"OPERATIONS OF THE ROCK FORCE (503D NOT REINFORCED) IN THE RECAPTURE OF CORREGIDOR"
_________________
Magnus L. Smith*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff Department

THE INFANTRY SCHOOL

Fort Benning, Georgia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVANCED INFANTRY OFFICERS COURSE

1949-1950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATIONS OF THE �ROCK FORCE�

(503D NOT REINFORCED) IN THE RECAPTURE

OF CORREGIDOR ISLAND, 16 FEBRUARY - 8 MARCH 1945

(LUZON CAMPAIGN)

(Personal Experience of an Assistant Regimental Operations Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type of operation described:  AIRBORNE AND

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT OF A FORTIFIED ISLAND

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Magnus L. Smith, Infantry

ADVANCED INFANTRY OFFICERS CLASS NO. II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS  
   
  PAGE
 

 

INDEX

1

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2

 

 

ORIENTATION

3

  Introduction

3

  The General Situation

4

  Disposition and Plan of the II Corps

6

  The Situation of the 503d RCT

7

  Coordination

11

  The Plan of the Rock Force Commander

14

  Final Preparation and the Airlift  

19

 

 

NARRATION

20

  Phase I, The Aerial Assault 

20

  Phase II, the Amphibious Assault 

26

  Phase III, Destruction of the Enemy on Topside

27

  Phase IV, Destruction of the Enemy East of Malinta Hill 

34

 

 

ANALYSIS AND CRITICISM 

36

 

 

LESSONS

42

     
MAP A Leyte to Luzon  
     
MAP B  XI Corps Plan  
     
MAP C Terrain  
     
MAP D RCT Plan  
     
MAP E D + 1  
     
MAP F  D + 2 and 3  
     
MAP G D + 4 - D + 9  
     
MAP H Phase IV  
     
     
     
     

     FOOTNOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

BIBLIOGRAPHY  

 

A-1      General Marshall�s Report

            The Winning of The War in Europe and The Pacific

            July 1 1943 to June 30 1945

            (TIS Library)

A-2      Drop on Corregidor

            By Major Thomas C. Hardman

            Coast Artillery Journal July August 1945 Page 21

            (TIS Library)

 

A-3      Field Order No. 9, 503d Regimental Combat Team

            13 February 1945

            (TIS Library)

 

A-4      Luzon Campaign, United States, Sixth Army,

            9 January - 30 June 45 Vol. IV

            (TIS Library)

 

A-5      How the Japs Took Corregidor

            By Colonel Stephen M. Mellnik

            Coast Artillery Journal March April 1945, Page 3

            (TIS Library)

 

A-6      Luzon Campaign, United States Sixth Army,

9 January - 30 June 45 Vol. 1

(TIS Library)

 

A-7      Corregidor Coordination

            By Lt. Col. E. M. Postlethwait

            The Infantry Journal August 1945, Page 16

            (TIS Library)

 

A-8      USAFEE Board Report No. 308

            Corregidor Island Operation, 16 Feb - 8 March 1945

            16 May 45

            By Lt. Col. Robert Alexander

            (TIS Library)

 

A-9      The Corregidor Operation

            By Lt. Col. E. J. Jenkins

            Military Review April 1946, Page 57

 

A-10    Historical Report, Corregidor Island Operation

            (Operation 48, Headquarters 503d Regimental Combat

            Team, 6 March 45)

            (Personal Possession of Author)

 

NEXT PAGE

 

 

*Capt. Smith was the Assistant Regimental Operations Officer of the 503d PRCT. By June 1960, as an LTC, he commanded a clandestine special ops Team II inserted in Laos, "Operation White Star."  

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This article was transcribed as part of our Volunteer Program by Mary Claire Megargle. Thankyou Mary-Claire!

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