16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion

16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
Active	10 Nov 1942 – 30 Nov 1945;
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Air Defense/Coastal Defense
Size	~800 men
Part of	V Amphibious Corps
Engagements	World War II ; *Battle of Okinawa
Commanders
Current; commander	N/A
Notable; commanders	Richard P. Ross Jr.

Last updated March 31, 2024

The 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (16th AAA Bn) was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 16th Defense Battalion, its original mission was the air and coastal defense of advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended Johnston Island, Hawaii and Tinian and took part in combat operations at Okinawa. The battalion returned to the United States after the war and was decommissioned on 30 November 1945 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

History

Organization

16th Defense Battalion Table of Organization (1943):^[3]
Headquarters and Service Battery
Light tank platoon
Searchlight Batteries
Seacoast Artillery Group
Group Headquarters
2 x 155mm Gun Batteries
AAA Group
Group Headquarters
3 x 90mm Gun batteries
Special Weapons Group
Group Headquarters
40mm Battery (w/ 12 guns)
20mm Antiaircraft Gun Battery
.50cal Antiaircraft Machine Gun Battery

The 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was commissioned on November 10, 1942 at Johnston Island. Personnel and equipment for the new battalion came from the re-designation of the Marine Defense Force, Naval Air Station Johnston Island. The battalion remained at Johnston Island providing air defense until March 22, 1944 when it was transferred to Kauai, Territory of Hawaii. Not all of the battalion departed Johnston Island as approximately 450 personnel remained for defensive purposes.^[1]

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.^[4] Because of the divestiture of the coastal defense mission, the battalion was re-designated as the 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on April 19, 1944. For the next few months, the battalion had to grow back to regular strength and continue training. On November 11, 1944, the battalion was transferred to the 1st Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group prior to deploying for combat operations in the Western Pacific.

The battalion continued training on Kauai until December 12, 1944 when it received a dispatch ordering it to quickly prepare for deployment to Tinian. On December 22, 1944, 57 officers and 1283 men from the battalion sailed from Nawiliwili onboard the SS Afoundria. The battalion's equipment left the next day on board the SS Samuel G. Howe.^[5]

Okinawa

On March 12, 1945, the assault echelon of the battalion departed Tinian and sailed towards Okinawa, Japan for the upcoming amphibious landing. The assault echelon disembarked naval shipping on April 8, 1945 and was initially responsible for providing air defense for the 1st Marine Division. On April 20 the battalion was retasked to provide light anti-aircraft protection for the III Marine Amphibious Corps landing at Hagushi and supplement the defenses of Yontan Airfield with their heavy antiaircraft guns.^[6]^[7] The remainder of the battalion arrived in a number of different waves during May 1945. During the Battle of Okinawa the 16th AAA Battalion was one of four AAA battalions that comprised the 1st Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group.^[8]

On May 11, 1945 an SCR-270 crew from the battalion was attacked by 12-14 Japanese soldiers. 11 Japanese were killed in the incident and 1 Marine was killed in action (KIA) and six more wounded in action (WIA).^[9] Two Marines from the battalion were KIA during the battle and another thirty two were WIA.^[10] The battalion remained on Okinawa providing air defense until September 20, 1945.

Decommissioning

On October 22, personnel of the 16th AAA Battalion embarked on the USS Meriwether (APA-203) and sailed for the United States. The battalion arrived at San Diego, California on 8 November 1945. On 27 November 1945 the 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was decommissioned.^[4]

Notable members

Gil Hodges - first basemen for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and manager for the New York Mets.^[11]

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 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion has been presented with the following awards:

Award	Year(s)	Additional Info
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer	17 April - 14 July 1945	Okinawa
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with one Bronze Star		Okinawa
World War II Victory Streamer	1941–1945	Pacific War

Citations

1 2 Rottman 2002, pp. 212.
↑ Rottman 2002, pp. 217.
↑ Rottman 2002, pp. 211.
1 2 Rottman 2002, pp. 216.
↑ War Diary, 1 - 31 December 1944 (PDF) (Report). First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group. January 3, 1945. pp. 2–4.
↑ War Diary, 1 - 30 April 1945 (PDF) (Report). First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group. May 9, 1945. p. 18.
↑ Nichols & Shaw 1955, pp. 200.
↑ Rottman 2004, pp. 88.
↑ War Diary, 1 - 31 May 1945 (PDF) (Report). First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group. June 10, 1945.
↑ Nichols & Shaw 1955, pp. 305.
↑ Clavin, Tom. (2013). Gil Hodges : the Brooklyn bums, the miracle Mets, and the extraordinary life of a baseball legend. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-451-23994-6. OCLC 798797291.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine defense battalions</span>

Marine Defense Battalions were United States Marine Corps battalions charged with coastal and air defense of advanced naval bases during World War II. They maintained large anti-ship guns, anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, and small arms to repel landing forces.

