​1945 ​AIRBORNE HISTORY

As the 503rd RCT advanced, the enemy defences became more elaborate and they came across bunkers containing machine guns that were placed so that they were mutually supporting.  The bunkers were deeply buried.  Trenches were dug in the reverse slopes connecting the bunkers.  A lot of planning and work had been put into the construction of these defensive works.  The flanks were well covered or impos­sible making flanking movements more perilous than frontal attacks. This was a different breed of Japanese from the gung-ho banzai types they encountered on Corregidor.  These defenders made everything hard.  They dug in deep in well prepared positions and waited for the US troops to dig them out.  Then at the last moment they would retreat to the next prepared position, and the whole thing would start over again.  As things were going the 503rd RCT was suffering as many or more casualties than the Japanese. Progress was really slow.

 ​503rd PIR land at Negros Island

Following the successful combat jump at Corrigedor in February 1945, 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team, returned to its base on Mindoro, shortly after the Island was reviewed by General Douglas MacArthur.  Almost immediately the Combat Team was alerted for a mission to jump on Negros Island to assist the 40th Infantry Division, which had bogged down in its efforts to subdue Japanese forces on that Island.  Here the historical information differs slightly.

According to the 503rd Historical Report (Operations) the RCT was alerted 25 March 1945 for a probable jump at Alicante Airfield, Negros Island in order to seize and secure the town of Saravia (on the northwest end of the island) and link up with the 185th Infantry RCT (40th Div) in the vicinity of the Imbang River Bridge. The 3rd Battalion was scheduled to jump at 0900 and the 2nd Battalion at 1200.

On the other hand, the 503rd RCT Historical Report (Operational) states that after F.O. #10 was issued 5 April 1945, the jump was cancelled on that same day because the enemy was not defending the coastal regions. The movement of the RCT, less the 1st Battalion, C Battery and elements of D Battery, 462nd PFA (which were to remain on Mindoro as reserves) began on 6th April and was completed on 7th April. The units were flown by C-46's to Iloilo City, Panay Island (to the west of Negros) and then crossed the straits to Pulupanadan, Negros by LCI's. The 503rd RCT was now under command of Major General Rapp Brush, commanding general of the 40th Infantry Division.

Flagship prior to the invasion

 .30Cal machine gun team in action

Into May 1945, the Japanese troops continued to fall back towards the mountains and the 503rd RCT spent the time chasing in invisible foe, who would then launch hit and run actions, and disappear into the jungle. This processed continued until the 503rd was able to clear the jungle of the last remaining Japanese forces. 

By the end of World War II in August 1945 the 503rd had incurred some of the most brutal combat of the War on Negros, fighting the persistent Japanese force which occupied the Island, where approximately 7500 Japanese  prisoners were taken by the 503rd.

Either way, the original plans called for the 503rd to jump on the Northern end of the Island and to prevent the Japanese from demolishing a large hardwood lumber mill and several bridges in the area.  Unfortunately, the Japanese blew a key bridge and burned the lumber mill.  Plans for a combat jump were abandoned and the Combat Team landed by amphibious craft. The 503rd engaged in fierce battles against frantic Japanese resistance in the mountainous areas of Negros for more than five months. The 40th US Division convinced higher headquarters there were only a few enemy troops remaining on the Island and were moved to Mindanao, leaving the 503rd to battle the Japanese alone.