1879 in organized crime, Events, July
July 22 – John Lynch, a member of the Pitt Street Gang, is arrested by police for stealing four ducks from Hester Street merchant Samuel Flock and tried at Essex Market Police Court. However, released due to lack of evidence, he was arrested the following afternoon by an officer of the Tenth Precinct after stealing four pails from the Eldridge Street store of an Abraham Bernstein. Pleading guilty, he was held at a $500 bail for trial.


1879 in paleontology
Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1879.


1879 in paleontology, Arthropods, Insects
A gerrine water stridermoved to Telmatrechus stali (1890) moved to "Gerris" stali (1910) returned to Telmatrechus stali (1998)


1879 in paleontology, Archosauromorphs, Newly named non-avian dinosaurs
A nodosaurid ankylosaur, a member of Struthiosaurinae. The type species is A. curtonotus.


1879 in paleontology, Archosauromorphs, Newly named non-avian dinosaurs
Junior subjective synonym of Allosaurus. The type species is Allosaurus lucaris Marsh, 1878.


1879 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).


1879 in poetry, Births
Death years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:


1879 in poetry, Deaths
Death years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:


1879 in rail transport
This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1879.


1879 in science
The year 1879 in science and technology involved some significant events, listed below.


1879 in sports
1879 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.


1879 population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The 1879 population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first census of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina taken during the Austro-Hungarian occupation


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season
The 1879–80 season was the seventh Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Scottish Cup
Dumbarton began by beating the previous season's champions, Vale of Leven, in the first round. Thereafter Dumbarton enjoyed some big wins, including an 11–0 thrashing of Clyde, to reach the semi final, only to lose out to eventual winners, Queen's Park, Scotland's top side at the time.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Glasgow Charity Cup
Dumbarton were one of the four invitees to take part in the Glasgow Charity Cup but lost out to Rangers in the semi final.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Friendlies
Dumbarton's fixture list continued to grow and expand across the country, with home and away fixtures being played against local rivals Vale of Leven, Rangers (Glasgow), Hearts and Hibs (Edinburgh) and Ayrshire Cup holders, Kilmarnock Athletic. In all, 16 'friendly' matches were played during the season, of these 7 were won, 2 drawn and 7 lost, scoring 48 and conceding 30.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Player statistics
Only includes appearances and goals in competitive Scottish Cup matches.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Player statistics, International Caps
A series of international trial matches were played to consider selection of teams to represent Scotland in the upcoming games against England and Wales, the first taking place on 28 February where J Anderson, Archie Lang, Alex Lawrence and Joe Lindsay all took part. The following week Lang played for the 'Improbables' XI to finally decide on the eleven to play against England - but was unsuccessful.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Player statistics, International Caps
A further trial was held on 20 March to decide on the team to play Wales and as a result, Dumbarton's first international caps were awarded when Archie Lang and Joe Lindsay were selected to play for Scotland on 27 March 1880, the match resulting in a 5-1 win for Scotland with Lindsay scoring one of the goals.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Player statistics, Representative Matches
A series of trial matches were played at Cathkin Park on 10 January 1880 to decide on a United Counties team to play Birmingham & District. John Kennedy, Jock Hutcheson, Archie Lang and Alex Lawrence all played with Lang being selected for the final XI. However as the game fell on the same day as the Scottish Cup semi final, he decided to play for the club.


1879–80 Dumbarton F.C. season, Player statistics, Representative Matches
Five weeks later, on 14 February, Lang was selected to play for Scotch Counties against a Scottish Canadian XI at Kinning Park - the game ending in a 2-2 draw.


1879–80 FA Cup
The 1879–80 Football Association Challenge Cup was the ninth staging of the FA Cup, England's oldest football tournament. Fifty-four teams entered, eleven more than the previous season, although five of the fifty-four never played a match.


1879–80 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season
Season 1879–80 was the fifth season in which Heart of Midlothian competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Cup for the fifth time.


1879–80 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season, Overview
Hearts reached the third round of the Scottish Cup losing to Edinburgh derby rivals Hibs in the third rounds, in a match played at Mayfield Park, in the Mayfield area of Edinburgh. It was the third attempt at staging the match.


1879–80 Hibernian F.C. season
Season 1879–80 was the third in which Hibernian competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Cup for the third time.


1879–80 Hibernian F.C. season, Overview
Hibs reached the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup, losing 6–2 to Dumbarton.


1879–80 Hibernian F.C. season, Overview
Hibs defeated Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts in the third round, in a match played at Mayfield Park, in the Mayfield area of Edinburgh.


1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby union friendlies held between the England, Ireland and Scotland national rugby union teams.


1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches
The only recognised competition held between the countries was the annual Calcutta Cup match, contested between England and Scotland. It was the second challenge for the Cup.


1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches, Results, Scoring system
The matches for this season were decided on goals scored. A goal was awarded for a successful conversion after a try, for a dropped goal or for a goal from mark. If a game was drawn, any unconverted tries were tallied to give a winner. If there was still no clear winner, the match was declared a draw.


1879–80 Morton F.C. season
The 1879–80 season was Morton Football Club's third season in which they competed at a national level, entering the inaugural Scottish Cup. The club competed in the Scottish Cup.