The 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was constituted 1 June 1821 in the Regular Army as the 4th Regiment of Artillery and organized from new and existing units with headquarters at Pensacola, Florida. As a result of the division of the Artillery Corps into Coast and Field Artillery units, the Regiment was broken up 13 February 1901, and its elements reorganized and redesignated as separate numbered companies and batteries of the Artillery Corps.

3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control and air defense unit that is optimized for operations in the first island chain. The battalion is based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division.

The 2nd 90mm Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that was active during the 1940s & 1950s. Originally formed during World War II as the 9th Defense Battalion, the battalion took part in combat operations on Guadalcanal, Rendova, Munda Point, and Guam. Like most other Marine defense battalions, the unit was re-designated in September 1944, becoming the 9th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. Returning to the United States in 1946, the battalion was again re-designated, this time as the 1st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. The battalion received its final designation as the 2nd 90mm Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on August 21, 1950. It was later decommissioned on September 15, 1956 at Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of ground based air defense in the United States Marine Corps</span>

The History of ground based air defense in the United States Marine Corps dates back to the early 1930s with the establishment of the Advanced Base Force. World War II would be the high-water mark for air defense units when 20+ defense/anti-aircraft battalions were formed with many seeing significant action throughout the Pacific Theater. Following the war, the Marine Corps divested itself of most of its air defense capability at a time when the service was facing deep personnel cuts and fighting for its institutional survival. Beginning in the early 1950s the Marine Corps aligned itself with the Navy and their development of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The Marine Corps retained both flak weapons and SAMs throughout the 1950s until the fielding of the MIM-23 Hawk Missile System in 1960. The HAWK Missile was employed by Light Antiaircraft Missile (LAAM) battalions and remained a mainstay of Marine Corps ground based air defense for the next four decades.

The 2d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1940 as the 2d Defense Battalion, its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended Hawaii, Tutuila in American Samoa and Guam and took part in combat operations at Tarawa Atoll and Okinawa. The battalion returned to the United States after the war and was decommissioned at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California on 28 November 1945.

The 8th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 8th Defense Battalion, its original mission was the air and coastal defense of advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended Tutuila in American Samoa, Wallis Island and Apamama and took part in combat operations at Okinawa. The battalion returned to the United States after the war and was decommissioned on 28 November 1945.

The 12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion 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.

The 2d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Composite) (2d AAA Bn [Composite]) was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1943 as the 3d Airdrome Battalion, its original mission was strictly providing air defense. On 1 October 1943 the battalion was redesignated the 18th Defense Battalion. During the war the battalion provided air defense for the Saipan and Tinian area of operations. The battalion returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina after the war receiving its final designation on 16 May 1946. The battalion was decommission in September 1947.

The 4th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1940 as the 4th Defense Battalion, its original mission was providing air and coastal defense of advanced naval bases. It was one of first five defense battalions deployed in support of the color-coded war plans that called for the defense of Hawaii and other outlying United States possessions in the Pacific Ocean. These five battalions were nicknamed the "Rainbow Five." During the war the battalion took part in combat operations during the attack on Pearl Harbor and at Vella Lavella. The battalion was decommissioned on 9 June 1945 before the end of the war.

The 5th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1940 as the 5th Defense Battalion, its original mission was providing air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. Prior to World War II the battalion deployed to Iceland as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in order to defend the neutral country from possible German attack. Following the Iceland deployment and a period of rest and refitting at home the battalion again deployed overseas to provide air defense for Funafuti in the Ellice Islands from September 1942 through February 1944. Also in 1942, two batteries from the 5th were dispatched to support operations on Tulagi during the Guadalcanal Campaign. These two batteries were later reorganized as part of the newly formed 14th Defense Battalion. The 5th Defense Battalion was re-designated as the 5th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion in April 1944 and took part in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. After the war the battalion returned to the United States where it was decommissioned in November 1945. Because the 14th Defense Battalion was formed from batteries belonging to the 5th Defense Battalion the two units retained close ties throughout the war. The 14th was nicknamed "Five:Fourteenth" and after the war the battalions formed a single alumni association.

