BATTLE HISTORY, OPERATION 49

CORREGIDOR ISLAND PI

BATTERY D 462d PRCHT F A BATTALION

APO 321

On 7 February, the Battalion was alerted for the Corregidor operation, operation No.  49.  Officers and non-commissioned officer meeting was called by 1st. Lt.  Daniel J. Doherty, Battery Commander, who briefed the mission and gave orders to initiate packing for the jump.  The Machine Gun Platoons were assigned to their respective Infantry Battalions.  The 1st Machine Gun Platoon; 1st. Lt.  Roscoe B.  Morris, commanding, was attached to the 3d Battalion,  503d  Parachute Infantry.  The 2d Machine Gun Platoon; 2d Lt.  Robert G.  Allen, commanding, was attached to the 2d Battalion, 503d Parachute Infantry.  The 3d Machine Gun Platoon; 1st. Lt. Jesse B. Gandee, commanding, was attached to the 1st Battalion, 503d  Parachute Infantry.

 The Machine Gun Platoons consisted of one officer and forty-five enlisted men.  Their equipment was: Eight .50 cal.  Machine guns and supporting weapons and equipment.

 The 4th 75mm Howitzer Platoon, 2d Lt. Hugh J. Breslin, commanding, and the 5th 75mm Howitzer Platoon, 2d Lt.  Richard F. Boughn, commanding, were to drop the platoon equipment with the third lift.  This equipment was to be used as a Battalion resupply for the firing batteries.  The personnel of the two Howitzer Platoons were to be used as fillers for the Machine Gun Platoons. 1st. Lt. Lawrence W. Oliver, Battery Executive, was to jump with the second lift and serve as replacement for any officer lost.