In his third book about deception during war, Paul B. Janeczko focuses his lens on World War II and the operations carried out by the Twenty-Third Headquarters Special Troops, aka the Ghost Army. This remarkable unit included actors, camouflage experts, sound engineers, painters, and set designers who used their skills to secretly and systematically replace fighting units---fooling the Nazi army into believing what their eyes and ears told them, even though the sights and sounds of tanks and war machines and troops were entirely fabricated. From the Normandy invasion to the crossing of the Rhine River, the men of the Ghost Army---several of whom went on to become famous artists and designers after the war---played an improbable role in the Allied victory.

The Ghost Army is born. Germans in South America ; Beach jumpers -- Recruitment and training. Combat engineers ; The army half-tracks -- Shipping out...and more waiting. Convoys; Liberty ships -- The Twenty-Third gets into action. From Hollywood to the battlefield: Frederic Fox ; Artists of the 603rd: Ellsworth Kelly -- The first big test. The Red Ball Express ; Artists of the 603rd: Victor Dowd -- A trio of deceptions. Artists of the 603rd: Arthur Singer ; Bailey Bridges -- A deadly winter. Panzer Brigade 150 ; Artists of the 603rd: Bill Blass -- After the Battle of the Bulge. Trench art ; Artists of the 603rd: Harold Laynor -- The final destination. Artists of the 603rd: Arthur Shilstone ; Commendation for the VIERSEN Deception.