The Nadzab attack was planned as a two-fold operation. Airlifted from Port Moresby, 1700 men of the 503d PIR would jump onto an existing, but lightly defended, airstrip and secure the field while the C-47s returned to Marlinan to pick up/airland Australian infantry who had been pre-positioned there by airlift in anticipation of the operation. Thirty-six Australian artillerymen jumped with the 503d PIR, but it took 40 years of fighting before the Australian Government would allow these 'airgunners' to be awarded their U.S. combat wings.