united states marine corps parachute units

8/7/2019 United States Marine Corps Parachute Units

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DEPARTMENTF THE NAVYITEAOOUARTERSNITED5TATESMARINECORFS

wASHt GTOtl 25. D, C.

REI'IEWEDAND APPROVED JUNE 1962

' /t/'4 /'7'""7""C. A. YOUNEDALEBflg&dlen Oeneral, U. s. Marllro CorpEAEslEtant Chlef, of Staff ' C-3


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I'I{ITED STATES MARI$E COBPSPTNACSUTE 'NITSBy

MaJor John H. Johnstone, USMC

Prlor to 1940, nost llartnes thought of parachutes only1n terms of, alrplane pllot and paasenger safety. The effectlveutlllzatLon of barachutlsts ln combat by the Cernans early lnthat year prompled the Marlne Corps to conside!: the uge of sucunlts.

A stualy by the Dlvlslon of Plans and Pollcles, lleadquar-ters Marlne Corps, envi-saged slrnllal' problens for paraqhutelanded forces as for amphlblous landed troopg. Th15 reportlndlcated the need for a thorough study of the area of enploy-ment as early as prastlcable Xn the plannlng stage and nadesDeclflc recorunendatlons on the onganlzatlon of Marlne para-chute troope and the tectlcat enploynent of such fonces. Itenurerated the probable obJectlves of parachute ,troops and elimnarlzed by recotflrnendlng that the ltarlne Corps develop such arr"""-in irpiie or the 6oet and t!:ue that woul-dbe requLred'(L)

Marlne thlnklng on parashute troop organlzatlon ts z'e-vealed nore fuuy ln a Dlvlston of Plans and Pollclea rnenoranwhich antlctpated that a paraohute unlt would lnolude a fu1lLnfantny ba1rtallon, one pLatoon of pack howltzer8, and addltloantlalraraft and antltank unlts along wlth thnee.untts of filrefor alL anna and three days ratlona and water.(z)Aften h16 conslderalrLon of the parachute pnobfenr, theDlt'ector, DLvlsLon of Avlatlon, Ileadquartera l'lanLne corpa,Dointed out that the procunement of naterleL and the tnalnlng-of personnel were the chief prob1en8. The posslbLe locatlonsof tralnlng centers and the procurenent of materlel, lncludlngaLnplanea, receLved detalled attentlon. ['horough studles of,Irh6 personnel pfoblem enphaslzed that parachute tnalneea thoulhave partlcularly htgtl physLcal and mental quaLlflcatlons andshould be volunteers. ( 3 )Early ln L94O, the comrandant stated that ttre questlonparatroop and alfborne actlvltles for the Marlne Cor.p8 wsg unconslderatlon. (4 ) Naval attaches were requeBted to furnl8hreports of recent parachute actlvlty on the part of the GermaRusslana, and Frenqh, i.n partlcular. The Dlvlslon of Plans aPollcles put forth a tentatlve reconrnendatlon for the fomattonof a tactlcal, parachute organlzatton. llarlne parachute troopgwe!.e eoncelved ag 11ght shock troops wtroae unctlon waBi


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Both the flrst and second claElea of the Parachutc Schonraauaieo on 25 February 1941,wlth the flr8t c1a88 qual1f1ed 'c;;;;;ili1";-64 pa"iJn"i. ilge.os atta tbe sdcond quatlfled Es;arachutlste, ( 12 0n l0 llarch, the seoond class and 81x rlggeiron the flrgi claes were transferred td San Diego-to lord theitiril"ii-oi-lii irrii r.iirineparachute onpai ttrla unlt vasaJirenatid iet pratooo, ConpinyA,2d Pe ute Battallon, Esnost-of lts perBonnel cane from the 2d Dlegoto nske up th6 aecond platoon of Cobpany A' It Yras lntehdettthat subsequent platoons should nake up anotber conpany, rlttrone battallon of eaoh lnfantry regXnent eventual.ly 8cheduleal thave a parachute oonpany.

Hossver, Marlne coneeptE on parachute unlt organl.zatlonnow cbanged and were conflnrcd along the followlng llne8:1. In vlew of the exlstlng tenporary Llmltatlons ondlr.ect parachute tralnl.ng due to shorteges 1n fac1l1tles, lteppear's de8lrable to enphaelze the orlglnal concept of a para-chute battallon as a unl.t equlpped and tralned for any type ofduty that nay be requlfed of lt. There t{111.be occaalona whethe uae of parachute troope as auch w11.1be lnpractlcabLe,Altbowh the tine and expense lnvolved ln tralnlng thould nor-na1ly precLude the use of parachute troops as lnf,antry, theyslrculd be avaLLable for' speclal mlsglons, such aa recoruxaL8-Bances and ralds for whlch thelr Bpeclallzed tralnlng flts the2. I/Jlth thls end tn vtew, lt ls deglred that both lnall-viduals and unlta be lrraLned f,or Euch apeqlal. nlqqlonB, suchtralnlng shouid lncLude lnstructlon ln the tectrnique of land-lng operatlons, the use of rubber boats, conbat patrolllng,scoutlng, lntelllgence, sabotage, and conbat englneerlng, ln-cludlng denolltlons.3. The potentlal usofulness of unlts so tralned appear.obvlous, partl"cularly for the type of operatl-onB for whlch thellar.lne Conps s preparlng, and.thls conclusion ls anply borneout by reports fron abroad.(13)As nore MarineB flni8bed theLr tralnlRg, 1t becaEe poa-slble 1ro start organlzlng a complete parashute battallon lnkeeplng wlth thl8 nery pollcy. Conpany A of Hhat was to beconthe 1st Paraohute Battallon wa8 fomed at quantico on 28 t{ay1941, and Headquarters Cornpanyof the Battallon was organlzedon 10 Ju1y. These companles were attached to the lst titarlneDlvlslon unt11 28 July when they were attached to tbe l8t t'la-rlne Alrcraft Wlng. 14Attracted by the dealre for adventure and the extr.a payof $50 per month for enllated nen and $1OOper. month for offl-cera on parachute duty provlded by Congress on 3 lune (15),nany young lilarlnes volunteered to Joln the.lst Parachute Bat-tallon acttvated at Suantlco on 15 August.(16) 'Itle battalton

