10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion

United States Marine Corps WWII antiaircraft unit June 2020 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion June 1, 1942Rottman 2002 212 – November 25, 1944Rottman 2002 217 United States of America Flag_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg United States Marine Corps Air Defense/Coastal Defense ~1,100 men N/A World War IISolomon Islands campaignBattle of Kwajalein Robert Blake (USMC) The 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (10th AAA Bn) was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 10th Defense Battalion, its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion took part in combat operations in the Russell Islands and at the Eniwetok. The battalion's tank platoon also saw extensive action on New Georgia and Arundel Island. The battalion was decommissioned before the end of the war on 25 November 1944. History Organization The 10th Defense Battalion was commissioned on June 1, 1942, at Marine Corps Base San Diego, California.Rottman 2002 211 Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blake was the battalion's first commanding officer.Melson 1996b 31 At commissioning the battalion consisted of the following elements: H&S Battery 155mm Artillery Group 90mm AA Group Special Weapons Group Russell Islands On August 21, 1942, the battalion embarked on the Day Star and sailed for the Territory of Hawaii. They arrived at Pearl Harbor on August 31, 1942, and proceeded to establish themselves at nearby Camp Catlin. Not long for Hawaii, the battalion departed on February 6 on board the Pinkney and the Robin Wentley. After a layover in Espiritu Santo they arrived at the Florida Islands on February 24, 1943. The first echelon of the battalion departed on March 14 for the Russell Islands. The remainder of the battalion arrived by March 28, 1943. "A" Battery was located on Pavuvu while "B" Battery was stationed on Mbanika. Originally the battalion established an SCR-270 radar on a mountain on Mbanika. Problems supplying the radar and moisture caused by cloud cover caused it to be moved to a hill on the northeast portion of the island.Simmons Ed Smith Norm 1995 ECHOES OVER THE PACIFIC: An overview of Allied Air Warning Radar in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor to the Philippines Campaign http://www.radarreturns.net.au/archive/EchoesRRWS.pdf 153 During May and June 1943, antiaircraft guns of the 10th Defense Battalion engaged numerous Japanese air raids against the newly constructed airfield on Banika. During this time the Commanding Officer of the 10th Defense Battalion also assumed the responsibilities as the Antiaircraft Commander, Russell Islands and Commander Marine Defense Group Solomons. During July 1943, M3A1 Stuart Light Tanks of the 10th Defense Battalion were assigned to support the 43rd Infantry Division securing Munda Point on New Georgia.Updegraph 1972 73 After Munda, the tank section was transported via landing craft to Arundel Island where they again provided fire support for the 43rd Infantry during their seizure of the island.Melson 1996a 15-16 On December 30, 1943, the US Army's 13th Antiaircraft Group assumed responsibility for air and coastal defense of the Russell Island. Eniwetok From February 1–7 the battalion loaded on board the William H. Allen and the Santa Cruz 1941 6. The ships departed the Russell Islands on February 10 and arrived at Tarawa, where it received verbal orders to proceed to Kwajalein Atoll. Upon arrival off the coast of Kwajalein on February 18 the battalion received orders to organize a 500-man infantry unit (10th Defense Battalion Provisional Landing Force). It was going to serve as the V Amphibious Corps reserve for the upcoming assault on the atoll.Rottman 2004 71 The 10th did not land on D-Day as Marines from the 22nd Marine Regiment accomplished the mission on February 22. The battalion went ashore on Eniwetok on February 24 and began set up air and coastal defense guns. It assumed responsibility for air defense of Eniwetok along with Air Warning Squadron 1 whose Air Defense Control Center provided early warning radar and Ground-controlled interception for fighters. Reorganization, Hawaii and decommissioning 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 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on May 31, 1944.Rottman 2002 217 The seacoast artillery section departed Eniwetok on August 29 sailing for Kauai, Hawaii. Shortly thereafter on September 16 the 51st Defense Battalion assumed responsibility for defense of Eniwetok and Parry Islands.Melson 1996b 21-22 The 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion departed the Marshall Islands on September 17 and arrived in Kauai on September 27, 1944. The 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was decommissioned on November 25, 1944, by authority of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Special Order Number 104-44.Rottman 2002 217 December 1, 1944 War Diary, 1 - 30 November 1944 First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group 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 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion has been presented with the following awards: Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info200pxAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with three Bronze StarsSolomon Islands, Eniwetok200pxWorld War II Victory Streamer1941–1945Pacific War See also Marine Defense Battalions List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units Citations References Bibliography 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 1944-45 Rottman Gordon L. 2004 Osprey Press 1841766593 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 2020-05-25 Part 2 Updegraph George Special Marine Corps Units of World War II Marine Corps Historical Center Washington, D.C. 1972 https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Special%20Marine%20Corps%20Units%20of%20World%20War%20II%20%20PCN%2019000413200.pdf 2020-05-25 AAA10 Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 AAA 10