1879–80 Scottish Cup
The 1879–80 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the seventh season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. With 142 entrants, this season saw the largest number of teams to compete for the trophy since its inception. Three-time defending champions Vale of Leven lost their first match in the competition for four seasons when they were knocked out in the first round, losing 4–3 to rivals Dumbarton. Queen's Park regained the trophy as they won the competition for the fourth time after beating Thornliebank 3–0 in the final on 21 February 1880.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Format
As with the previous competitions, the seventh edition of the Scottish Cup took on the format of a traditional knockout tournament. For the earlier rounds, the names of competing teams were placed into lots according to their districts and drawn into pairs. The home team for each tie was determined by the toss of a coin unless it was mutually agreed or only one of the two clubs drawn against one another had a private ground. In the event of a draw, the team who lost the toss would have the choice of ground for the replay.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Format
A similar procedure was used for subsequent rounds however, any club which had received a bye in the previous round would first be drawn against one of the winners of the previous round. The names of winning teams were placed into one lot for later rounds. The choice of venue for the final matches was reserved to the Scottish Football Association.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Teams
All 142 teams entered the competition in the first round.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, First round
Although 142 teams were entered in the competition, it was not uncommon for clubs to merge or fold without the Scottish Football Association being notified so they were still included in the draw for the cup. As a result, 25 teams were given walkovers into the second round. They joined Barrhead Rangers, Bellshill, Cartside, Dennistoun, High School, Kirkintilloch Athletic, Plains Bluebell, St Clement's, Stewarton Cunninghame, Strathmore and Tarbolton Burntonians who all received a bye to the second round. Glasgow University and Edinburgh University received a bye to the third round.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, First round
The first round got underway on 6 September 1879 when Beith drew with Kilbirnie. Both teams would advance to the second round after they drew their replay on 27 September and the Scottish Football Association decided to allow them both into the draw. The majority of the ties were played two weeks later. Defending champions Vale of Leven were handed a tough draw away to rivals Dumbarton.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, First round
It would be the first time the defending champions failed to make it past the first hurdle as a brace from Joseph Lindsay helped Dumbarton to a 4–3 win in their first competitive match at Boghead Park. Queen's Park and Rangers played out a goalless draw in front of 7,000 spectators at Kinning Park to set up a replay a week later while Kilmarnock Athletic defeated Ayr 6–0, Thornliebank won 4–0 at home to Yoker, Netherlee and Morton drew 0–0 and Renton were held to a 2–2 draw by Kilmarnock Thistle.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, First round
In the replays on 27 September, Queen's Park exacted revenge for the previous season's defeat as they trounced Rangers 5–1 at Hampden Park, Morton and Netherlee shared 11 goals as the former advanced 7–4 at Cappielow and Renton recorded the biggest win of the round, defeating Kilmarnock Thistle 8–0 away from home.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, First round
Jamestown had defeated Star of Leven 2–1 on 20 September but would later be disqualified from the competition after the referee for their second round match against Kirkintilloch Athletic was found to be a member of the club. Star of Leven would be reinstated in the second round to play Kirkintilloch Athletic. The round concluded when Campsie Glen defeated Thistle Athletic 4–0 on 4 October after they had been ordered to replay the original match, which Campsie Glen also won, two weeks earlier.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Second round
A further two sides scratched from the competition as Cumnock and Strathmore were given a walkover against Tarbolton Burntonians and St Clement's respectively while Arbroath, Parkgrove and Renfrew received a bye to the third round.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Second round
The second round began on 4 October 1879 with Kilmarnock Athletic's 1–1 draw with Kilbirnie, however, most ties were played a week later. Queen's Park marched through to the third round with a resounding 14–1 win over 1st Lanark RV while there were also big wins for South Western (9–0 vs. Athole), Dumbarton (7–0 vs. Helensburgh) and Hurlford (8–1 vs. Maybole Carrick). Morton again shared 11 goals, this time with Arthurlie, but they were on the receiving end this time as the Barrhead side won 8–3 while Thornliebank won 6–1 at home to 17th Renfrew RV. Heart of Midlothian were ordered to replay their tie with Brunswick after the original match, a 4–2 win on 18 October, was ended in darkness. It made little difference as Hearts won 2–1 two days later.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Second round
The second round originally concluded on 1 November 1879 when 3rd Lanark RV overcame Possil Bluebell 1–0 in a replay, however that was before Jamestown's disqualification. Jamestown had defeated Kirkintilloch Athletic 1–0 but, after their third round tie, it was discovered that the referee in that win had been a member of the club. As a result, but Kirkintilloch Athletic and Jamestown's first round opponents, Star of Leven, were reinstated to the competition to face off in the second round. Kirkintilloch Athletic won that match 5–2 on 15 November and they took on Jamestown's third round opponents Lennox in the next round.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Third round
Possilpark were the lucky club to receive the only bye to the fourth round. The third round began on 1 November 1879 with a clutch of ties, included amongst them; Dumbarton's 5–0 win over Renton, Queen's Park's 5–1 triumph against Partick, Thornliebank's 1–0 defeat of Barrhead Rangers and Parkgrove's first match in the competition after they benefitted from a walkover and a bye in the previous rounds, a 6–2 defeat of Alexandra Athletic. Jamestown also recorded a 5–1 win against Lennox but it was to be the end of the road for the Dunbartonshire side.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Third round
After it was discovered the referee in their second round match with Kirkintilloch Athletic was a member of the club, Jamestown were disqualified and the three teams they had eliminated were reinstated. Kirkintilloch Athletic defeated Star of Leven in a second round tie on 15 November to set up the final third round tie on 22 November against Lennox, a match Kirkintilloch Athletic won 6–2.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Third round
In the interim, Hamilton Academical defeated Excelsior 7–1 at South Haugh, Cumnock – one of three teams along with Parkgrove and Strathmore to reach the third round without playing a single game – lost 1–0 to Hurlford, Arbroath and Clyde recorded 6–1 wins against Strathmore and Ailsa respectively and Hibernian won 2–1 in the Edinburgh derby.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Fourth round
The fourth round saw a number of one-sided games. On 22 November 1879, three teams recorded double-figures scorelines; Dumbarton won 11–0 at home to Clyde, Queen's Park defeated Strathblane 10–1 at Hampden Park and Thornliebank won 12–0 at home to Possilpark. Hibernian drew 2–2 with Parkgrove and Kilbirnie drew 1–1 with Hurlford to set up replays the following week but all four sides advanced to the fifth round after both replays ended with the scored tied.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Fifth round
3rd Lanark RV were the only team to receive a bye to the quarter-finals. All six of the fifth round ties were played on 20 December 1879 with one tie going to a reply the following week. Queen's Park recorded the biggest win of the competition as they defeated Hurlford 15–1 at Hampden Park. Thornliebank also recorded a double-figures as they beat Rob Roy 12–0 at home. A double from Quinn helped Hibernian to a 2–0 win at Connell Park against Mauchline while Dumbarton beat Kilbirnie 6–2 at Boghead Park. South Western and Parkgrove couldn't be separated as they drew 1–1 in the first match before South Western progressed with a 3–2 win in the replay.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Quarter-finals
With just seven teams left, there were only three quarter-final ties and Queen's Park received a bye to the semi-finals. The original ties were played on 3 January 1880 with one replay a week later. Dumbarton and Pollokshields Athletic recorded comfortable home wins, 6–2 vs. Hibernian and 6–1 vs. South Western respectively. Thornliebank and 3rd Lanark RV played out a 1–1 draw at Cathkin Park before Thornliebank won the replay 2–1 at the same venue.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Semi-finals
For the first time in four seasons, two semi-finals were played. Both games were played on 17 January 1880. Queen's Park saw off Dumbarton 1–0 at Hampden Park to reach the final for the first time in four years while Thornliebank defeated Pollokshields Athletic 2–1 at home to reach the final for the first time.


1879–80 Scottish Cup, Final
The final took place at Cathkin Park on 21 February 1880. It was Thornliebank's first appearance in the final but for Queen's Park, it was their fourth and on each of their previous three appearances, they lifted the trophy. Thomas Highet – who scored three goals in the 1876 final and replay, the last time Queen's Park won the competition – scored twice against Thornliebank to help Queen's Park to a 3–0 win and a fourth title, maintaining their 100 per cent record in Scottish Cup finals.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season
The 1879–80 Scottish Districts season is a record of all the  rugby union matches for Scotland's district teams.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season
It includes the East of Scotland District versus West of Scotland District trial match.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, History
The Inter-City match was due to be played on 1 December 1879 but was postponed due to frost. The 20 December match ended in a draw.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, History
There was supposed to be an East v Edinburgh District match but it was indefinitely postponed as Edinburgh wanted the match played in Edinburgh; or, if away, the match to be played in Perth with the provincial clubs to pay their own expenses. This was not agreed to and the match was cancelled.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, History
The East v West match was won handsomely by the East District.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, Results, Inter-City
Glasgow District: J. Hoggan (Glasgow University), M. Cross (Glasgow Academicals) [ captain], R. C. Mackenzie (Glasgow Academicals), J. Nelston (Glasgow Academicals), H. Moncrieff (West of Scotland), J. Colvil (West of Scotland), D. Y. Cassels (West of Scotland), J. Adam (West of Scotland), J. Laing (West of Scotland), D. McCowan (West of Scotland), C. Stewart (West of Scotland), E. N. Ewart (Glasgow Academicals),  J. B. Brown (Glasgow Academicals), W. A Walls (Glasgow Academicals), G. Robb (Glasgow University) Edinburgh District: Back. B. Cunningham (Institution), half-backs.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, Results, Inter-City
J. Finlay (Edinburgh Academicals), W. E. Maclagan (Edinburgh Academicals), quarter-backs, W. Masters and J. S. Brown (institution); forwards A. G. Petrie (Royal HSFP) [ captain], N. T. Brewis, T. R. Ainslie. W. Sommerville (Institution). J. H. S. Graham (Edinburgh Academicals), John Guthrie Tait (Edinburgh Academicals), J. Bannerman (Edinburgh Academicals), C. Wood (Edinburgh Academicals), E. Carr (Wanderers)


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, Results, Other Scottish matches
East: A. Cunningham (Edinburgh Institution, F.P. ), back; Findlay and W. E. Maclaggan (Edinburgh Academicals), half-backs; W. H. Masters and W. S. Brown (Edinburgh Institution, F.P. ), quarterbacks; A. G. Petrie (Royal High School, F.P. ), captain ; J. H. S. Graham, John Guthrie Tait (Edinburgh Academicals), C. Wood (Edinburgh Academicals). W. Brewis, R. Ainslie, T. Ainslie, F. Sommerville (Edinburgh Institution, F.P. ), R. S. G. Henderson (Edinburgh University), and E. Cross (Wanderers), forwards.


1879–80 Scottish Districts season, Results, Other Scottish matches
West: J. Hoggan (Glasgow University), back; Malcolm Cross and R. C. Mackenzie (Glasgow Academicals), halfbacks; H. Moncrieff (Glasgow University) and T. Neilson (Glasgow Academicals), quarterbacks; D. Y. Cassels C. R. Stewart, T. Colvill,  D. McCowan (West Scotiand), S. B. McPhail (Greenock Wanderers),T. B. Brown, G. W. Ewart (Glasgow Academicals),G. H. Robb, A. H. Peterkin (Glasgow University), and T. B. Gemmel (Southern), forwards.


1879–80 Welsh Cup, First round, Second Replay
Oswestry receive a bye to the next roundMold scratch to Druids23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers scratch to Rhyl


1879–80 West Bromwich Strollers F.C. season
The 1879–80 season was the second season in the history of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. During this period, Albion played their home matches at Cooper's Hill and Dartmouth Park.


1879–80 West Bromwich Strollers F.C. season, Matches
West Bromwich Albion had yet to begin playing competitive football, but did take part in a number of friendly matches throughout the season. The 1–0 win against Black Lake Victoria on 13 December 1879 was for many years Albion's first recorded match, but later that honour was given to the West Bromwich Strollers' match against Hudson's from the previous year. The Black Lake game did nevertheless feature Albion's first recorded goal, scored by Harry Aston in front of 500 spectators. The record of the club's matches during their early years is not complete; of the five matches that were recorded for 1879–80, two are missing the scoreline.


1879–80 in English football
The 1879–80 season was the ninth season of competitive football in England.


1879–80 in English football, International matches
Note – TheFa.com  gives different times for the England goals in the match against Wales.


1879–80 in English football, Honours
Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition


1879–80 in Scottish football
The 1879–80 season was the seventh season of competitive football in Scotland. This season saw the introduction of the fourth regional competition with the inaugural playing of the Lanarkshire Cup.