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8ere. It reEted and reorganlzed unt1l 8 septenber, when,1n conJunctlon wlth tbe lst Ratder Battauon, lt.carrled outa succ6ssful raLd on Japanese suppLy areas near the vlllage oTaslnboko, Guadalaanal.' ..Upon returnLng froin thlB r81d, the lst Parachute Battaltoend tbe lst Ralder Battallon occupled Lunga rldge overlooklngHenderson Fleld, Guadalcanal. On the Llth, enenlt probeo lntothe ll,arlne bosltlons warned of an lnpand;Lng attacki Tbe nlght

of 13-14 geptenbsr wLtneased a determlned but futtle attenpt the Japanese to penetrate the ltarln 1lnes.'On 18 Sep tember, the 1st Parachute Bsttallon as wttb-drawD fron Guadalcanal and moved to Noumea, }{ew Caledanla'llere lt renalned at CampKlser (nCned for ?d Lleutenant Watterw: Klser, US cR, klLLed at Gavutu for a year tralnlng fot'further conbat. (25)The 2d Parachute Battallon salled fron san Dlego on 20October'l-942, and arrtved at WaLl.lhgton on 3L October, Thebattallon encanpedat Tltahl Bay, 14 nl1es north of WdLllnAtoIt renalned here untll 6 January 1943 when 1't Ealled for Noum

New caLedgnla to contlnue tratnlng nl.th the 19t Pat'achute Bat-tallon. On 1 Aprll 1943, the 2d Parachute Battallon beoane aglenent of the newly irrEinlzeo Lst. Parachute Reglnent and waareorgantzed wlth oonpanles A, B, and.C belng redeslgnated Conpanle8 E, F , and.G, regpec lve ly , (2b)Ttre 3d Parachute BalrtaLlon, wlth Headquar"tera Conpany aConpanyA beconlng llrs f1rst organXc unlts, waa organlzed ]5Septenber 1942 and asoLgned !o the newly created 3d Marlne Dlvslon statloned at San DLego,(27) Cotnpany waa actlvated lONovenber and Colnpanyc, l0 Decenber 1942. By 25 Decenber, thebattaLlon wa8 up to strength and had achteved a hlgh stato ofproflclenqy ln Ltd tralnlng.On 4 .Ianuary, the 3d battallon was attaobed to AtrphlblouCor.ps, Paclflo FLeet, Canp ELLl.ott pr.lon to lts departuie oveaeas ln two ectrelona on 5 and L3 March. By the 27th of thenonth, th6 parashutlsts bad arrlved at Nounea and were settledat Canp Kiser to contlnue thel-r tratnlng. On 1 Apr11, the 3dParaahute Battallon became an organlc unlt of the Lst ParachuReglment and was reorganlzed wlth Conpanle8 A, B, _and C belngredesl.gnated Conpanles I,. K, and L, respecttvely, (29)In addltlon to the 2d and 3d Panachute BattaLlons, the16t l,larlne Parachute Reglnent wa8 oonposed of the 1st Par.achuBattallon, ReglmentaL Headquarter8 and Servlce Conpany, andReglnental weapons Company. lleutenant CoLonel Robert H, W11forr0er,ly cosulandlng. the 1at Parachute SattaLlon, waa appolntedooMlandlng offl-cer of the rleglnent on Lts fonnatlon.

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Ttre oraanlzatlon of the 4th Parachute Battallon per serecan on 2 Airll 1943 wlth the actlvatXon of CompanyB at CampElflott. san-oLeso,(3i) on I JuLv 1943, the rernalnlng elementaof the Battallon (Headquartera Company, Conpany A, qnd Conpanyc) were forned at Camp Jeune by redeslgnatlon of the UewRiver Pai'achute Tralnlng Battallon. After cros8lng the oountryby traln, the battallon Jolned 1ts ConpanyB at canp Pendleton'Here the 4th renalned In a tralnlng statu8 untl1 lt was d1s-banded on 19 January 1944.(32)In the Southtest Paclflc, neanwhlle, ttte lst Marlne Par"a-chute Regltnent noved fron Noumea o Guadalcanal ln Septembe]1943. Durlng the last two days of that rnonth, the entlre regt-nent was ttansferPed to Vella I8vel"la 1n the Neir Georgla Isfandgroup. 0n 27 october 1943, a tasli force sonsleting of the 2dParachute BattaLlon, relnforced wlth a nachlne-gun platoon fromthe.reglmental weaponq compeny, a boat detachnent of four navy-nanned Landlng craft (ICP(R)E), and an experlpental rocket de-tacbment, noved by sea to Cholseul Island.(33) Landlng wLthoutopposl-tlon, the force began a dlverslonary rald deslgned toasslst the rnain landlng of the 3d Marlne Dlvlslon on Bougaln-vllLe. Mter several patrol cl.ashe8, pr1narl1y lntended to

nake the Japaneae belleve a Large foroe waa on the lsland, theparachutists attaeked the boat basln at Sang18a1, ktl11ng anunber of thg ene'ny ano destroyLng the lnstaLLatlons and barges.Next, the Marlnes hl,t the Warnlor Rlver looatton of the Japanese,After burnlng enenv suppLles on Ouppy Isl.and, the f,orce returnedto lts base camp to prepane for tbe antlclpated retaLlatlon ofthe eneqy. By thls tfue, the nal"n Landlngs on Bougal-nvll,le wereunde$ay, and on the nlght of 3 Noverdber, the tesk force waswlthdralrn from cholseuL to VelLa laqeLla, lts mlsslon of nlr-leadlng the Japanese 1n the area suceealfully acconpllshed.The lst Paraahute Balrtalton saLled fron Vella IveLla on22 November, and, on the followlng day, lt landed at Enpresa

