http://www.transchool.eustis.army.mi...RESSROUTES.htm

THE OTHER EXPRESS ROUTES

White Ball Express

The first of the express lines established after Red Ball was the White Ball Express, launched 6 October 1944. The White Ball's function was to transport material from the ports of Le Havre and Rouen to depots and rail transfer points around Paris.

During the three months of its existence, trucks carried some 140,486 tons of supplies, with an average daily haul of 1,614 tons. The average length of a White Ball trip was 113 miles.

Green Diamond Express

Established 14 October 1944 to move supplies from the Normandy depots to rail loading points at Avranches and Dol-de-Bretagne. The Green Diamond lasted only three weeks, until 1 November.

Red Lion Express

Established to haul British gasoline and American supplies from Bayeux in Normandy to the 21st Army Group railhead in Brussels, Belgium. These supplies were in support of the airborne operations in Holland during Operation Market Garden. Red Lion operated for 27 days from 16 September to 12 October 1944.

XYZ Express

The last and largest of the long-haul truck lines in the ETO was the XYZ Express.

The XYZ began operations on 25 Mar 1945, seven months from the date the Red Ball was inaugurated. The four XYZ routes extended eastward into Germany from four points: Liege, Belgium; Duren, Germany; Luxembourg; and Nancy, France.

These drivers supported four American armies - the 9th, 1st, 3rd and 7th Armies, as they advanced into the Reich.

__________________