187th (2/3rd West Riding) Brigade
The 187th (2/3rd West Riding) Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army. It was assigned to the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division and served on the Western Front during the First World War.


187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF
The 187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF, was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Red Deer, Alberta, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city and the surrounding district. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 21st Reserve Battalion on February 20, 1917. The 187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF, had one officer commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Robinson.


187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF
Perpetuation of the 187th Battalion was assigned to the Alberta Regiment in 1920. When this regiment split in two in 1924, the South Alberta Regiment carried the perpetuation. The South Alberta Regiment merged into The South Alberta Light Horse (29th Armoured Regiment) in 1954, and this regiment (now simply The South Alberta Light Horse) carries on the perpetuation of the 187th Battalion.


187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF
In 1929, the battalion was awarded the theatre of war honour The Great War, 1916–17.


187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF
The king's colour of the battalion is laid up in St Mark's Anglican Church in Innisfail, Alberta.


187th Airlift Squadron
The 187th Airlift Squadron (187 AS) is a unit of the Wyoming Air National Guard 153d Airlift Wing. located at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyoming. The 187th is equipped with the C-130 Hercules.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, World War II
The squadron's World War II predecessor unit, the 402d Fighter Squadron was assigned to Ninth Air Force in England, flying its first combat mission on 14 March 1944. Flying P-38 Lightnings, the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission in support of ground forces in the Hurtgen Forest area of Germany on 2 December 1944 when, despite bad weather and barrages of antiaircraft and small-arms fire, the squadron dropped napalm bombs on a heavily defended position in Bergstein, setting fire to the village and inflicting heavy casualties on enemy troops defending the area. The squadron flew its last combat mission on 3 March 1945.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Wyoming Air National Guard
The wartime 402d Fighter Squadron was re-activated and re-designated as the 187th Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the Wyoming Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Cheyenne Municipal Airport, Wyoming and was extended federal recognition on 11 August 1946 by the National Guard Bureau. The 187th Fighter Squadron was bestowed the history, honors, and colors of the 402d Fighter Squadron. The squadron was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and was assigned to the 86th Fighter Wing, Buckley Field, Colorado. As part of the Continental Air Command Fourth Air Force, the unit trained for tactical fighter missions and air-to-air combat.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Wyoming Air National Guard, Korean War activation
As a result of the Korean War, the 187th and its parent, the 140th Fighter Wing was federalized and brought to active duty on 1 April 1951. The unit was ordered to the new Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico, which arrived in October 1951. The federalized 140th Fighter-Bomber Wing was a composite organization of activated Air National Guard units, composed of the 120th Fighter Squadron (Colorado ANG), the 190th Fighter Squadron (Utah ANG), and the 187th FS. The 140th and its components were equipped with F-51D Mustangs, and were re-designated as Fighter-Bomber squadrons on 12 April 1951.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Wyoming Air National Guard, Korean War activation
During their period of federal service, many pilots were sent to Japan and South Korea to reinforce active-duty units. At Clovis, elements of the 140th FBW took part in Operation Tumbler-Snapper – 1952, a nuclear bomb test in Nevada. On 15 November 1952, the elements of the 140th returned to Air National Guard control in their respective states.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cold War
Upon return to Wyoming state control, the 120th was re-equipped by Tactical Air Command with F-80C Shooting Star jets. On 1 July 1955, the squadron was re-designated as the 187th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cold War
On 1 July 1957, the 187th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 153d Fighter Interceptor Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 187th FIS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 153d Headquarters, 153d Material Squadron (Maintenance), 153d Combat Support Squadron, and the 153d USAF Dispensary. The 153d FIG being assigned to the 34th Air Division, Air Defense Command and upgraded to F-86L Sabre Interceptors.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Airlift mission
The most dramatic change came for the Wyoming unit in 1961 when it changed from an Air Defense Command Fighter-Interceptor unit to flying C-119 Flying Boxcars and airlifting medical patients, with the newly designated 187th Aeromedical Transport Squadron becoming part of Military Air Transport Service (MATS).


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Airlift mission
On 21 June 1963 the 187th received C-121 Super Constellation aircraft and expanded its military airlift role to worldwide mission capabilities. Entering the realm of Southeast Asia and the Vietnam War, the Wyoming Air Guard flew its first mission into the Southeast Asia theater combat zone in late 1964, and continued to do so throughout the Vietnam War years. In January 1966, the unit became the 153d Military Airlift Group [153d MAG], under the Military Airlift Command [MAC].


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Airlift mission
In 1972, the 187th received its first turboprop C-130B Hercules aircraft, and became a Tactical Airlift Squadron. The C-130 has proven to be one of the toughest and most versatile aircraft ever built, and which the unit continues to fly over 40 years later. In 1975, the Wyoming Air Guard was selected for the unique role of aerial fire fighting. Two Wyoming C-130s were equipped with Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) and began water/fire retardant bombing of fires throughout the United States. Those fire fighting mission still continue through the present.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Airlift mission
In the meantime, the 153d Tactical Airlift Group expanded to regularly flying missions with the US Southern Command out of Howard AFB, Panama, as part of Operation Phoenix Oak. From supplying embassies in Central and South America, to searching for sinking ships in the middle of tropical storms, the Wyoming C-130s and aircrews have carried out military and humanitarian missions, right up to the present day. Those missions continued through Operation Just Cause in 1989–90 when Panama was designated a combat zone.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Airlift mission
Beginning 5 August 1990, the first day of Operation Desert Shield, and into Operation Desert Storm the Wyoming Air Guard flew continental U.S. and Central and South America missions. During that time, the Wyoming 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Flight and the 153d Clinic were both activated by order of the President of the United States, with a large number of those medical personnel being sent to Saudi Arabia. After the hostilities, Wyoming Guard members continued with Operation Provide Comfort, which supplied humanitarian aid to Kurdish people displaced by the Iraqi military.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Global War on Terrorism
As the Global War on Terrorism expanded to include operations in Iraq and continued operations in Afghanistan, the 153rd Airlift Wing repeatedly answered the nations call. In addition to its ongoing commitment to MAFFS, Operation Joint Forge in Europe, and Coronet Oak in Latin America, the 153 AW maintained a two-year-long, two-aircraft commitment to Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2004–2005.


187th Airlift Squadron, History, Global War on Terrorism
In 2006 and 2007 the unit returned to Afghanistan for two and three aircraft Aerospace Expeditionary Force rotations. On the home front, the end of 2007 found four aircraft responding to the great 2007 California wildfires.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
The 187th Division (Chinese: 第187师) was created in January 1949 under the Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army, issued by Central Military Commission on November 1, 1948, basing on the 7th Brigade, 3rd Column of the Jinchaji Military Region. Its history can be traced to 2nd Detachment of Jizhong Column, formed in September 1945.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
The division was part of 63rd Corps. Under the flag of 188th division it took part in several major battles in the Chinese Civil War.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In February 1951 the division entered Korea with the Corps HQ as a part of People's Volunteer Army. During its deployment in Korea it took part in the Fifth Phase Offensive and the Battle of Cheorwon, during which the division suffered heavy casualties but halted the UN offensive. During its deployment in Korea the division allegedly inflicted 9074 casualties to confronting UN forces.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In January 1953 393rd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was formed and attached to the division.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In October 1953 the division returned from Korea and stationed at Xingtai, Hebei, becoming the 188th Infantry Division (Chinese: 步兵第188师) of the National Defense Force.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In 1960 the division was renamed as the 187h Army Division (Chinese: 陆军第187师). By then the division was composed of:


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In 1962 the division was designated as a "Northern" unit, Catalogue A in War-time Structure, making it a "big" division of 12457 personnel. the division was shortly moved to Fujian province for an emergency alert deployment.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In December 1966, following the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution, the division moved to Beijing and stationed in Xicheng district for security mission. The division HQ and its 560th Regiment moved into Zhongnanhai. In December the division returned to its barracks.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
From January 27, 1868 to March 9, 1969, Anti- Aircraft Artillery Battalion of 187th Army Division, reinforced by Anti- Aircraft Artillery Battery of 1st  Tank Regiment, 1st Tank Division and attaching to 9th Anti- Aircraft Artillery Division of the Air Force, entered North Vietnam for anti-aircraft missions in Lang Son area.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
On September 6, 1968, 392nd Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was detached from the division and transferred to newly formed 6th Tank Division and became 22nd Tank Regiment in December 1969.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
On August 24, 1969, soon after the Tielieketi incident, the division moved to Jining, Inner Mongolia for emergency alert deployment. On November 26 the division was relieved from its mission and handed its position to 69th Army Corps.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
The division was not affected during the December 1969 army re-designation, except for its 567th Artillery Regiment was renamed as Artillery Regiment, 187th Army Division.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
From January 14, 1976 to November 1982, the division maintained as a northern unit, catalogue B.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
From November 1982 to 1985, the division maintained as a catalogue B division.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In 1985 the division was renamed as the 187th Infantry Division (Chinese: 步兵第187师). From 1985 to 1996 the division maintained as a northern infantry division, catalogue B. From 1985 to 1989 most its regiments were organized as training formations:


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In 1989, 560th, 561st regiment were re-organized as infantry regiments, catalogue B. Artillery Regiment, 187th Infantry Division was reorganized as artillery regiment, infantry division catalogue B.