Au.gusta Bay, BougaLnvllLe bo be attached to the 2d Ralder Regl.-ment ln I l,larlne Arphlbtous corps nesarve. On 27. Novenrber,the batlralLon was aaLgned a r.aldlng nlEslon northvre8t of Kolarl,Bougalnvll"le for the put'pose of dlsruptlng cormunlcatlons, de-stroying ener\y forcer and suppLLes, and gatherlng lnfornatlon.0n the 29th, the 1st landed ln the vlctnlty of Kolarl, but,vrhen treavy eneny ffu.e nade lt apparent that the rard could notbe sucsesafull ,y sompLeted, the force was wlthdraim, protectedby navaL gunflre and 155m heavy artl11ery flre.. On 3 Decenber 1943, tbe 1st Marlne Parachute Reglnent(1ess tts 1st and 2d BattaLlons) enbarked at Vella lvella andarrlved at &[press Au8usta 3ay the foUowlng day. By the 5th,thls force, supported by elenents of the 3d, 9th, and 21st Ma-rlnes, was occupylng an outpost 1lne forsrar.d of the naln dl-vi-slon posltlons, engaged 1n flghtlng off eneny patrols. Forthe next four day8, the parachutlst8 fended off the Japaneseand sought an opportunlty to outffank ox' penet!'ate the enemyposltlons. On 10 Deoenber, the parachutlsts were refleved byelements of the 9th and 2Lst Marlnes and became9th Marlnesl


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On 22 Decenber; in. fst Parachute Battallon, Reglmentaweapons cornpany, and a pl.atoon from Headquarters and Servlceconpany, attached to the 2d Ralder Reglnent, relleved the 18tBattallon, 3d Manlnes ln the viclnlty of Eagle Creek, Bougalnv1Ile, The parachutlsts renalned ln posltlon patrolllng andcontlnually strengthenlng thelr defenses untll nelleved byelements of- ttre 132d Infantry Reglment, 27th A.l:lWDlvlslon, ot1 Januaty 1944.Late In the prevloue nonth, the llarlne Cor"pshad beendlrected by the Chlef of Naval Operatlcine to abandon lts parachute prograrn, thereby releaslng about 3,OOOpersormel forothen duty and saving $15O,OOO onthly.(34) Tbe tst parachutReglment, Less 1ts afur dellvery sectlon, rf,aEordered to taeturto San Dlego, lrhere 1ts personneL were to be used for forlrlnscadres of the 5tb Marlne Dlvlston.(35) The a1r dellveny sec-tlon }ras equaUy d1v1ded, and lts elenents were redeslgnatedas aIr dellvery sectlons of I l4arlne Anphlbl-ous Corps and V Mrlne Amphlblous Corps, respectlveLy. The fll]st echelon of theregLrnent left BougelnvlLle on 15 January,l9+4, and on 29 Februthe reglnent was dlsbanded 1n San D1ego.(J6)

- Parachute traLnlng for Marlnes had proved to be of Iltt levaLue. There uere no conbat paradrops by Marlnes durlnq WorldWar II, although cone, such as Kolombangara1n July 1943, Kahandlor Kara A1nf1e1d on aouthern Bougalnvllte 1n Septemben19and Kavleng Alrf1e1g on northern New IreLand 1n Octoben f943-,were congldered.(37) SeveraL reaFqns account f,or thlir:(1) ttre lack of sufflclent llft capaclty. Not more thae1x of the'V!lJ (transport) squadrona could be con-centnated by Marlne Corps Avlatlon for a s1ng1eoperatlon, pernlttlng posslble tr"anaport of onlyone relnforced battaLlon.(2) The lack of shore-based staglng areas for nasaf1 lght s.(g) tte Long dlstances betreen obJectlves.(4) ObJectlves asalgned to the Manlne Corps were qener-ally srnall ln area and densely defendea, tfrer6bybelng unsultable for" rnas6parachute LandtngB. 38)

.- __Ttr" ll larlne Corps parachute troop _progran went the way ofthe l,{arlne Corps gllder pnograit, already abandoned a! not fea_slble ln the- sprlng of 1943. The Secretary of the l{avy hadbeen anong- he nany Amerlcans lnpre8sed by the Cernan employ-nent of gllders and paratroops 1n the capture of Crete. As-are8ult,.the llanlne Corps wa dlrected to set up a gttder progrAt-flrst_, lt was lntended that the Corps should trave 7b gifaErand l5O Marlne ptlots, whLch were consldered sufflcleni iotransport two battallons. Bub by June 1942, t}le proRram en_vlsaged 1,371 gll.ders and 3,436 pitots and co-pllots; provldlng


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the capablLlty of Uftlng 1O,8OO en..-It-rea6 thortl'y -!'eaflzedthat thlE type af actlvlty was 1npracl]"caDle' .ror gfaders wereuu"i"uu wltirout poweretl aircnaf!;nd a glldei/traniport conbl-natlon could not f1y In bad weather or over long dlstancea.In vlew of the lsland-hopplng nlsslon of thq Marlne Corps 1nthe vast expanseaof the Pao1f1c, lt waB declded to ternlnatethe prognao. After reaching a naxlnrum strength of 36 offlcergand 246 enflEted nen ulth 21 g11der8 organl'zed lnto llarlneCLlder Group TL of tuo squadronE, [&S and VML-711, -the llarlnecorps Gualei' i'rogran was

-abandoned on 29 Mav 1943.(39)Shortly after the end of Worl.d War II, sone conslderatlonwas glven to the ldea of convertlng a I'lar'lne dlvlslon lnto aniiru6rne dlvlslon consl8tlng of pa;achute and gllder unlta'(4o)The revealed tulpractlcablllty of sucb unlta for Marlne operatlonadurlng World war II, however, aoon re3ulted in a lack of lntere8tLn thts type of, actlvLty wtthln the Marlne corps.The concern for developlng other neans of tnansportlngforcee by aLr d1d not dtm1n18h, bowever, MarLne lnterg8t lnthe alr dellvery of suppli.es and equlpnent by parachute re-malned a rratter of conti.nued research. Uorld llar II had proved

