GORDONVALE AND THE
503RD PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT
A Mulgrave Shire Historical Society Publication

GORDONVALE AND THE
503RD PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT

A Mulgrave Shire Historical Society Publication

The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was formed on 24 February 1942 at Fort Benning, USA. This Regiment included the 501st Parachute Battalion and "A" Company, 504th Parachute Infantry.

The 503rd left San Francisco on 20 October 1942 on the Dutch ship MS Poelau Laut. They sailed via the Panama Canal where they picked up the 501st Parachute Battalion.

After 43 days and 42 nights they arrived in Cairns, north Queensland on 2 December 1942 after putting in at Brisbane and Townsville. They were then trucked to Gordonvale where they trained until 19 August 1943 when they returned to Cairns and flew to Port Moresby.

After leaving Gordonvale the 503rd made final preparations outside Port Moresby, Papua, and made their first combat drop on Nadzab in New Guinea. As well as fighting as ground troops, the 503rd made further combat drops on Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea, and on Corregidor Island, Manila Bay, Philippines. The Unit was awarded a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for the recapture of Corregidor.

This book gathers the stories, photographs, documents, personal letters and objects which are held at the local museum and are permanent reminders that those Paratroopers were regarded as "One of us".

Paperback, First Edition

88 pages, numerous photographs

$26:80 including Postage within Australia

Mulgrave Shire Historical Society Inc.
PO Box 566
Gordonvale, QLD 4865

Please mention that you heard about this book via the "Australia @ War" web site

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 25 February 2013

This page last updated 21 January 2020