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
In 1996 the division was transferred to the People's Armed Police and renamed as the 187th Armed Police Mobile Division (Chinese: 武警机动第187师).


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
The Artillery Regiment, 187th Infantry Division was re-organized and renamed as 705th Regiment, 187th Armed Police Mobile Division. All artillery battalions in infantry regiments were also re-organized as the 4th mobile battalion of the regiments. Now the division is composed of:


187th Armed Police Mobile Division
After the 2017 reform, the division was reduced to a detachment (regiment-sized): the 7th Mobile Detachment (Chinese: 机动第7支队) under the PAP 1st Mobile Corps (Chinese: 武警第1机动总队).


187th Fighter Wing
The 187th Fighter Wing (187 FW) is a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard, assigned to Dannelly Field, Alabama. If activated to federal service in the United States Air Force, the 187 FW is operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).


187th Fighter Wing, Mission
To provide the nation with a superior F-16C+ Block 30 Aviation Package, RC-26B Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance platform, and Expeditionary Combat Support functions organized, trained, and equipped for rapid world-wide deployment, domestic relief and law enforcement operations.


187th Fighter Wing, History
On 15 October 1962, the Alabama Air National Guard's 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 160th TRS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 187th Headquarters, 187th Material Squadron, 187th Combat Support Squadron, and the 187th USAF Dispensary. The unit was flying the RF-84F Thunderstreak.


187th Fighter Wing, History
In 1971, the RF-4C Phantom II photo-reconnaissance aircraft was being withdrawn from Southeast Asia, and the 160th began to receive these Vietnam War veteran aircraft. The RF-84Fs were retired and during the 1970s the squadron flew the Phantoms in its aerial reconnaissance mission.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Tactical Fighter
In 1983, the 187th was realigned from its photo-reconnaissance mission and converted to a tactical fighter mission, transferring its RF-4Cs and receiving Vietnam Veteran F-4D Phantom IIs. The F-4D Phantoms were part of a batch equipped to use the AVQ-23 Pave Spike laser designation pod and the AGM-65 Maverick ASM in the 1970s. By 1988 the Phantoms were being withdrawn from the Air National Guard inventory, and the 160th began to receive early F-16A/B Block 10 Fighting Falcons and later equipped with Block 30 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons to use in the tactical fighter mission.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Tactical Fighter
During the 1990s, the 187th has undertaken an ambitious and successful regimen of participation in many Total Force deployments. These deployments have taken the men and women of the 187th to exercises in South Korea, Norway, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other stateside locations. By far the most significant deployments have been for contingency operations enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq. In 1995, the unit deployed for a 30-day rotation to Incirlik AB, Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort II. The following year, the Wing deployed to Al Jaber AB, Kuwait for Operation Southern Watch. Then in 1997, the Wing returned to Incirlik for Operation Northern Watch. These operations were to enforce the respective northern and southern no-fly zones over Iraq.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
After the 9/11 attacks, the 187th performed Combat Air Patrol flights as part of Operation Noble Eagle in the United States. The unit sustained this effort for Operation Noble Eagle for one year following the events of 11 September.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
The 187th was again called to active duty in January 2003 until April 2003 as part of the largest military mobilization since the 1991 Gulf War. This marked the largest unit activation in the unit's 50-year history with over 500 personnel being deployed along with aircraft and equipment for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
The 187th, as an integral part of the Total Force, deployed to Prince Hassan Air Base (H-5) and Shahid Muafaq Al-Salti Air Base, Jordan, as the lead unit, commanding a mixture of Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, Active Air Force and British Royal Air Force units comprising the 410th Air Expeditionary Wing. This marked the largest integration of coalition Air and Special Forces Operations in history with over 3,500 personnel operating out of this location. The 410th's mission was to prevent Iraqi missile launches against coalition forces and neighboring countries.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
In September 2004, the unit again deployed over 300 personnel with aircraft and equipment to Al Udeid AB, Qatar for Operation Iraqi Freedom. This deployment also marked a significant first for the unit and the U.S. Military. The 187th was the first unit to ever use the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition in combat. The GBU-38 is a 500 lb global positioning system (GPS) guided bomb which, while being very effective, minimizes collateral damage. The GBU-38 is a precision guided munition commonly referred to as a "Smart Bomb". This weapon was effectively employed by the 187th in the Battle of Fallujah.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
In 2006, the 160th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to Balad AB, Iraq for 90 days and became part of the 322d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
In 2007, the Alabama legislature requested the National Guard Bureau to allow the Alabama Air National Guard's 160th Fighter Squadron to be re-designated as the 100th Fighter Squadron so the state could honor the legacy of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. This authorization was obtained from the Air Force and on 12 September 2009, the 100th Flying Training Squadron of the Air Education and Training Command was inactivated. The designation was transferred to the National Guard Bureau by the Air Force and it was allotted to the Alabama ANG.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
As a result, the 160th Fighter Squadron was inactivated and the new 100th Fighter Squadron assumed its personnel, equipment and aircraft. The 160th Fighter Squadron stood down in a ceremony at Montgomery Air National Guard Base, on 13 September 2007, with the 100th Fighter Squadron standing up and being bequeathed the history, lineage, and honors of the World War II 100th Fighter Squadron and its successor units.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
In August 2009, the 100th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed 240 airmen and aircraft to Balad AB, Iraq as part of the 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron supporting Operation Iraq Freedom. This was the first deployment of the 100th FS to the middle east and over 2,000 hours were flown and Precision Guided Munitions were employed. The unit returned to Montgomery in November 2009.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
The squadron deployed to Romania in August 2012 to participate in Dacian Viper 2012, a three-week joint exercise with the Romanian Air Force. The Alabama ANG contingent, which included nearly twenty fighter pilots and eight F-16s, exercised with approximately 200 Romanian soldiers, technical staff, and pilots flying six MiG-21 "Fishbed" fighters at 71st Air Base, located near the town of Câmpia Turzii in the northwestern part of Romania.


187th Fighter Wing, History, Global War on Terrorism
In December 2017, the Air Force announced that the 187th was one of two Air National Guard wings selected for equipping with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The conversion to the fifth-generation jet fighter is scheduled for 2023.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 187th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the United States Army.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States)
It was first organized in November 1921 as one of the two brigades under the United States Army Reserve's 94th Division (forerunner of the 94th Army Reserve Command).


187th Infantry Brigade (United States)
The brigade was disbanded in February 1942 when the 94th Division was converted from a two brigade, four regiment "square" division to a three regiment "triangular" division.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States), Cold War
The 94th Division was disbanded in the early 1960s, as part of continuing Army Reserve force reductions.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States), Cold War
Thus to add flexibility to the force, and to preserve a general officer billet, the 187th Infantry Brigade was reactivated in the Army Reserve as a separate brigade on 7 January 1963 with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. From that year to 1994 it was one of only four (later three) combat Infantry brigades in the Army Reserve. As a separate brigade, the 187th wore its own shoulder patch rather than the 94th Division patch its members had previously worn.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States), Cold War
Cold War plans called for the brigade to deploy to Iceland as part of the Iceland Defense Force if a confrontation between NATO and the Soviet Union occurred.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States), Cold War
The brigade's headquarters was relocated on 25 October 1971 to Wollaston, Massachusetts and on 13 July 1976 to Fort Devens, Massachusetts.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States), Cold War
On 14 April 1994 the 187th Infantry Brigade was inactivated as part of the Army-wide post-Cold War reductions.


187th Infantry Brigade (United States), Reactivation
The 187th Infantry Brigade was reactivated as an initial entry training unit at the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on 23 January 2007 from the 3rd Training Brigade and inactivated on 17 May 2007. The subordinate units were reassigned to the 3rd Chemical Brigade.


187th Infantry Division (German Empire)
The 187th Infantry Division (187. Infanterie-Division) was a formation of the Imperial German Army in World War I.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) is a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The "Rakkasans" special designation is derived from the Japanese word for parachute (literally "umbrella for falling", 落下傘). The name was given to the regiment during its tour in occupied Japan following World War II. When a translator dealing with local Japanese dignitaries was trying to explain what their unit was trained to do (and not knowing the Japanese word for "airborne soldiers"), he used the phrase "parachute-men" (literally "falling down umbrella men"), or rakkasan. Amused by the clumsy word, the locals began to call the paratroopers by that nickname; it soon stuck and became a point of pride for the unit. (Note that modern Japanese uses the English loanword パラシュート (parashūto) for parachute.)