the value of thls teahntque' and tests of types of parachutegand contalner:s fot' equlxment were nade ovet' the aucceedlngyeats, Llnlted nunbers of per8onnel contlnued to be tralned1n parachutXng 1n Anry schooLa. A1rcraf1, crewa and paaaengerssbllL had a need for parachutes, rrhlle rlggers and aln dell-veryperBonnef nade parachute Junps as part of the tralnlng fot' thehBpeclaltles, On L0 January 1944' a parachute rlg$er8 schooLwa8 establlshed at Che:rry Polnt, North carol1na.(41.) Inprove-nentg were nade 1n peraonneL parachutea wlth the nylon backtype chute belng adopted 1n February 1945.(42)0n I Januany 1946, the Parachute llaterlel Schoo} at CanpLeJeune, onlglnally establlshed ln \942, raa transferred to the!'trarlne Corps Avlatlon Technlcal School, l,larlne corps Alr statlon,Quanttco.(43) By December1947, Nfs school recelved a quotaof 15 enllsted rnenper slx-week cLas8.Conslderation of tbe tactl-cB of alrborne attack was notneglected. Alrborne regearch and technlques developed by theArroJrwere contlmally monltored by the !4arlne Corps. Itlanywrlters rLth experlence ln llarlne activltLes volced thelr 1deas.For example, MaJor General Pedro del Valla analyzed the Paclflcwa!' on the basls of what nlght trave happened lrad the ltlarlnecorps poesessed ready aLrborne force8 durlng tts nar wlth theJapanese. (44)In the Marlne Corps Gazette of Apr1l and May f949, fleu-t enant Co 1onel-Frnond-Bl-S6pE6i-wro t e of a1r t ran sportabll ltyproblems wlthln the l{arlne Corps. In thls artlc1e, reference1e nade to the dlrectlve of the Coronandant o the senlor fleldoff,lcers of the Marlne Cor?ps equlrlng the development of

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oDeratlns procedures and Loglstlcs data for the a1r transportoi' tactlaal unlts of both ground and alr comnands w1th1n theFleet Marlne rorce,(45) over the next several yeans, the thl-n1ng of the Marlne corps rdgardlng parachute usage was generallllnlted to conslderattons on how to best execute thls dlrectiveUntll 1957, the chlef l{ar1ne lnierest ln parachutlng cotlnued to center around the alr de;Il-very requlrements of theMarlne Corps and parachute equlpment and malntenance for ManAvlatlon. In that year, the studles, research, and evaluatlonof Marlne Corps requlrernents for parachutlng, eonducted overthe prevlous 20 year8, wene cuLnlnated ln the fosnatlon of anew unlt utttlzlng the paradrop of Il4arlnes, Thts was the lstForce Reconnals6anceCoepanywhlch was organlzed at Canp Pendton on^19 June,by. redeslgnatlon of the lst Anphlblous Reconnaance uonpany. +o,The prlmary mlsaLons of thl,r company were:a. To accompllsh testlng and developrnentat nlsslonslncldent to amphlblous r.econnalBsance, parachutereconnalgsance, and paracbute pathflndLng for the

hel.lcopter asBault, and to evaluate and report re-sults of such testg and developnental. actlvltles.b. To conduct pre-assault and post-assault amphlblousand parachute reqonnalasance 1n support of a fand-lng force.c. To conduct pre-assault and poat-assauLt parachuteof a fand-nd other palthflnder rnr-sslona ln Bupport,'-1ng-for!ce. (47) -__..The f,orce neconnalssance eonpany, aa a panl, of the Manlalr-gnound task for"ce, was deslgned to be enployed to extend

the ground r.econnalssance capabll"lty of the force beyond thecoverage provlded by the r.econnalssance cornpanyof the Marlnedlvlslon of tbe force. It was to explolt thls capablllty byconductlng ground pre-assault reconnalssance by arnphlblous orparachute neans; ground poEt-assault dlstant r"econnalssancevla helloopter and par:achute neans and battlefleld survelLlanby establlshnent and dlsplacenent of hellcopter-llfted obaer.vt lon posts .The companywould aLso provlde parachutlst or other Datflnder servlces 1n the forn of p!.e-assau]t navlgatlonal as;1stance to heLlcopterE 1n approach and retlrenent lanee and termguldance to assault $aves in the hellcopter Landlng zones.The e{tent and val-ue of the work of the parachutlsts ofreconnalggance conpany are revealed ln the capablllt les ocompany:

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The Force Reconnal8sance Cornpany18 functlonally organTzedto enahfe 1t to plan and execute, wlth the support of tactlcaland transpont alicrafl, hellcopters, and Naval thlpplng thefolLowlng Elrnultaneoua tactlcal nlaslona ln aupport of theFleet Marlne Fbrce to whlch attacbed:(f) AmphfUfoue econnal.saance of at leaet flve BLT land-1ng beaches dur.lng the pre-D-Day perlod and pfovlalonof the sane nunber of coast-l{atcher statlons on lnland

observatlon po6ts after D-Day.(z) Pre-p-pay parachute reconnalasance of a na:(!num oftwo helleopter Landlng zones of three 81te6 eaqh,plus the approach and retlrenent routes thereto,together wlth otber key lnstalLatlons 1n the obJectlvearea of a lilarlne A1r/Onound Taak Force. Post D-Dayreconnalasance by parachute or hellcopter meana ofcrltlcaL areas of lntelllgence lnterest by a rnaxlnun. of flve parachute reconnalasance teana to a dlstance,beyond that covered by Dlvl8lon ReconnalaaanceBat-tal1on(s), up to Loo mtles from the fot'nard trace ofcontact of the !{arlne Alr/Ground Taek Force'(3) Parachute or other pathflnder support to assaul.twaveE fon a naxlnurn of three hellgopter Landlngzqnea bf thr"ee Bltea each. Th19 number of zoneawlll sufflce for the needs of one lnfanlrry reglnent,Thene would be no pathflnder reaefve avalLable forshort-notlce addltlonal operatlons, or to provldecasuaLty repLaoenent of qua1lfled personnel,(4) The above capabll.lt ies ar.e conbat capablllt les, butdo not provlde fon on-the-spot ca8ualty repLacenentby qualtfled peraonnel. NeLther do they refLect theadrnlnlstratlve nequlrellrents f or. qualif led p&rachutedrop zdne qontrol and safety partles for peacetlnernaneuvers (whlch lrlLL reduce the naneuver tactlcalcapabluty by ttre equlvalent of one landlng zonepathfXnder team).I'ltsslons perfoumed by the Force Reconnalaaance conpanyane concerned soLely wlth the eLandegtlne acqui8ltlon ofn1l1tary Xnfornatlon and lnteL1lgence, and the provlslon ofpathflnder guldance and Bupport to tlellcopter assault waves.Thl-s conpany 1s not capable of perfonnlng offenBlve or de-fenslve operatlons o! ralds, but 1t Ls capable of provldlnglnternaL securlty for 1tB own organlc 1nsta11at1ons 1n the

f le fd .

