350TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY SEARCHLIGHT BATTALION
40TH COAST ARTILLERY BRIGADE, US ARMY
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The 350th Coast Artillery Battalion was first organized on 1 May 1942 at Camp Stewart, GA. The Battalion was attached to the 10th Anti-aircraft Artillery Group in September 1942 and was redesignated as the 350th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion in May 1943. The 350th Battalion sailed for Australia in October 1943 on board the USS Monticello (AP-61) and the SS Conte Grande.

The 350th AAA SL Bn arrived in Sydney, New South Wales in November 1943. They caught the train to Townsville in North Queensland where they were stationed at Camp Cluden, the local horse racing track. While based at Camp Cluden they took part in jungle training for the next three months.

In February 1944, the 350th AAA SL Bn sailed for Lae in New Guinea. The Battalion rejoined the 10th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group and was assigned to Nadzab, where it remained until December 1944; then moved to Finschaven. In March 1945, the 350th Battalion sailed for the Philippines where it was assigned to General MacArthur's headquarters as part of the security and guard detail for the headquarters and the General's residence.

Many of the members of 350th witnessed the formal signing of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri. The 350th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion was inactivated in Manila on 21 February 1946.

REFERENCE

"350th AAA SL BN TRIBUTE" Web Page
by David Smith

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank David Smith for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 10 July 2009

This page last updated 19 January 2020