187th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Beginning as a glider infantry regiment of the 11th Airborne Division in 1943, the 187th Infantry Regiment has fought in four wars, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. The 187th entered combat in World War II on Leyte Island in the Philippines, fought in two other major campaigns in the Pacific, and was chosen to be among the first American units sent to occupy Japan. The 187th was the only airborne unit used during the Korean War, operating as an airborne regimental combat team with two combat parachute jumps. In Vietnam, the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, fought as an airmobile unit, making 115 helicopter assaults. In Operation Desert Storm, the Rakkasans made the longest and largest combat air assault in military history when it air assaulted from Saudi Arabia to the Euphrates River in Iraq.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion are the only active elements of the regiment; they are assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II
The 187th Infantry Regiment was originally constituted in the War Department files as the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR) on 12 November 1942 and activated with the 11th Airborne Division at Camp Mackall, North Carolina on 25 February 1943, under the command of Colonel Harry B. Hildebrand. The first recruits arrived on 2 March. The 187th went through basic training from 15 March to 21 June. After a period of squad-, platoon-, and company-level unit training, the 187th started formal glider training at Laurinburg–Maxton Army Airfield, North Carolina in late July. Although it was originally a two-battalion glider-borne infantry regiment, the men of the 187th would become dual qualified, able to enter combat either by glider or parachute.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
I do not believe in the airborne division. I believe that airborne troops should be reorganized into self-contained units, comprising infantry, artillery, and special services, all of about the strength of a regimental combat team [...] To employ at any time and place a whole division would require a dropping over such an extended area that I seriously doubt that a division commander could regain control and operate the scattered forces as one unit.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
Within the US Army hierarchy, some senior officers questioned the practicality of airborne forces as a combat entity. The Germans had successfully used airborne forces during the invasions of the Netherlands in May 1940 and Crete in May 1941. Wartime was proving tough for American airborne forces. In November 1942, as part of Operation Torch in the North African campaign, US paratroopers who missed their drop zone (DZ) marched 35 miles (56 km) to capture an airfield already in the hands of friendly  forces.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
During the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, US paratroopers once more landed far from their intended targets. But the real tragedy came when friendly fire brought down 23 aircraft and damaged 37 more; 318 paratroopers and airmen were killed or wounded. The poor performance of American airborne forces in Sicily prompted Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower to recommend to General George C. Marshall, the US Army Chief of Staff, that division-size airborne units were too difficult to control in combat.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
Lieutenant General Lesley J. McNair, the Army Ground Forces commanding general, took General Eisenhower's words seriously and, in the fall of 1943, convened a review board headed by Major General Joseph M. Swing, the 11th Airborne Division commanding general, to examine the doctrine, organization, and training of US Army airborne forces.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
The "Swing Board," as it was informally known, convened at Camp Mackall in mid-September with experienced US Army parachute and glider unit commanders and staff officers, as well as US Army Air Forces (USAAF) I Troop Carrier Command troop carrier transport and glider pilot veterans as the other board members. The Swing Board reviewed German, British, and American airborne operations, studied the airborne division organization, and analyzed the problems encountered by the USAAF troop carrier units during the North African and Sicilian operations.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
At the end of September, the review was completed with the board recommending the continuation of the airborne division and the publication of War Department (WD) Training Circular 113, Employment of Airborne and Troop Carrier Forces (dated 9 October 1943), formalizing the responsibilities and relationships between the airborne and troop carrier commands. Despite the board's recommendations, General McNair was still not convinced and decided to test the effectiveness of the airborne division concept before he made his final decision.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
McNair ordered General Swing to plan an exercise for December in which the entire 11th Airborne Division would mount up in C–47 transports and CG–4A gliders at multiple Army airfields in North and South Carolina, take off and rendezvous over the Atlantic coast, fly a circuitous route of approximately 200 miles (320 km), a portion of which would be over open ocean at night before turning inland toward the drop and landing zones, parachute- and glider-land after dark at precise times and locations, and reinforce, resupply, evacuate, and support itself by air for three or four days.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
It was obvious that the future of the airborne division depended upon a successful operation. Swing and his staff commenced planning the exercise per McNair's order and WD Training Circular 113. All that remained was to write the operations order (OPORD). On 15 November, the 11th Airborne Division received its mission from Headquarters, Airborne Command at Camp Mackall. The 11th Airborne Division, reinforced by the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), was to assault on D-day, 7 December, capture Knollwood Army Auxiliary Airfield (present-day Moore County Airport), establish an airhead at the airfield, and prevent "enemy" reinforcement. Defending Knollwood and selected critical points was a regimental combat team (RCT) consisting of an infantry battalion, an antitank company, a field artillery battery, and a medical detachment from the 17th Airborne Division, combined with a battalion from the 541st PIR.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
On 4 December, the 11th Airborne Division, with the 501st PIR attached, staged its parachute and glider units at Pope Army Airfield at Fort Bragg, Mackall Army Airfield at Camp Mackall, Lumberton Army Auxiliary Airfield, and Laurinburg–Maxton Army Airfield in North Carolina, and Florence Army Airfield in South Carolina. The 187th GIR and its direct-support 674th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB) (75mm pack howitzer) loaded their equipment aboard the gliders and awaited the mount-up order. Foul weather postponed the exercise for 24 hours.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
About midnight on 6 December, 200 C–47s towing 234 CG–4As (100 gliders were double-towed) began taking off from the airfields for the mass airborne assault. Numerous C–47s carried a full load of 18 combat-equipped paratroopers and towed either one or two gliders full of soldiers and equipment. As the C–47s gained altitude, they began forming into tight three-plane Vs, with three groups together forming a V-of-Vs formation, nine aircraft wide.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
The air armada flew east out over the Atlantic Ocean, turned north, and finally turned back west, heading back toward the drop and landing zones in and around Southern Pines and Pinehurst, North Carolina. The famed golf courses and open fields between 5 and 10 miles (8.0 and 16.1 km) west and north of the Knollwood Airfield were designated as the drop and landing zones. The assault began at 02:30 on 7 December with the gliders cutting loose from their C–47 tugs and the parachutes of the first chalks of paratroopers blossoming out the sides of the C–47s almost simultaneously.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
There were few difficulties. Once on the ground, the 11th Airborne Division assembled with speed, attacked the defenders, and seized its Knollwood Airfield objectives. The division then set up the airhead around the airfield and resupplied itself by air. In 39 hours, a total of 10,282 troops were delivered by parachute, glider, or airlanded. The tally of equipment and supplies was significant: 1,830 tons of equipment and supplies; 295 jeeps; and 48 1/4-ton trailers. Total maneuver casualties were two dead and 48 minor injuries. After three days, the 11th Airborne Division returned to Camp Mackall.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, The Knollwood Maneuver
Afterward, the entire exercise was reviewed from start to finish at Camp Mackall by commanders and the division staff. General Swing submitted his final report on the Knollwood Maneuver to General McNair and waited for a War Department decision. On 16 December, McNair's reply message read in part: "… The successful performance of your division has convinced me that we were wrong, and I shall now recommend that we continue our present schedule of activating, training and committing airborne divisions." The Knollwood Maneuver marked the end of the training period for the 187th.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Camp Polk
On 2 January 1944, the 11th Airborne Division began its move by train to Camp Polk, Louisiana. By 5 February, the 187th GIR was in the field near Hawthorne, Louisiana for two weeks of testing by Army Ground Force teams to determine the regiment's readiness for deployment to a combat zone. The exercises involved approach marches, attacks on an objective, perimeter defenses, and tactical withdrawals. In late February, the 187th returned to Camp Polk for re-equipment, physical examinations, inoculations for a variety of exotic diseases, and processing for overseas deployment.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Camp Polk
In the interim, General Swing established his first jump school at DeRidder Army Air Base. The 187th and the 674th GFAB provided volunteers who were less than enthused about further glider rides and were eager to collect the extra pay for the privilege of jumping out of airplanes (fifty dollars per month for enlisted men and one hundred dollars for officers). Thus began the first transformation of the 187th and 674th from purely glider outfits to airborne units. The tests at Camp Polk represented the graduation exercises for the 11th Airborne Division; the War Department had issued an alert for the division to be ready to leave Camp Polk and by 15 April, all units were restricted to the post, with commanders readying their units for overseas deployment.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
On 20 April 1944, the 11th Airborne Division started by train to Camp Stoneman, California, where it would spend six days in final preparation for overseas movement. On 2 May, the first units marched out of Camp Stoneman to nearby Pittsburg and boarded boats for the trip to the San Francisco Port of Embarkation. The boats tied up at the Oakland Mole, near the merchant marine troopships on which the division was to sail, and the troops debarked, marched into a large wharfside shed, and mounted the gangplanks of the troopships for the next phase of their trip to war.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
They did not know specifically where they were headed, but since they were departing from San Francisco, they reasoned that their destination was the Pacific Theater. Only time would tell; the division staff, even if they knew, would not. After three days in hot, crowded conditions below deck, the division set sail on 6 May 1944.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
After about three weeks at sea, what seemed like an eternity to the GIs jammed into the stuffy and airless triple- and quadruple-decked holds of the troopships, land was spotted. The ships sailed up the winding channel of Milne Bay, Australian Papua (modern-day Papua New Guinea), and the men got their first look at the lush, verdant jungles they would come to know and hate. After stopping to take on fresh water, the ships then moved up the east coast to Oro Bay and dropped anchor on 29 May.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
The troops unloaded into a fleet of DUKW "Duck" amphibious trucks that had pulled up alongside the ships. After a trip to the beach and a ride along dusty roads, the DUKWs halted at a clearing around an abandoned airstrip. The 11th Airborne Division had arrived at their new home for the next six months – the Dobodura Airfield Complex. The troops unloaded, formed up into company units, and marched with their overstuffed barracks bags in the heat and humidity to company areas that had been laid out for them. The 187th GIR's jungle phase of training and acclimation to the tropics was about to begin.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
The 187th GIR spent its first month in New Guinea building its area of framed pyramidal tents, mess halls, showers and latrines, dayrooms, and chapels. One notable project was the huge, sloped thatch-roofed, 400-man division chapel built with native labor by hand and without nails, using local vegetation and lumber. Once the regiment was settled, training began again. General Swing's jump school reopened and a majority of the 187th's officers and men qualified as paratroopers. In August and September, the 11th Airborne Division operated a glider school with the USAAF 54th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) (C–47) at Nadzab.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
From July to September, the division and the 54th TCW conducted combined airborne/troop carrier training for a different troop carrier squadron each week. In August and September, the 187th underwent amphibious training at Oro Bay with the 4th Engineer Special Brigade. The regiment underwent live-fire training exercises for combined-arms battalion combat teams at the abandoned airstrip at Soputa. The 674th GFAB practiced its artillery skills on the ranges at Embi Lake and Soputa. On 12 October, the 11th Airborne Division received orders for an administrative (not combat-loaded) move to Leyte in the Philippines to prepare for an operation on Luzon.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, New Guinea