In order to provlde sufflclent quallfled parachutlsts forlts forse reconnalsaance conpanles, the Marlne Cgt'ps sends about120 Marlnes per year to the fnfantry Sctrool, Fort Bennlng to10


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attend the Alrborne Quallflcatlon and,Jumpnaster Cout'se, whlc1a a flve-week eounse deslgned to lnstruct and traln paraehuTtre two platoons 6f tbe force recorDal_saance company utttl-zlngparachutlsts are the parachute pathflnder platoon and the parchute reconnal,ssanceplatoon.the ParBchute Pathf,lnder platoon .ls the tactlcalunlt of the Force ReconnalssanceConpanywhlch dlschargethe Conrnanders nlsslon of pnovlslon of controJ. polnts-ln

approach and retlrenent lanes, and ternlnal guldince forassault waves of helioopters in the beLlcoptEr fanafngzonea. The Platoon perfomrs thL6 firnctlon utlLlzLng 'electronlc and vLsual guldance alda, radlos, and aLiborneradlo relay, It l-s capable of provldlng paitrf.lnder serv1ces, after entry lnto the hellcopter landlng zonee orapproach_ outes by parachute or other neansr-ln a maxlnuof, four heLlcopter landlng zones of three sites each undta6tlcal condltlona.Itre Parachute Reconnalssance pLatoon ls the tactlcalunlt of the Force Recdnnalaeance Compeny*hlcfr afochargeithe connande?rs nlbslon of acqulsltlon bf lnfornatlon indLnteLllgence on heLlcopter approach ana r.ettnernent taneJhelLcopter landlng sltes, and deep lnland areaa, by theemplolrment-of parachute reconnalssance teans. ihe- platooperforns thls funqtlon ln operatlonE from carrler or landbased alncraft of a varlely of typeB. It l.s capabte of_conductlng pre-D-Day reconnalasanoe of a naxlmu; of fourne-Llcopter landlng zones of thnee sltes each, plu8 theapproach and retlrenent- routes thereto, and 6tirer. key 1nland lnstatlatl_ons l"n the obJecttve anea of the Marli.reAlr/cround Task Force. . Subs6quent to p-tiv ii-fu oapalfuof panachute reconnalsaance of crltlcal lnlelllgencelnterest bo a dlstance of up to 1OOmlles fron Ehe obJectlve area, employlng a insxlnrumof ten parachute reconiiis_sance teans.

_ OPERATION ToNEI,IALI,conducted ln Southern Caltfornta lnSeptember^l-957 y the Igt Force Reconnalssance Cornpany, .s anexanpl.e of_the type of actlvltles engaged 1n Uy such an organ_Izablon. Each r.econnalssaice and patlritnder: tean wae scheduleto nake a nlght paradrop lnto e drop zone about 55 mlles fronCanp Pendleton, fhe reconnalsaance teama were aiilgned reaLlsobJectlves 1n the fofm of fl.ood-contnol dams 5-ao iltes fromthd drop zones. After aucceBsfulLy dnopping lnto the zonee,the tean8 rDade helr respectlve ways to asolgnea obJectlves,obtalne_dphotographs and water sanples, and ietunned for plcXHl-!{_NluV low perfonmanoealrcraft, Some eanrawere selzed b'part1sans," but nost returned safely wlth the deslred lnfonrnatlon. The pathflnden teans Jumpedon alternate nlghts wlth anlsslon of estab]lshlng a nlght hellcopten landlng zone. Theactual, hetlcopter Landlng was cancelled, and the pathflndergwere ordered to bury thelr equlpnent and to then ;ove the 35


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n1les- overland to Canp Pendl.eton. Avold.lng .aggnesrror patrolsaB well as the eyes of Local. 1aw enforcenent igencies,-thepathflnderr succeeded n neturnlng to campund6tec ed: (4i,OPERATIONTRONGBACK,eLd.from lt February through 13March.1958 on Oklnawa, funnlshed an even nore "6rp]i"t. workoutror tne praEoons of the lst.Force Reconnalsaanceconpany. Inthl8 openatlon, the parachute reconnalasance plat;;;. was at_lu"!199 !9 force troop8 and the pathflnaer pfaioon-was attacheoto llAG-16, the a1r' unlt of the Marlne Alr,/Oround tiek nornoIn the exerclee, two of the. tve reconaarisanJ;."r"ii iiiiiiolnto speclfla zonea slx nlghts before itr. oale-oi-if ie ac!ua].exenolae. Two nore teanB parachuted lnto the oUjectivJ-areithe foltowlng nlght, wltlt the flnat tearn executlit ' it" o"op onthe thlr.d_nlght. The flrat four teams executed if,e-forrger' rnfs_s1ona. _ALl teams perforned effectlvety fn cfirfiyine, conflrn_tngf ald corr-ecttng prevlous htelllge;ce. e two"_ma-inaoforeray Eeam,wh1oh parachuted lnto a reLay polnt on the nlghtof -D-n1nus-5, recelved nessages from tire- riconnriiuao". t."rugy-::-13{:9 then ro blsh periornance e_transmjsJioi'a:.ncrart,lJy.prevl.oug arrangernent, reconnal8sance teana contacted theraol-o relay teama at appolnted tlne-on the ntghts of D_n1nus_5,

