I know very little of this US formation. I understand that they 'dropped' in New Guinea in 1943. They then went on to receive a Presidential Citation for their action in the Phillipines. They then went on to serve with disinction in Vietnam, also working closely with Australians. I assume that they were the equal of the 82nd and 101st. Is this an overlooked elite Division of the US in WW2?
The 503rd was a regiment, not a division. As the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, the unit jumped near Lae, New Guinea, in Sept. 1943, and on Noemfoor off the coast of Dutch New Guinea in July, 1944. On February 16th, 1945, as the 503rd Regimental Combat Team, the 503rd made a parachute drop on Corregidor, landing on what had been the island's golf course and parade ground. Less than an hour later, the first wave of amphibious assault troops hit the southern beaches. Surprise was complete. By February 26th, the battle for the island was over. Gen. MacArthur raised an American flag there on March 2nd. JT
The 503rd was a regiment, not a division. The U.S. Airborne during WW II - Attached Units - 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team (PRCT)
Thank you so much for the info, I am trying to read up as much as I can about New Guinea in WW2. If the 503d parachuted in 1943, that would make it the first airbourne assault in the war for the allies?
The earliest American drop that I know of was in Sicily on July 9th, 1943, elements of the 82nd Division. Perhaps there were earlier ones by the U.S. or Allies. JT
What Division was the 503d from? Good question. As far as I can tell, it was an independent regiment unattached to a division, but someone may come along and correct that statement. JT
I agree with Jacob on the 503rd's non-divisional status, but I will look at my book on the OOB for the US Army to make certain.
The 173rd was not an airborne brigade during WWII. In WWI and up until around 1940 or 41, it was one of two brigades that were part of the 87th Division. Just prior to WWII, US infantry divisions lost their brigade HQs and one regiment was orphaned as a result. The 173rd Brigade, (actually the HQ group, as that was what the "brigade" really was) after many interations and changes, became the 87th Recon Group of the 87th Infantry Division. The 173rd Brigade was reformed as a seperate brigade in 1963 and was made airborne at that time. edit-I looked up the 503rd in Shelby Stanton's Order of Battle, WWII. The 503rd was an independent regiment througout its existence during the war. It served in New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon and the Southern Philipines. It made two combat jumps.