A segment of the division staff flew ahead to Leyte to select and set up a campsite while the rest of the division prepared to move out. The 187th Regimental Headquarters Company and the 1st Battalion (1/187th) loaded aboard the USS Cambria (APA-36) in Oro Bay. The 2nd Battalion (2/187th) flew to Finschhafen and boarded the USS Calvert (APA-32). On 11 November, the Navy, with the 11th Airborne Division loaded on nine ships, pulled out of Oro Bay. For the unknowing men aboard the transports steaming toward Leyte, combat was just a few days away.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Leyte Landing
On 18 November 1944, the 11th Airborne Division joined the Battle of Leyte by landing unopposed on Bito Beach, off Bito Lake, Leyte. The advance party from division headquarters had flown up from New Guinea to select an area for the division's encampment. Because the more desirable areas along the east coast had already been occupied, Bito Beach became the bivouac area for the division. The 187th GIR set up its first bivouac near the Filipino village of Abuyog.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Leyte Landing
For its first few days on Leyte, the regiment cleared and policed the beach by moving landed supplies to rear-area dumps, built a base camp, and readied itself for its first taste of combat. It would not be long in coming. On 22 November, Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, the US Sixth Army commanding general, formally attached the 11th Airborne Division to Major General John R. Hodge's XXIV Corps, consisting of the 96th Infantry and 7th Infantry Divisions.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Leyte Landing
General Hodge directed General Swing to relieve the 7th Infantry Division along the Burauen-La Paz-Bugho line and destroy all Japanese forces in that area, protect and secure all corps and air corps installations in his area of operations (AO), protect the Leyte Gulf supply bases and shipping, and coordinate operations with the 96th Infantry Division on his northern flank, running generally on an east-west line through Dagami. Swing knew that the fighting strength of his division consisted of seven small infantry battalions supported by three field artillery battalions with twenty-four 75mm pack howitzers and twelve sawed-off 105mm howitzers. But he put his division in motion piecemeal as the situation demanded. Overnight, the division went from a theater reserve role to direct combat.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
By the time the 11th Airborne Division entered the fight, Major General Franklin C. Sibert's X Corps, consisting of the 1st Cavalry and 24th Infantry Divisions, was attacking southward from the Pinamopoan-Carigara area; General Hodge's 96th and 7th Infantry Divisions were in scattered contact with the Japanese in the Dagami-Burauen foothills.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
When the 11th Airborne Division relieved the 7th Infantry Division in the Burauen area, the 7th Infantry Division moved south, crossed the mountains via the Abuyog-Baybay Road, and after reaching the west coast, attacked northward, compressing the Japanese between its forces and those of General Sibert's X Corps attacking southward. The 11th Airborne Division was tasked with attacking across the center of the mountains from Burauen to Albuera on the west coast.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
At 07:00 on 21 November, the 511th PIR, the first 11th Airborne Division unit committed to combat, departed Bito Beach by amphibious transport and moved to Dulag, where it loaded into motor transport for its move to Burauen. The 511th's mission was to move westward across the mountains and link up with the 7th Infantry Division on the west coast. A few days later, the 188th GIR moved north from Bito Beach to protect the 511th's southern flank as it moved westward.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
Initially, the 187th GIR remained at Bito Beach, with Colonel Hildebrand in command of all remaining 11th Airborne Division forces. On 24 November, General Swing moved his division command post (CP) to San Pablo, a barrio outside Burauen, and occupied the former 7th Infantry Division CP. Swing moved the 75mm pack howitzers of the 674th and 675th GFABs from Bito Beach to protect the Fifth Air Force headquarters near Burauen; the glider field artillerymen, armed mainly with folding-stock M1 carbines, became infantrymen overnight.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
To protect Bito Beach and to provide additional protection for the 511th's pending westward move, Colonel Hildebrand sent 1/187th to the vicinity of Balinsasayao along the Abuyog-Baybay road. From that base, 1/187th sent out patrols to the west and south. Contact patrols continually worked through the Baybay Pass to keep abreast of the 7th Infantry Division advance, and some of these witnessed their first banzai charge, which the 7th Infantry Division always stopped, sometimes with canister shot fired from 37mm antitank guns. Meanwhile, 2/187th patrols from Bito Beach had no contact with the Japanese. But, for the 187th, these easy days along the Baybay Pass and on the beach would soon be over. Surprisingly, the 187th would have its counterpart, the Japanese Army airborne forces, to thank for its initial entry into combat.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
On 27 November, the 511th PIR started its move into the hills to the west of Burauen. To replace 2/511th, 2/187th moved from Bito Beach through Dulag into defensive positions west of Burauen; they did not stay there long. On 2 December, 2/187th was ordered into the hills to follow the 511th. Also on 2 December, 1/187th was brought up from the Balinsasayao area to replace 2/187th at Burauen. The next morning, First Lieutenant Charles Olsen, C/187th's commanding officer, met with Lieutenant Colonel George O. Pearson, 1/187th's commanding officer, and General Swing at the division CP in San Pablo.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
Swing ordered C/187th sent into the hills behind 2/187th, which had already departed. He also asked for a platoon from C/187th to be detached for a combat parachute jump into Manarawat, a deserted barrio in the central highlands, halfway between Burauen and Albuera. Manarawat was nothing more than a clearing in the jungle, rising about 150 feet (46 m) above a streambed, surrounded on three sides by sheer, brush-covered cliffs and on the fourth by a more gradual slope. The clearing was about 600 feet (180 m) long and 200 feet (61 m) wide. Jungle-covered mountains rose across the streambed.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
1/511th, less C/511th, was currently at Manarawat, which was becoming the hub for the 11th Airborne Division's operations along the mountain trails to the west. C/511th was in trouble. A treacherous Filipino guide had led the company and the 511th's regimental headquarters group into a Japanese ambush near Lubi on the north trail toward Manarawat. They were surrounded and their ammunition and rations were running low.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
After rejecting a Japanese offer to surrender, Colonel Orin D. Haugen, the 511th's commanding officer, and two men managed to crawl through the Japanese encirclement in the darkness and head back to the division CP at San Pablo, arriving two days later. When General Swing became aware of the situation, he ordered 1/511th to depart Manarawat and rescue C/511th and the regimental headquarters party. Fortunately, Colonel Haugen had already sent an eight-man patrol to Manarawat to guide 1/511th back to the ambush site.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
After Swing explained this situation to them, Lieutenant Colonel Pearson and Lieutenant Olsen of 1/187th did not question the jump order. They did not mention that 1/187th was a glider-borne unit, nor ask where the aircraft, parachutes, and drop containers were coming from. They simply said, "Yes, sir," saluted, and left. For the 187th GIR, the Leyte campaign was heating up.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Combat on Leyte
First Lieutenant Chester J. Kozlowski and his 1st Platoon, C/187th, made the first unit combat jump of the 11th Airborne Division – one jumper at a time from L–4 and L–5 artillery light observation aircraft – into Manarawat.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
Information from captured documents and prisoner interrogations indicated that the Japanese were planning a coordinated ground and airborne attack to seize the airfields in the Burauen area. On the evening of 4 December, General Swing was alerted to the possibility of the Japanese airborne assault. The only combat unit immediately available at either Bito Beach or Burauen was Lieutenant Colonel Pearson's 1/187th, the division reserve.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
Two days earlier, remnants of the Japanese 16th Division, about 500 men out of the original 8,800, had assembled in the foothills southwest of Dagami and prepared to join Japanese paratroopers in a combined assault on the Buri airstrip on 5 December. Because of radio difficulties, they were unaware that the parachute drop had been postponed until the night of 6 December because of forecast bad weather, and following the original orders, moved out of the hills in the early morning hours of 6 December.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
At 06:00, approximately 150 Japanese crossed the main Dagami-Burauen road and moved into a swamp near the airstrip. The US 287th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, whose mission was to locate Japanese field artillery by the flash and sound of their guns and to survey and make maps to mark the Japanese artillery coordinates, was located northwest of Burauen and saw the Japanese crossing the road south of their position and heading east toward the airstrip. The battalion CP immediately relayed this information to XXIV Corps headquarters.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
American forces at the Buri airstrip consisted of 47 men of the 287th Field Artillery Observation Battalion and 157 miscellaneous troops from various service units attached to the USAAF V Bomber Command. At 06:30, the Japanese launched their attack – over 14 hours before the paratroopers were scheduled to land. The Japanese broke into the American bivouac area where most of the men were still asleep in their tents, bayoneting some of the sleeping men before they could get to their weapons. Some of the Americans, shoeless and clad only in shorts and undershirts, managed to grab weapons and hold off the Japanese until they could evacuate the area. Meanwhile, the Japanese entrenched in the woods to the north of the airstrip.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
General Hodge had the 1st Battalion, 382nd Infantry Regiment (1/382nd), turned over to General Swing's operational control and moved southward down the Dagami-Burauen road; a reinforced 1/382nd company was already in the area and the rest of the battalion made ready to follow. Swing directed Lieutenant Colonel Pearson to fly a 1/187th rifle platoon from the San Pablo airstrip to the Buri airstrip in the artillery liaison aircraft, with the rest of his battalion to follow on foot.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
The L–4s made three round trips to ferry the rifle platoon to the airstrip, where they were met by a "very excited" group of disorganized service and air corps troops. Pearson arrived with the rest of his battalion at the Buri airstrip around 09:00. He left a rifle squad at the airstrip for security and directed the platoon that had flown into the airstrip to sweep the area west of the main road. Soon, Pearson could hear small-arms fire from the direction in which he had sent the patrols.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
In about half an hour, the patrols returned and reported that 26 Japanese had been killed. Pearson was convinced that the Japanese attack on the airstrip was more than a small combat patrol and that a larger number of Japanese remained in the area. Even with his entire battalion available, Pearson could only muster 180 men to defeat the remnants of the Japanese 16th Division. He prepared to attack.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Battle for the Airfields
1/187th formed into a line of skirmishers and advanced to the northeast. Not five minutes after they entered the dense jungle, they flushed their quarry and a series of close-quarter firefights erupted. For two hours, 1/187th continued to fight its way through the steaming jungle to the north of the Buri airstrip, attacking the Japanese in their defensive positions, often in hand-to-hand combat or at close range where hand grenades and bayonets were the weapons of choice. Finally, Lieutenant Colonel Pearson called a halt to check the status of his battalion. His company commanders reported 85 Japanese killed while suffering only two of their own wounded. This battle was 1/187th's first combat mission.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
General Swing flew from San Pablo to the Buri airstrip. Swing sent a messenger to Lieutenant Colonel Pearson directing him to take up positions along the Dagami-Burauen road, keep it open, and to "look to his west, from which he would soon expect a lot of trouble." Pearson deployed 1/187th (less C/187th at Manarawat) along the road and established his CP on a nearby bluff near the northern edge of the airstrip.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
Pearson had a problem – he had moved to the Buri airstrip under the assumption that his mission would last only a few hours and required speed in getting there; he had left the battalion's heavy equipment, packs, and mess equipment at San Pablo. Thus, 1/187th's mortar platoon had no mortars. The mortar platoon commander took his men down the road to a weapons depot and borrowed two mortars and ammunition; it would turn out to be a fortuitous move. At 15:00, Pearson sent a patrol to contact the 382nd Infantry battalion to the north of Buri.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
An hour later, a great deal of Japanese activity was observed on a hill to the west. Pearson called for and received artillery support. Unfortunately, the artillery fire was soon lifted because it was landing on the boundary between divisions and there was a probability that the target area was occupied by troops of the 96th Infantry Division. Japanese snipers harassed 1/187th along the Buri-Burauen road all afternoon. By 18:00, 1/187th had driven most of the Japanese back from the Buri airstrip, although a few pockets of resistance remained around its edges. Soon it was dusk and all was quiet. There were no rations and no idea when they would be brought up. 1/187th settled in for the night; its false sense of security and tranquility would soon be shattered.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
