5:00 p.m. Reception & Exhibit Viewing | 6:00 p.m. Presentation

Join Museum Curator James Linn and Ghost Army Legacy Project President Rick Beyer as they introduce and explain the process of creating The National WWII Museum’s newest special exhibit, Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II. The exhibit explores the story of the US Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army,” who elevated battlefield deception to an art form during World War II in order to fool Adolf Hitler’s forces.

A top-secret unit that included future famed artists such as Bill Blass, Ellsworth Kelly, and Art Kane, the 23rd waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects, and even phony generals. This carefully selected group of artists, engineers, professional soldiers, and draftees—armed with nothing heavier than .50 caliber machine guns—fooled Hitler’s armies, saved thousands of lives, and played an important part in Allied victory in World War II. Through Ghost Army, the story of the 23rd and their deception operations across Europe will be told through featured artifacts such as artwork, uniforms, an inflatable tank, and more.

Located on the first level of Hall of Democracy in the Senator John Alario, Jr. Special Exhibition Hall, Ghost Army is the gallery’s first-featured, Museum-curated exhibit and will be on view from March 5, 2020, through September 13, 2020. The exhibit will also be open for viewing throughout the evening of its opening presentation. This event is free and open to the public, but please register to attend. A reception precedes the remarks. For more information, please call 504-528-1944 x 484.

Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II is exclusively sponsored by E. L. Wiegand Foundation.

Can’t make it to the Museum? Livestream the event.