D-m1nua-4, and_D-n1nus-3, when the hlgh perforiance-re_trane_

nlaalon alrcraft also arrlved on etatlon. poun oi-tire ffvereconnalaaance teaxnswdre recovered by Low penf,orrnanceafncr"aftat venylng tlees on D-m1nuE-2 and D-ninus_1." rorn i picX_up sfteat a sxnatt alrfletal ln the obJectlve arei.- in" fif ii: ,ean analthe nadlo relay tean remalned 1n tire ou.lectfvJ-arei -ana fater!9,11:q ue.wlth the heli-copter assautt f6rce, eff -Cearneweneprepared EO enatn 1n the obJectlve area for later Joln_up hadthe alrcraft recovery falled: InJectlo;l oi p-ri"frut" "e"on_a!"saance eana Into the obJectlve .anea galned valuable andtlnely lnfornatton on the eieny, weathenl ,ia-t"rr.Jin. Thepathflnder pla"tggn_ ropped foui,'teane lnio tte'slilci;eo rana_l.ng area, establlshed and operated tl{o prlmary and'two aLternatehetlcopter landlng zones. Each landlng'zo"" handied"fffghts oi-l1:. tlii::^.1_each. randlns_lre. rn Ine pitnil,.ndii a"trons.,Eoo, aucces8 through careful pLannlng, tralnlng, and executLonwas achleved. 48).^ On L June 1958, the Ad Force Reconn&lssanceCompanywasI?1ry9_?! canpLeJeune y-redeslsnatlonoi tr,. - io -irin:.uro,_r"deconnalsaance ompany.(49) Thls conpany oLlowed tie paruernof the tst -Force Reconnalssance_conpairy,.rairririi-eil.nifveiy--at campLJeune,Fort Brags, and 1n- h;'Vlrein-iEri;;js. wlth1ts estabtlshrnent, the FL6Et ManlneForces 6i--uoin-i:irJ atia"'dfcand Paclflc areas had lnproved reconnalssancl ;; ;"ii as parh_flnde!. and hellcopter tei,ntnal guraanJl "iiitriiti"i.On 1.z^October1960, Sub Unlt # 1 of the 1st Force Recon-uu r ! o ! , ce neco*i.1:::l:" c-onpany-wa3-arabflshed at carnppendleton. on lgIgovenber, lY! gl+t # f enbarkednornsan'Dlegoon-ir," u'dsl.{acFaff in1n-tE@af- for oklnavra. Here, on r3 Decernberl fi 't jcirne-inpart of the 3d ltarlne Dlvlslon.(50)-

12


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(r) orv Plans anddtd 1OMay40,Marlnd Corps,Tndc,p8, USIEC,Troops.

NOTESPol1c1es Meno o llead, D1v Plan8 and Pollc1e8,SubJr O"Eanlzatlon of Parachute Unlts for theSuggestlons on (SubJect l1le: Parachute8lBtBr', c-3, IlQl'lC, hereafter .cff6d -FEifchute----.--.1..---.--

(2) lstlilarDlv [r{emo, td 14May4O,SubJ: LoglBtlc8 Calculatlon8for PanachuteBattaltons (SubJect F1le: parachute Troope.)

(4) qyg ltr ro cc, McB, san DLeeo, AO-275-dn/423, Ser, 43gg4o,dtd.19Aug4O, SubJ: Iilanlne Parachute Tralnlng, quoted byCapt R. B, Wlll1an8, USI'IC, n U. S. Navat Initltute pro-ceedlnsa, Jury 1941, p. t4; CHe rEr Eo-TN-ol-TEl-Uuai[d,SubJ: Parachute Troops (SubJect FlIe: parachute tr6opi. )(5) Dlr, Dlv Plans and Po11cLe3Dlemoo MGc, altd l7oct4o,Sub,t: Parachute Tralnlng (SubJect Flfe: parachute '!noopg.)(6) 9!9 Note fon- ueadquar.ters Butlettn, dtd 17Oct4O (SubJeqttrLle: Parachute Troops, )

(3) Dlr Dtv Av Ltr to Dln Dlv plangSubJr Par.achuteTroopB (SubJect

( 1r, ur.v rtans andInspectlon ofohute Troops. )

and Po11d le6 , d tdFi-1e: tarachute l7 ay4o,Troops.

Alr and ParachuteTnoopg.(7) MOC tr to Ch BuNav, dtd 22Oct4O, subJ:Troops Tr.alnlng (gubJeot Ftle: parachute(8) ftuster.Rolls, Parachute Detachnent, NAs, Lakehurst, t{. J.,Ocb4O Unlt Dla!"y Sectlon, peraonnel lepartnent, HQliC.(e ) York Tlmes, L2Jan4t , p , 18 .(tO) Wttrtarns, 'rllanlne par"achuteTralntng, " op. c1t,, p. 15.

Pol lc1es t i leno o CMC, .dtd31Dec4O,SubJ lParachute Detachment (SubJect Fll6r pira-(12) Wl ] ] l .ans, "Mar lne parachute Tra ln lng, , ' op. c l t . , p . 1g.(13) 4CC tr to Cc, 2dltarDlv and cc, IstMarDlv, dtd 7Apr4t,SubJ: Parachute Troops (SubJect FlLe: parachule- Troopg. )(14). l'tuster:RoLts, 1st parachute Battalton, ltay-Jul1941.(15) Publlc -Law 98, T6th Congress, 3Jun4t, lteltc Clrcular LetterNo. 543 of 19May42,SubJr Changes n M&rlne CorDs Manuet.1940 Ch 24, 25, and 26 (SubJectF l Ie : parachut ! Tnoops,J .(16) Uugter Ro1Ls, 1st Parachute Battalton, Aug 1941.

T'he New

1ll


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(r7) uueter Ro1ls, 2d Paracttute Battal.lon, Sep 1941.( f8) t tus ter RoI1B, ls t ParachuteBat ta l lon, Mar 1942,(t9) muster Rolls, CompanyB, 2d Parachute Battallon, Jul 194(20) Muster Rolls, 2d Parachute Battaflon, 0.,,t 1941.(21) Huster RoUs, 2d Parachute Battatlon, Feb 1942 and Sep 1(22) Uuster Ro1ls, !tB, $AS, Lakehurst, N. J., I,fay L942.(23) D1r, D11'Pl.ans and_Pol1c1es 1tr to.CMC, dtd 7oct42, SubParachute SchooL8 (SubJect Flle; Panachute, I52O-3O-73'Central F11es, HQIICJ(24) !,luster Bol.l.s, tst Parachute Battallon, Jun-Jul 1942.(25) ttCor Frank O, ttough, USMCR, aJ Verle E. tud.r{1g, USMCand Henry I. Shaw, Jr. PearL {e!bgl !o Ouadalcanal,Hlsrory of u. s. Marlne e6;6s OE#AT1o;s--I;-f6F-1d w;r rr V6rl-T-(FdsErnEton..Hr-sTEr;c:3;-E@e;1959T,pp.-2(26) Muster Roll.s, ?d Parachute Battallon, Oct-Nov 1942, Jan1943, Apr 1"943.(27) ltuster RoLls, 3d Parachute BattaLlon, Sep 1942.(28) l!-tlt 8obrt A. Aurthur, USli{CR, nd lstlt Kenneth CohtnlUSMCR. Ibg Th1nd !'Iarlne Dl.vlslon (Washlnglronr Infantry.rour"na 3i6sFl-T-948[-![ .-846-(29) ltuster RoUs, 3d Parachute Battauon, Apn 1943.(30) l.tustenRol1s, lst Parachuts BattalLon, Apr 1943.(31) ltust6r Rol1s, ConpanyB, 4th ParachuteBattatlon, Apn 19(32) Mu8ter Ro11s, 4th Parachute Battal.l.on, JuI 1943, Jan 194(33) i{al John N. Rentz, USMCR. 3ouga1nv111eand the Northernso 9p941(uash nst on q1s Sec;-tlt-E5 rnr o-,E-a)44;-t9T$p. LO6ff,. and, unless otherwlse clted, the source of thefollowlng account of the 1st Parachute Reglment.(34) cNo Ltr to cMc, dtd 24Dec43, subJ! parachute pnogran(SubJectF1le: Av la t lon Act lv l t ies , ceneraL, 116- -10,