The evening of 6 December erupted into bedlam when Japanese bombers began dropping incendiary bombs on the Bayug airstrip. At the same time at San Pablo, 11th Airborne Division staff members were sitting down to dinner when they heard the drone of aircraft overhead. They looked outside and saw a number of transport aircraft – C–47s, they thought – slowly flying at an altitude of only 700 feet (210 m), almost directly overhead. What the officers were witnessing was the beginning of the Japanese First Airborne Brigade's two-regiment assault to recapture the Burauen area airfields.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
The Japanese transports and their fighter escorts were scheduled to be over the airfields at 18:40. Fighters and medium bombers were to strafe and neutralize the defenses around the Buri, San Pablo, and Bayug airstrips. At the same time, light bombers were to hit the antiaircraft artillery positions between San Pablo and Dulag. Each transport carried 15 to 20 paratroopers. Just before dark, on schedule, the Japanese transports, fighters, and bombers arrived over the Burauen airfields. Several incendiary bombs fell on the San Pablo airstrip, setting a gasoline dump and a liaison aircraft on fire. Japanese fighters raced up and down the airstrips with machine guns blazing. US antiaircraft fire knocked down 18 Japanese aircraft.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
Japanese paratroopers began descending from the transports. Between 250 and 300 paratroopers landed on or near the San Pablo airstrip. Once on the ground, the Japanese used a system of bells, whistles, and horns to assemble their units. They talked in loud tones and allegedly called out in English, "Hello, where are your machine guns?" Most of the Japanese assembled on the north side of the airstrip. They burned three or four more liaison aircraft, a jeep, several tents, and another gasoline dump.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
During the night of 6–7 December, a platoon of combat engineers from the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion (AEB), armed with three machine guns, dug in on the southwest corner of the airstrip. Three times during the night, the Japanese charged the engineers' position; three times the Japanese were thrown back with heavy losses. The Japanese who landed west of the airstrip were between San Pablo and Bayug. They spread out with some moving down the sides of the San Pablo airstrip and others moving off to the west toward the Bayug airstrip, where they set fire to several liaison aircraft.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
The Japanese then moved into the Bayug bivouac area and destroyed the camp. Seventy-five American officers and men were at the Bayug airstrip; most of them dug in and defended the south side of the airstrip until the morning of 7 December. At dawn, after most of the Japanese paratroopers had assembled on the San Pablo runway, they moved north and west to the northern edge of the Buri airstrip and joined elements of the Japanese 16th Division.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
It became clear to General Swing when he returned to San Pablo overnight that the Japanese airborne assault and air attacks were something more than a reconnaissance-in-force. But, his seven small infantry battalions were all committed either in the hills beyond Burauen or deployed near the Buri airstrip. Accordingly, he diverted other troops from their primary missions to acting infantry.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
Lieutenant Colonel Lucas E. Hoska, the 674th GFAB's commanding officer, whose battalion was at the mouth of the Bito River, north of Abuyog, was directed to leave his pack howitzers and move his battalion as rapidly as possible to San Pablo. Swing charged the 152nd Airborne Anti- Aircraft Battalion (AAAB) to use what men it had left to defend the division CP. He directed the 127th AEB to defend the airstrip.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
At daylight on 7 December, a diverse group of soldiers from the 127th AEB and other division service units prepared to attack across the San Pablo airstrip to clear the Japanese and relieve some beleaguered division troops, including some of the 127th's own. Just as they were about to launch their frontal attack, the carbine-wielding artillerymen from the 674th GFAB arrived in DUKWs, dismounted, and swung into line on the right wing of the 127th AEB's composite unit.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
The two battalions then prepared to move out as a provisional infantry regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Douglas C. Davis, the 127th's commanding officer. Just then, General Swing arrived. The similarity between the battle at the San Pablo airstrip and most Civil War battles became apparent with the engineers on the left, the artillerymen on the right, and both battalions drawn up in a line across the southern edge of the airstrip. In the center, between the two outfits, was the General, shouting as he directed Lieutenant Colonels Davis and Hoska in the attack.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
They in turn bellowed at their units, and the line stepped off. The Japanese were holed up all around the airstrip. Initially, the strongest resistance was met in front of the engineers to the west. By maneuvering his companies, Davis succeeded in pushing across to the north of the airstrip. That evening, the composite force set up in a tight defensive perimeter in that area where it remained for the next few days in defense of the San Pablo airstrip.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
Meanwhile, 60 Japanese paratroopers had jumped onto the Buri airstrip. By the middle of the morning of 7 December, the Japanese had completely occupied the undefended airstrip. On the night of 6–7 December, the USAAF service personnel had abruptly fled the airstrip, leaving behind their weapons; the Japanese made "best use" of them. Late on the night of 6 December, General Swing had sent word to Lieutenant Colonel Pearson that he wanted 1/187th to clear the Buri airstrip as soon as possible.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
During the morning of 7 December, 1/187th was deployed along the Buri-Burauen road, taking machine-gun fire from the Japanese west of the road. Pearson directed elements of his battalion to hold this force in place while he organized his attack on the Buri airstrip to the east. At about 09:30, 1/382nd arrived from the north. At 09:45, both battalions advanced toward the Buri airstrip. Twice, 1/187th fought its way onto the northwest corner of the airstrip; twice, it was blasted off by heavy Japanese fire. 1/382nd also advanced aggressively but faltered when one of its company commanders was hit.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
Pearson decided to withdraw both battalions to the north and consider another way to attack the airstrip. He made a personal reconnaissance around the west end of the airstrip and decided to move a couple rifle platoons to the south side of the airstrip. In this position, machine guns and mortars could bring in supporting fire. 1/187th moved out at 14:00 to the west as planned, but ran into Japanese booby traps. Pearson directed the battalion's lead elements to turn southward while the machine guns were set up close to the edge of the landing strip.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
In less than a minute, their crews had the machine guns firing at a group of Japanese hurrying across the airstrip. In about 15 minutes, the machine-gun crews ran out of ammunition. Two men crawled to the rear to get more ammunition and returned with orders to withdraw. 1/187th and 1/382nd regrouped at the west of the airstrip. A/187th and B/187th attacked abreast to the northeast and A/382nd attacked due east. The three rifle companies ran into heavy Japanese fire but continued their advance. By 16:00, the "dog-tired" Americans were holding the southwest corner of the airstrip with their ammunition running low.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
XXIV Corps headquarters had released the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 149th Infantry Regiment (1/149th and 2/149th) to General Swing's operational control for employment against the Japanese in the Burauen area. The two infantry battalions had been alerted at 02:00 on 7 December for movement to San Pablo. 1/149th arrived at the San Pablo airstrip at 14:00 and was directed to attack and secure the Buri airstrip. A/149th and C/149th deployed abreast on a frontage of 200 yards (180 m) for each company.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
A heavy machine gun section was attached to each company and a D/149th mortar platoon was to support the attack from positions on the San Pablo airstrip. Moving out at 14:30, the infantrymen covered the first 400 yards (370 m) without incident but were stopped by a rain-swollen swamp. Attempts to bypass the swamp were fruitless and they were forced to wade through the sometimes shoulder-high water. The 149th Infantry companies lost contact with each other during the crossing. A/149th arrived at the Buri airstrip and made contact with 1/187th about 16:30.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
C/149th, delayed by a skirmish with the Japanese, did not arrive until about 18:00. Because of the lateness of the hour and the fact that observation had shown there were "many more Japanese" on the north of the airstrip than had been estimated, it was decided to establish defensive perimeters for the night. At 20:00, the sector was reported quiet.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
With the arrival of the 149th and 382nd Infantry battalions in his area, Lieutenant Colonel Pearson felt that he could now attack and secure the length of the Buri airstrip. But that was not yet to be. Late in the afternoon of 7 December, General Swing sent word to Pearson to move 1/187th from the Buri airstrip area to defend the Fifth Air Force headquarters at Burauen along the Burauen-Dulag road. It was the target for the Japanese 26th Division descending out of the hills to the west of Burauen.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
By midnight, 1/187th was at the Fifth Air Force headquarters area. 1/187th then moved into the defensive positions previously occupied by 2/187th, about 800 yards (730 m) west of Burauen on a rise in the foothills of the mountains. From the heights, they could see the battle for control of the Buri airstrip. They were also in a position to block the Japanese from attacking eastward toward Burauen.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
On 10 December, after a half-hour artillery concentration, 1/149th attacked north across the Buri airstrip. In their advance, 1/149th cleared the airstrip area of individual Japanese paratroopers and destroyed the remaining pockets of resistance. 1/149th went into a perimeter defense at 17:00. The Buri airstrip was finally clear.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
At 19:30, a battalion-sized force from the Japanese 26th Division launched an attack out of the hills to the west of Burauen against the various US installations in and around Burauen. The Japanese were four days late in arriving at their line of departure for the planned combined assault on the Burauen airfields, primarily because they were trying to move eastward along the same mountain trails that the 511th PIR was using to move westward.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
Only a little more than a battalion of the Japanese division, which was to have assisted the Japanese 16th Division, managed to arrive in a very disorganized condition. The Japanese began firing at the Fifth Air Force administration buildings. The Fifth Air Force personnel were pushed back until they reached the hospital. First Lieutenant John G. Hurster, the 1/187th's mess officer, had set up his field kitchen near the hospital from where he could carry hot meals to the troops dug in the foothills to the west.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
The hospital's commanding officer, concerned about the safety of his staff and patients, had earlier asked Hurster to set up a perimeter around the hospital. Hurster had complied, using cooks, supply troops, and drivers to man the perimeter. During the Japanese attack, Hurster and his assortment of converted infantrymen held their position. On the morning of 11 December, they found 19 dead Japanese. That same morning, 1/187th patrols were sent out into the foothills and killed an additional 17 Japanese. This small battle marked the end of the attack by the remnants of the Japanese 26th Division and was the last major effort by the Japanese to regain control of the Burauen airfields.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Airfields
The 11th Airborne Division and the 187th GIR had their baptism of fire. The 187th had landed on Leyte not expecting to be committed to combat. Under those circumstances, coupled with the surprise Japanese assault on thinly defended installations, the 187th, committed to combat unexpectedly and in haste, performed superbly. Further tests of their fighting skill were in the immediate offing.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
While the battle for the Burauen airstrips was underway, the 511th PIR was making its way over the mountains, looking for the Japanese main supply route (MSR), with  2/187th following up behind. The mission of the 11th Airborne Division was now to fight its way over the mountains to the west coast and link up with the Sixth Army, which was fighting its way up the west coast, north of Albuera. Late on the afternoon of 3 December, 2/187th reached Anonang, which was nothing more than a jungle clearing with an abandoned shack.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
Captain George Ori's F/187th was sent to occupy an observation post (OP) on a hill to the northwest of the Anonang perimeter. Once there, Ori discovered that the OP commanded a view of a strong Japanese position on a plateau beneath it. That night, the Japanese hit Ori's position. Ori called in mortar fire from Anonang that drove off the Japanese. The next day, Ori sent a platoon down from the OP to probe the Japanese position. The Japanese opened up with machine guns, wounding the platoon leader and two of his men. Ori ordered a withdrawal. F/187th had run up against a Japanese force on a hill that, sometime later, would become known as "Purple Heart Hill."


