history with audiences around the country and appeared on CBS News, Fox News, NPR, CNN and elswhewere.
Check out Rick’s website for more information on his lectures, books and documentary.
Travel with Rick Beyer on the Ghost Army Tour
Join Rick on the Ghost Army Tour, which follows the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. It also includes many other WWII sites to offer a wider context for the story of the deception soldiers. As guest Jane Wood commented, “We were rock stars wherever we went. The Ghost Army tour will be hard to improve on.”