Central F1leE, H@C-;J_(35) CMCmessage o.CO, lstMAC, dtd 30 Decchute Progran (SubJect F11e: Av la t lon1165-10, Cent ra l F l Ies, Ha! , {C.-1943, subJ: ParaAct1v1!1es, Cene


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(36) l,irster Ro1ls,(37) co1warnerT.26 Apl' 1967.

(39) Robert Sherrod. 81C!qI of MerLne ilar rt (waanrnstoi'i--d6fitEF6iE6E(4o) ftcol Rathvonu. Tonpkl.ns,USHo,.Corps Gazette, Jan 1947, pp. 9-L4.

Lst llarlne Paracttute Reglnent, Jan-Feb44.Bigge!. lntervlelr by ltrfstBr, G-3, HQI{C,dtd

(38) Col O. lI. Hheeler, USMC, lv Publnfo, ltr to 2dl,tghler, tr., USMo, td 30 Dec 1947 (SubJect Ftle:cbute Trqopg.John N.Para-

(41) Cllc ftr to cc, cherry Polnt, dtd 10chute Rlggers SchooL (SubJect Fllg:1520-30-135,Cent ra l F1 leB, EQ C. )(42) Ct'!Ctr dtd 17 Feb 1945, su!J: Parachutes (subJ6ct FlLe:Parachutes, Adoptlon of, 1165-50, Central Ftles, IIQJ{C.(43) CltC1tr attat 0 Dec L945, SubJ: Parachute School (SubJectFlLe; ParacbuteSohool, L52O-3O-1.35,entral. Fl.les, HQfiC.(44) UaJGenPedro del Valle, USMC. 'rTactlcal Posslblllt led ofAlrborne Attack." llarlne Corps Gazette, Dec 1947, pp.22-25.(45) Ltcol orBond B. slnp8on, usMc. rrAlr Transportabltlty lnthe llarlne Corps." Mer"lne CorpB Gazette, Apr L949, pp.10-15, May 1949, pp.-ZE:33(45) trlueter Ro1ls, let Fonce Reoonn&Lcaance ompany,Jun L957.(4f) ti{arlne Conps Test Untt #1, MCB, Canp Pendleton, TestProJects Report f!, dtd Jun 1957 (H18tBr, C-3, H@T,p. 1-B-2, and, mXesB othe:"wlse clted, the aource of thefoLLowlng account.(48) MaJ Bruce F. l. leyer8, USl.lC, "Force Recon.Qazette, May 196L, p. 53.

Recon - EV Land, Sea,1959, pp. 46-47.(5O) ltrster Bol1s, 2d Foree ReconnalasaneeConpany, Jun 1958.(51) l.tuster Ro118, SU#1, lst Force ReeonnalaaanceConpany,Oct-Dec 1960.

Corps Avlatlon ln WorldFr&;,-TtttJ-, p. lze:-"To War by A1r. r' llarlne

Jan L944, subJ: Para-Parachute School,

" Marlne Corps(49) SAenHernan Nlckeraon, USMC. "Forceand 41r. " ltarlne CorDs Cazette. Feb

lo


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APPDNDIXA, COIIIMAI{DINCTFICERS, PARACITUTEEGIMn.ITAND AATTAI,IONS

l{OIEr Conplled rom !tuster Rolts, Untt Dlary Sectlon, PensoDeparfiient, Headquarters, U. s. Marlne corps.lst Parashute

Ltcol Robet't B. WlLl.1angNone shownI,tcol Rlctrard I'I. HawardI"tool Robert H. W1lIlanEMaJ Rlchard FaganNone ahown

Reqlnent1 Apr 1943I) rrUn .tY4517 Jun 19431 Ju1 194316 Jan 194424 leb 1944

L1 11224) q' l ?1524?a22, ?B10)"7202 7I28II6o18

I281106I11.

Aug 1941Sep L94Llep ]211Jep -[y+isep 1941Sep 1941Sep 1941Oct L94LOot 1941oct 194LOct L94LNov 1941Nov 1941Dec 1941Dec 1941Dec 194LDec 1941Dec 1941Dec 1941Ian 1942Vlat 1942Apr 1942Jul. 1942sep 1942Sep 1942sep 1942Sep 1942Apr 1943Apr 1943May 1943May 1943Jun 1943dun ly+JJan 1944

I4 rrun J,yr+J-O .JUn ly4J30 Jun 19415 Jan 1942? Fah 1ol l l20 Fah l O,h

31 Aug 19410 Sep 19423 sep 19412 Oct 19414 oct 1.923 oct 19428 Oet r.9421 Nov L947 Dec 194O na^ lol]1r4 re" i6q16 Dec 194

L9 Dec 19426 Dec 1943L Dec 1942T Har 19430 l{ar 1947 Ju1 1945 Sep 194I sep 19417 Sep 19426 Sep 19431 Mar 19427 Apr 19430 Apr 1949 lray r.945 Jun 1947 Jun 19410 Jan 19429 Feb 194

