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US Airborne Units in the Pacific Theater 1942-45 (Battle Orders)

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U.S. AIRBORNE UNITS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, 1942-1945
GORDON ROTTMAN
OSPREY PUBLISHING, 2007
QUALITY SOFTCOVER, $23.95, 96 PAGES, ILLUSTRATIONS, PHOTOGRAPHS, CHARTS, CHRONOLOGY


The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) is often forgotten in the study of World War II airborne operations. The reasons are several: the operations there were much smaller in scale and generally had less decisive effect than on other theaters. Only a single airborne division, the 11th, was deployed to the PTO and it conducted only a single regimental parachute operation and no significant glider assaults; most of its combat deployment was as ground troops delivered by sea. The other U.S. Army parachute unit in theater was the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), which conducted three regimental operations; it too had its share of ground combat. The four U.S. Marine Corps parachute battalions conducted no airborne operations, but proved their value in amphibious and ground economy-of-force operations.

In September, 1943, in New Guinea, the U.S. 503rd PIR conducted a highly successful unopposed drop at Nadzab, during the Salamaua-Lae campaign. This was the first Allied airborne assault on the PTO. In July, 1944, the 503rd jumped again, onto Noemfoor Island, located off Dutch New Guinea. The 503rd's most famous operation was their airborne drop on Corregidor or "The Rock" in February, 1945 during the Philippines Campaign of 1944-1945.

The U.S. 11th Airborne Division saw a great deal of action in the Philippines as a ground unit. The 511th PIR, made the division's firat airborne jump near Tagaytay Ridge on 3 February 1945. They met no Japanese resistance at the drop zone. Units of the division again jumped at Los Banos on 23 February 1945 and liberated 2,000 Allied POWs. The final operation of the 11th Airborne was conducted on 23 June 1945, in conjunction with other U.S. ground forces in northern Luzon. A task force from the 11th was formed and jumped on Camalaningan Airfield, south of Aparri.

While certain operations could have been accomplished without airborne unit participation, these units did contribute to their success, even if their involvement didn't prove decisive or if the operation didn't go according to plan. Their ability to move rapidly by air provided a useful capability, and the right equipment and logistics tail made them useful over the theater's rugged terrain. The inherent flexibility of airborne units, gained through their training and philosophy, allowed them to respond rapidly to emerging situations and economy-of-force missions.

This book, U.S. AIRBORNE UNITS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, 1942-1945 examines the wide variety of airborne units that served in the PTO. Among the units covered are the 12,000-strong 11th Airborne Division, the elite 1st Special Service Force, the 503rd PIR (Separate), and the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. The nature of the enemy and the terrain in the PTO and long distances that had to be covered, provided significant and diverse challenges to both U.S. Army and Marine Corps parachute units. Internal organization, weapons and equipment, command and control, training, combat missions, and combat operations including the 11th Airborne's fighting in the Philippines and the 503rd PIR's legendary jump onto Corregidor and the capture of that island are all covered in this superbly written and illustrated book.



Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard
Orlando, Florida