Over-all commander in the New Britain Campaign was General Douglas MacArthur, within whose area it took place. More directly concerned, however, was Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, simultaneously commanding the New Britain (ALAMO) Force and Sixth Army, to which the 1st Marine Division was operationally attached although under administrative control of I Marine Amphibious Corps, commanded by Major General Roy S. Geiger. The first groups listed below under BACKHANDER Task Force constituted the organization for the landing, 26 December 1943. The ADC Group task organization was established to carry out the drive to the southeast, while a new task grouping was set up for the APPEASE (Talasea) operation.
BACKHANDER TASK FORCE1 (1st Marine Division, Reinforced) (15 December 1943)--MajGen William H. Rupertus
Greyhound Group (Combat Team C)--Col Julian N. Frisbie
7th Marines
1st Bn, 11th Marines
4th Bn, 11th Marines
Co A, 1st Tank Bn
3d Plt, Co D (Scout) 1st Tk Bn
3d Plt, MP Co, Div Hq Bn
Btry D, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
3d Plt, Btry A, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
Det Sup & Serv Co. 1st Serv Bn
Co C, 1st MT Bn
Co C, 1st Med Bn
Co C, 1st Amph Trac Bn
2d Bn, 17th Marines
Det Hq Co, Hq Bn, 1st Marines
3d Plt, Ord Co, 1st Serv Bn
Det Co C, 5834 Sig Bn
Det 15th Weapons Sq
Det 2d ESB
Det Sp Wpns Gp, 12th Def Bn
Wild Duck Group (Combat Team B)--Col William J. Whaling1st Marines (less BLT 21)
2d Bn, 11th Marines
Det H&S Btry, 11th Marines
C Btry, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
2d Plt, A Btry, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
Co B, 1st Amph Trac Bn (less 2d Plt)
Co B, 1st Bn, 17th Marines (less 2d Plt)
1st Plt, Co D (Scout) 1st Tk Bn
2d Plt, 1st MP Co
Co A, 1st MT Bn
2d Plt, Ord Co, 1st Ser Bn
Det Sup & Serv Co, 1st Ser Bn
Det 583d Sig Bn
Det 2d ESB
D Med Co, 1st Med Bn
Stoneface Group (Battalion Landing Team 21)--Lt Col James M. Masters, Sr.
2d Bn, 1st Marines
Btry H, 11th Marines
4th Plt, Btry A, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
1st Plt (Surg) Co B, 1st Med Bn
Det Co C, 583d Sig Bn
Det ANGAU
Det 2d ESB
Antiaircraft Group--Col William H. HarrisonDet H&S Btry, 12th Def Bn
90mm Gp, 12th Def Bn
Det Sp Wpns Gp, 12th Def Bn
One gun Sec, 155mm Gp, 12th Def Bn
Engineer Group--Col Harold E. Rosecrans17th Marines (less 2d Bn & Cos A, B and C)
Co E, 1st Med Bn
Base Engr Hq
Reserve Group (Combat Team A)--Col John T. Selden5th Marines
5th Bn, 11th Marines
Co A, 1st Bn, 17th Marines
Co B, 1st MT Bn
Co A, 1st Amph Trac Bn
2d Plt, Co D (Scout), 1st Tk Bn
1st Plt, Btry A, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
Co A, 1st Med Bn
Btry B, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
1st Plt, MP Co, Div Hq Bn
Co A, 1st Tk Bn
Co C, 1st Tk Bn
1st Plt, Ord Co, 1st Serv Bn
Det Sup & Serv Co, 1st Serv Bn* * * * * ADC GROUP TASK ORGANIZATION--BrigGen L. C. Shepherd, Jr. (1 January 1944)Attack Group--Col Julian N. Frisbie
7th Marines (less 2d Bn)
3d Bn, 5th Marines
Co C, 1st Amph Trac Bn
3d Plat, Ord Co, 1st Serv Bn
Det Sup & Serv Co, 1st Serv Bn
Artillery Group--LtCol R. B. Luckey1st Bn, 11th Marines
4th Bn, 11th Marines
Det H&S Btry, 11th Marines
Shore Party Group--LtCol R. G. Ballance2d Bn, 17th Marines
Co C, 17th Marines
Co C, 1st MT Bn
Co C, 1st Med Bn
Co E, 1st Med Bn
Det 1st Serv Bn
Group Reserve2d Bn, 7th Marines
Btry D, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
Plt, Co C, 1st Tk Bn* * * * * APPEASE OPERATION TASK ORGANIZATION (1 March 1944)Attack Group--Col O. P. Smith
5th Marines
2d Bn, 11th Marines
Co A, 17th Marines
Co F, 17th Marines
Btry B, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
1st Plt, Btry A, 1st Sp Wpns Bn
1st Plt, Co C, 1st Tk Bn (plus 4 Med Tks)
Co A, 1st Med Bn
Co B, 1st Amph Trac Bn (less 2 Amphib Tracs)
1st Plt, Co B, 1st MT Bn (less 1 Sec)
2d Plt, Co B, 1st Bn, 1st Marines (MPs)
Det Ord Co, 1st Serv Bn
Det Graves Regis Sec, 1st Serv Bn
3d ALP
Boat Bn, 533d Engineer Boat & Shore Regt (less Cos B & C)
Det Co C, 592d EBS
Det Co F, 533d EBS
Med Det, 533d EBS
Co A, 563d Engineer Boat Maintenance Bn (less 1 Blt)
Prov Div LCT (5) Flotilla 8, CTF76
Reserve Group2 --LtCol W. A. Reeves1st Bn, 1st Marines (less 1 Plt)
Det Co B, 1st Med Bn
Table of Contents ** Previous Chapter (Appendix VI) * Next Chapter (Appendix VIII)
Footnotes
1. The Garrison Group and the Amoeba Group (Division Rear Echelon) have been omitted. Company B, 1st Tank Battalion remained in New Guinea until 9Jan44 when it joined the Army forces at Arawe. Third Battalion, 11th Marines (less Battery H) remained at Finschhafen until it rejoined the division on 19Feb44.
2. The Reserve Group was set up by the BACKHANDER Task Force, but it was not included in the 5th Marines' operation order, nor was it ever committed on the Willaumez Peninsula.
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