1st Parachute BattallonCaptCaptCaptCaptCaptCaptCaptCaptCaptCaptCap{tcaptCaptCaptCaptcaptCaptCaptCaptM JMaJMaJMaJCaptMaJCapt! IUO IMaJCaptMaJMaJMaJlla JMaJ

Robert H. WllllanslilarcelluB J. HonardRobent E. WlL11ansl4arceLlus J. HowardRobert H, WlLltan8Uarsellua J, HowardRobert H. Ull11ansl.raroe]l,us J. IlowardRobert 8. WllllarnBMarcelLua J. IlowardRobex"lr . ll l l ltangUarceLLus J, HowandRobert Il. WllllansCharLe8 A. Mll.]erRobert H, WllllansCharles A. Mll-IerRobert H. W1llLansCharles A. Mlller.Bobert H. Wl]llansRobert lI. Wl111arasMarcellus J. XlowardRobert H. WllllansCharLe8 A. MllLerHarry L. longensonCharles A. lil1]lerI{arr"y L. TorgeraonRobert H. WluiarnsBrooko B. HatchRobert O, l4cDonoughRober.t O. McDonoughRlchar.d FaganRobert G. McDonoughRlchard FaganRobert C. ilcDonough

17


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2d Parachute BattallonCaptuaJl.laJuaJl,laJM8JLtColI'tAJtl8 JI'taJ

Charles E.CharLes E.Rlctlard ll.Robert T.Rlchard W.Rlchard l{.Rlchard l.I.Vlctor ll.garner T.Tol.son A.Warner T.

ShepardShepardIlayrvardVanceIlaywardGreeneHaynardllawardKrulakBlggerSnoakBlgger"3d Parachute

1 oct 19411 Jan 1942 -6 May 1942 -L4 Aug 1942 -18 Aue 1942 -2l Sep 1942 -e8 sep 1942 -8 Mar 1943 -1 Apr 1943 -8 Nov 1943 -7 Dec 1943 -' 20 Dec 1943 -Battallon

lAn L9+J{u" l21ldan iy+J.Ian 1943Feb 1943Feb 1943Feb L943Mar 1943l,{ar 1943I{ar 1943I'lar 1943Apr 1943Apr 1943llay 191+3May 1943Ii{av 1943May 1943Jun 1943J-un1913Jun 1943Jun 1943'jun IY'+J

Jr uec 19415 l{ay 194213 Aug 194217 Aug 194220 Sep 194227 Sep 19427 M a F l o ! ?3I ar 19437 N9v 19436 Dec L94319 Dec L94329 Feb 1944

6 Jan 194320 Jan 194330 (tan 1943I reb 19439 Feb 194319 Feb 19432U Feb 19436 Mar 1943L2 Mar 194316 lq,ar194331 Mar 19439 Apr 1943lU Apr 19435 May 19437 May194318 lrtay l-94321 May 19435 Jun 194318 Jun 194322 Jn 194327 Jun L94329 Jun 1943

MaJCaptMaJMaJRobert T. VanceDonald B, llubbardRobert T. VanceHarry I- Torgeraonllone ahor.m

16 Sep 1942 - 22 Nov Ig4Z23 Nov 1942 - 27 Nov 79422U Nov 1942 - 9 Dec 194310 Dec 1943 - 20 Feb 194421 Feb 1944 - 29 Feb 1944Paraqhute Battallon, Nefl Rlver( JaEen 4En laracnule l lalEal.1on,

CaptItCol.CaptCaptLlrColCaptLtColaJLtCo]LtColM e lLtCol$raJLtCol!.{aJLtCol"LtCollf. I!luol-llaJ

Bruce B. Cheeverl i larceLLusJ. UowardBnuce B. Cheever.WlLllan J. McKennanI'larceLl.us J. IlowandBtuce B. Cheeverllarcel.Lus J. HowardBruce B. Cheever:ltarcellus J. IlowardBruce B. Cheever.ManoeLLua . IlorardBruce B. CheeverMarcelLua J. UowardBruce B. CheeverMarcellua .1. EonardNone ahownJu8ttn G. DuryeaItl,arcellus J, IlowardJustln G. Dur'treallancellus J. I{owardJustln G. DuryeaI{iarcell.us J. Howardrtustln G. Duryea

I2 l, ? 1L0' l ' /

11 71Lo1 051 A22

"8O

18


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Ij. ;*-

l'

4th Par-achrrte BattallonLtqolMaJLt9olM q lfraJI{ad

Uarcellus t. llordar'dTon T. TrottlMarcellus J. AowardTon T. TrottlEanlel gJ toLlockTos t. Trottl

1 0


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NOIE Conplled fnon Naw a, ,ElTl"fiIliil3',3;"3SE1":BIp": *:^'F;-iffi.;6:i;E;;;.

APP4{DS BHOI{ONSOF PARAOIfUTE EGIIIEI{I ANDBATTATIOfS

#;"ii**# #ig;.r* *u:A,;.#Fr.#c-rqi! ffi :1st Parachute ReglmentASIATIC-PAOIFIC CAMPAICI{ TNEAIi'ER

!3il;l3u.tt"r of the soromons

SoLomon slands Canpalgn

Consolldatlon of, the SolononaIElands

30 Sep 1943 - 11 Jan 1944VICTORYSTREAIi{ERWORI,DWAAII

I Api: 1943 - 29 Feb 1944lst Parachute BattalLon

PRESID&:ITIAL ITNI? CIf ATION

ASIATIC-PAOIFIC CAUPAICNSTREAMERGuadaloanal-Tula8l Landlngs Z Aug I94Acapture _andDefen8e of Guidalcanaf fO n"E ig+2;:lffllurrt"r of rhe solonons 30se; 1i43

7 Aug 1942

VICTORYSTREAI{F.RWORI/DWAR I7 D6o 1941 - 29 Feb 1944

2d Parachute BattaltonASIATIC-PACII'IC CA],'PAICN TRNAER

- 9

- - 2- _tai- l L

lus 1942Aug r94asep 1942Jan 1944

27 Oct rg43 - Ir Jan 1944VICTORY STREAIi{ERWORLD rrAn II

7 Dec 1941 - 29 Feb 194420


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united states marine corps parachute units

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