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Post by batteryboy on May 11, 2009 18:50:08 GMT 8
Hi Guys, Can anyone confirm if the 462nd used the single or split spade (or both) 75mm Pack Howitzer used during the drop in 1945? Below is a 75mm Pack Howitzer in a single trail as illustrated: Now below is a photo of the 75mm Pack Howitzer but has the spit trail spade (at the rear of the two gentlemen) Also in the photo is Major Arlis Kline, C.O. of the 462nd FA during the drop in Feb 45 and good friend Art Napolitano. And can anyone confirm if they were attached under the C-47s as depicted below: Or where they bundled or packed differently? Thanks in advance.
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Post by mgk1951 on Oct 17, 2009 10:04:37 GMT 8
Hi Batteryboy Better late than never - I've managed to capture this photo from 1945 newsreel footage. It will answer your question of what model of 75mm Howitzer was used on Corregidor in February 1945. I don't have any information on how the 75mm Howitzer was carried and dropped from a C-47. The M1A1 75mm Howitzer on Carriage M8 could be broken into 9 bundles. As the howitzer weighs 1330lb complete, I would suggest it was bundled and dropped from under the aircraft. It would be difficult for the Jumpmaster and air crew to manhandle an assembled howitzer through the cargo door. Each C-47 was over Corregidor for less than 4 seconds, so I think the bundled option would have been how they were dropped. Regards mgk1951
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Post by mapmaster on Oct 17, 2009 10:48:05 GMT 8
Hi
A set of maps I have seen, that accompany a report on the 503d PRCT operations on Coregidor, mentions that by the end of the third day (18th February 1945) 9 x 75mm Howitzers had been assembled out of 15 dropped.
On 16th February, 151 "parabundles" were dropped during the first parachute landing and 159 bundles during the second parachute landing that day. There is no mention of complete equipments, only bundles.
Regards
mapmaster
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Post by mgk1951 on Oct 18, 2009 17:37:47 GMT 8
Hi
Here is some more information on the 75mm Howitzer when bundled for transporting by C-47.
The howitzer was broken into 9 bundles. They were:
1. Front trail section and drawbar 2. Axle, rear trail section and toolbox 3. Sleigh and gun cradle 4. Top gun cradle 5. Cannon tube 6. Breechblock and sights 7. Carriage wheels 8. 10 ready rounds of ammunition 9. Paracaisson Handcart with eight additional rounds
Bundles one through five and nine were attached to release points on the fuselage and wings of the C-47. The Jumpmaster released the bundles over the drop zone by a series of switches. As he did so, gunners pushed bundles six, seven and eight roped together out through the troop door and then followed the bundles out. A webbed harness connected the bundles released from outside the aircraft and ensured they arrived on the DZ close together.
Regards
mgk
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Post by batteryboy on Oct 19, 2009 11:20:12 GMT 8
OK, this is great info. Thanks Mapmaster!
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Post by mgk1951 on Oct 25, 2009 10:19:55 GMT 8
Hi Here are two pictures from a US Army Manual from 1948. They show the made up bundles for the 75mm Howitzer ready for loading into and beneath a C-47. Although the manual is from 1948, the method of packing and loading the howitzer would have been the same or similar on 16th February 1945. I will continue research into the packs as there were several variations of paracrates/racks. Regards mgk
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Post by batteryboy on Oct 26, 2009 11:10:25 GMT 8
Keep em coming.... I am building a C-47 and the more references the better!
Thanks,
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Post by mgk1951 on Oct 31, 2009 20:56:57 GMT 8
Hi Batteryboy I've found out quite a bit more about the C-47 Paracrates for the 75mm Pack Howitzer. There were two types, the first was wooden while the second was sheet steel. Those of wooden construction were manufactured from 1942 and standardised in 1943. There was also a model made of aluminum, much later. The amount of information found would fill several pages here. So to save a bit of space, is there any photographic evidence of, let's say, the model cart used to carry 75mm Howitzer ammunition on Corregidor? Carts were part of the C-47 Paracrate load and carried some ammunition and more ammunition was dropped in one of the other Paracrates. The cart was then used to move collected ammunition. As mentioned above, the cart, or to use its correct name Paracassion, was constructed of either wood or steel. The model was either Paracaisson Load M9 or Paraciasson Load M9A2; wood and steel respectively. The M9 was plywood, while the M9A2 was corrugated sheet steel with stamped steel ends and stiffeners. M9 Paracaisson Load M9A2 Paracaisson Load There is a likelihood of a cart being photographed alongside a 75mm Howitzer. If we can confirm which model cart was used we can make an educated guess which type of Paracrate were used in 1945. The model of cart would be the "give away". The Paracrates were loaded differently inside and under the C-47 depending on whether they were wood and steel. Regards mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 4, 2009 19:39:28 GMT 8
Hi Some snaps of 462nd PFA Bn 75mm Howitzers on Corregidor. These again are Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M8. They appear to have been photographed from Mile Long Barracks. The method of moving the howitzer is usual for parachute artillery - man power. Regards mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 7, 2009 11:53:59 GMT 8
Hi
My research into which model Paracrate (wooden, metal or aluminum) was used to drop the 462nd PFA Bn 75mm onto Corregidor has come up unanswered.
The only reference I can find to the model of Paracrate used is in a report by Capt. James A. Callender, A. G. D., Asst. Adj. General. The report covers the Corregidor operations and under the heading (18.) Artillery Paracrates names several of the paracrates as M1 and M9. The use of the name M9 would indicate wooden Paracrates. The M9 is in fact the wooden M9 Paracaisson. Those of steel or aluminum construction were Paracaisson M9A2 and M18 respectively.
However, there are several inconsistencies within the report. The first relates to a comment " a paracrate to take the M1 carriage might prove desirable". Why? The M1 Carriage was the same carriage as the M8 except that the M1 was equipped with wooden spoked wheels with bronze bearings. The M1 was not suitable for high speed towing; the M8 was.
A second inconsistency relates to another comments about "the front trail (Paracrate M1)was ejected from the door in place of the M9 ammunition caisson" and "the M9 ammunition prison was carried in and dropped from the pararack (i.e. from under the aircraft). If actual fact the M9 was never carried as a door load, but the wooden Parachest M8 was part of the door load until the steel paracrate was developed. Then the wooden Parachest M8 was replaced by steel Parachest M8A1.
There is a third inconsistency with the report. It states that only 9 of the 15 - 75mm Howitzers dropped were recovered and were serviceable. However, 11 serviceable howitzers took part in the bombardment in preparation for the retaking of the tail of Corregidor. Other reports confirm the number of serviceable howitzers as eleven (of the twelve howitzers recovered by 19th Feb 1945, one was not serviceable).
So, I'm wondering at the inconsistencies. Perhaps Capt. James A. Callender only had limited information on the paracrates. It is possible that his report described the delivery arrangement for the metal or aluminum paracrates, but using the early designations for wooden paracrates.
I've looked at every available photograph related to the retaking of Corregidor and can see nothing representing either wooden, steel or aluminum paracrates. The steel and aluminum paracrates should have been visible in photographs of the battlefield showing debris.
From the howitzers recovered, there should have been 60 Paracrates , which are a bit longer than a 200 litre fuel drum and about the same diameter. These split into two lengthwise, so there should have been 120 items potentially to be photographed. If the paracrates were the wooden model, they would be more difficult to distinguish amongst photos of debris.
In summary, query not answered. However, I will post images of the arrangement of door and Pararack paracrates for both wooden and steel/aluminum very soon.
Regards
mgk
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