The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the "Ghost Army," was a 1,100-man unit that conducted 20+ battlefield deceptions across Europe from 1944-1945. The unit was divided into specialized sections: visual deception (inflatable tanks, artillery, and vehicles), sonic deception (powerful speakers playing pre-recorded sounds of armored units), radio deception (fake radio traffic), and atmospheric operations (officers impersonating generals in bars near the front).
Many members were artists recruited from art schools and advertising agencies—including future fashion designer Bill Blass and painter Ellsworth Kelly. They would set up their elaborate deceptions, often within a few hundred yards of enemy lines, to draw attention and fire away from real troop movements.
The Ghost Army's operations remained classified for over 40 years. Their work is estimated to have saved between 15,000 and 30,000 American lives. They were finally awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2022.