12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion

May 2020 12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion File:12th Defense Bn.jpg Unofficial 12th Defense Battalion insignia from 1980 Reunion pamphlet 1 Aug 1942Rottman 2002 212 – 22 Sep 1945Rottman 2002 217 United States of America Flag_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg United States Marine Corps Air Defense/Coastal Defense ~1000 men I Marine Amphibious CorpsRottman 2004 28 N/A World War II Operation Chronicle Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu William H. Harrison (USMC) The 12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (12th AAA Bn) was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 12th Defense Battalion, its original mission was providing air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended the Russell Islands and took part in combat operations at Woodlark Island, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu. The battalion remained on Peleliu for the duration of the war and was finally decommissioned on Guam on 22 September 1945. History The 12th Defense Battalion was commissioned on August 1, 1942, at San Diego, California.Rottman 2002 213 On January 19, 1943, the battalion embarked on the USS Pinkney and the SS Robin Wentley and sailed for the Territory of Hawaii.Melson 1996b 32 It arrived at Pearl Harbor on January 29 and immediately set up camp at and began training at Camp Catlin on Oahu. The battalion sailed from Pearl Harbor on May 14, 1943, on board the SS Robin Wentley. They arrived at Townsville, Australia on 1 June however it was not there long. The 12th Defense Battalion departed Australia on 13 June en route to their objective area. Between 30 June and 1 July the battalion landed at Woodlark Island and Milne Bay. Their mission was to provide area air defense for the United States Army units tasked with seizing these islands.Melson 1996a 14 The battalion remained at Woodlark Island until December 7, 1943, when it set departed for Oro Bay, New Guinea. The 12th Defense Battalion came ashore on Cape Gloucester between 26 & 27 December 1943. Once ashore the battalion was initially tasked with establishing air and seacoast defense of Beaches Yellow 1 & 2.https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4013coll8/id/2415/rec/17 Special Action Report: Cape Gloucester Operations 1944 Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library 1st Marine Division November 11, 2020 As the battalion was unloading on 26 December the first Japanese air raids occurred. A few hastily placed guns let loose against 88 Japanese aircraft that were strafing and bombing the beachhead.Hough Crown 1952 62 With no real threat of an amphibious counterattack, the battalion's coastal guns were utilized for deep fired against Japanese supply ships and staging areas. The battalions radars and guns provided early warning and anti-aircraft fires against Japanese planes flying out of Rabaul that continued to harass the beachhead over the next few months.Hough Crown 1952 73 A majority of the battalion departed Cape Gloucester via the SS Santa Monica on 1 June 1944. It arrived at Banika in the Russell Islands on 9 June. As the war progressed, the Marine Corps removed coastal artillery from the defense battalions in order to form additional heavy artillery units for the Fleet Marine Force.Rottman 2002 216 Because of the divestiture of the coastal defense mission, the battalion was re-designated as the 12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on 15 June 1944.Rottman 2002 217 At the end of August 1944 the battalion participated in landing rehearsals at Guadalcanal and on 8 September they set sail for Peleliu. The battalion went ashore at Peleliu on 15 September 1944 and, along with the 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was tasked with providing air defense for the landing force once ashore.Hough 1950 206 The battalion guns were also utilized in direct fire mission in support of Marine assault forces attempting to dislodge dug in Japanese defenders. After the battle, the battalion remained on Peleliu for the duration of the war. In March 1945, the unit's heavy guns section was sent to the northern Palau Islands in order to engage enemy targets. On 13 September 1945 the 12th AAA Battalion departed Peleliu arriving on Guam on 16 September. On 22 September 1945 the battalion was decommissioned on Guam. Unit awards A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion has been presented with the following awards: Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info200pxAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer w/ 3 Bronze StarsEastern New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu200pxWorld War II Victory Streamer1941–1945Pacific War Memorial for the members of the 12th Defense Battalion lost during WW2. It is located inside the MCRD, San Diego, CA alt=12th Defense Battalion Memorial.|thumb Marine Defense Battalions List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units Citations References Bibliography The Assault on Peleliu https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Hough_The%20Assault%20on%20Peleliu.pdf Hough Frank O. 1950 United States Marine Corps Historical Branch The Campaign on New Britain https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Hough%20and%20Crown_The%20Campaign%20on%20New%20Britain.pdf Hough Frank O. Crown John A. 1952 United States Marine Corps Historical Branch U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945 Rottman Gordon L. 2002 Greenwood Press 0-313-31906-5 US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1943-44 Rottman Gordon L. 2004 Osprey Press 1841766518 Web Melson Charles D. Condition Red: Marine Defense Battalions in World War II Marines in World War II Commemorative Series Marine Corps Historical Center Washington, D.C. 1996a https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Condition%20Red%20Marine%20Defense%20Battalions%20in%20World%20War%20II%20%20PCN%2019000313300_1.pdf 34920984 96174419 2020-05-17 Part 1 Melson Charles D. Condition Red: Marine Defense Battalions in World War II Marines in World War II Commemorative Series Marine Corps Historical Center Washington, D.C. 1996b https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Condition%20Red%20Marine%20Defense%20Battalions%20in%20World%20War%20II%20%20PCN%2019000313300_2.pdf 34920984 96174419 2020-05-17 Part 2 AAA12 Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 AAA 12