The 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1940 as the 7th Defense Battalion, its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. It was one of first five defense battalions deployed in support of the color-coded war plans that called for the defense of Hawaii and other outlying United States possessions in the Pacific Ocean. These five battalions were nicknamed the "Rainbow Five." During the war the battalion defended Tutuila, Upolu, Savai'i and Nanumea and took part in combat operations at Anguar. The 7th was decommissioned before the end of World War II on 2 August 1945.

The 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion 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.

The 11th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 11th Defense Battalion, its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended took part in combat operations in the Solomon Islands. 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 December 15, 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion</span> Military unit

The 13th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 13th Defense Battalion, its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Hawaii. The battalion was the first Defense/AAA Battalion to be decommissioned during the war officially folding its flag on September 7, 1944.

The 17th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was an antiaircraft unit in the United States Marine Corps that served during World War II. The battalion was originally formed in 1942 as the 2d Airdrome Battalion and has the distinction of being the last defense battalion formed in the Marine Corps during the war. Its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion spent significant time defending Nukufetau and took part in combat operations at Tarawa and Tinian. The battalion was decommissioned on December 6, 1945.

The 15th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was an antiaircraft unit in the United States Marine Corps that served during World War II. The battalion was originally formed in 1942 as the 1st Airdrome Battalion. Its original mission was to provide air defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion took part in combat operations in the Marshall. The battalion was one of the first defense battalions to be decommissioned on November 25, 1944.

The 14th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was an antiaircraft unit in the United States Marine Corps that served during World War II. The battalion was originally formed in 1943 as the 14th Defense Battalion. Its mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion took part in combat operations in the Solomon Islands and on Guam. The battalion was decommissioned on June 30, 1945. Since then no other unit has carried the lineage and honors of the 14th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion.

The 3d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Composite) (3d AAA Bn (Composite)) was an antiaircraft unit in the United States Marine Corps that served during World War II. The battalion was originally formed in 1943 as the 52d Defense Battalion, one of the first African American units in the Marine Corps. Its original mission was to provide air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion served as garrison forces on Roi-Namur, Majuro, and Guam. The battalion returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina after the war. It was the last of the defense battalions before it was re-designated as the 3d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion in May 1946. The battalion was decommissioned on May 15, 1947.

The 1st Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group was a provisional unit that served as the headquarters for all United States Marine Corps antiaircraft battalions that participated in the Battle of Okinawa. The group was formed on Kauai, Territory of Hawaii in November 1944 under the command of the III Marine Amphibious Corps. For the Battle of Okinawa, the group was under the command of the 53d Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade of the Tenth United States Army and was responsible for air defense of the area surrounding Yontan & Kadena Airfields. Following the end of the war, the group returned to the United States and was decommissioned on December 5, 1945. To date, no other Marine Corps unit has carried the group's lineage and honors

References

Bibliography

Nichols, Charles S. Jr.; Shaw, Henry I. (1955). Okinawa: Victory in the Pacific (PDF). United States Marine Corps Historical Branch.
Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
Rottman, Gordon L. (2004). US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operationss 1944-45. Osprey Press. ISBN 1841766593.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[FOOTNOTERottman2002212-1] 1 2 Rottman 2002, pp. 212.

[FOOTNOTERottman2002217-2] Rottman 2002, pp. 217.

[FOOTNOTERottman2002211-3] Rottman 2002, pp. 211.

[FOOTNOTERottman2002216-4] 1 2 Rottman 2002, pp. 216.

[1stProvAAAGrpDec44-5] War Diary, 1 - 31 December 1944 (PDF) (Report). First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group. January 3, 1945. pp. 2–4.

[1stProvAAAGrpApr45-6] War Diary, 1 - 30 April 1945 (PDF) (Report). First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group. May 9, 1945. p. 18.

[FOOTNOTENicholsShaw1955200-7] Nichols & Shaw 1955, pp. 200.

[FOOTNOTERottman200488-8] Rottman 2004, pp. 88.

[9] War Diary, 1 - 31 May 1945 (PDF) (Report). First Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group. June 10, 1945.

[FOOTNOTENicholsShaw1955305-10] Nichols & Shaw 1955, pp. 305.

[11] Clavin, Tom. (2013). Gil Hodges : the Brooklyn bums, the miracle Mets, and the extraordinary life of a baseball legend. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-451-23994-6. OCLC 798797291.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]