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
The 11th Airborne Division's G-2 (Intelligence) had determined the locations of the main Japanese forces remaining within the division's AO. One force that F/187th had just found was at Anonang; the other was west of Mahonag; more Japanese were infiltrating westward after they failed to seize the Burauen airfields. From 4 December until 11 December, 2/187th had several encounters with the Japanese around Anonang while the 511th PIR was continuing to fight its way westward toward Mahonag. On 11 December, Brigadier General Albert Pierson, the assistant division commanding general, arrived at Anonang.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
After reviewing the situation, General Pierson ordered an attack on the Japanese position below Ori Hill, the hill from which Captain Ori and F/187th had occupied earlier. On 12 December, F/187th and G/187th launched the attack with G/187th moving to strike the Japanese from the north and F/187th moving to hit from the southwest – a small pincer movement. A Battery, 457th PFAB, the unit that had parachuted into Manarawat, provided artillery support. By 13:00, F/187th had cleared Ori Hill and was working down the slope toward the main Japanese position.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
Presently, F/187th became impeded by friendly artillery rounds that were bursting in the trees above and behind it. The artillery's forward observers with the rifle companies could hardly find their spotting rounds through the thick jungle overhang that limited visibility to a few yards. They had reverted to adjustment by sound – which proved not entirely accurate. The attack was called off.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
Late on the afternoon of 13 December, 1/187th arrived at Anonang with orders to relieve 2/187th. On 14 December, 2/187th was directed to move west to Mahonag to protect the DZ vacated by the 511th PIR. The Mahonag DZ was nothing more than a field on a hillside, about 300 yards (270 m) long by 200 yards (180 m) wide, studded with stumps and fallen trees, and packed with hundreds of slit trenches deep enough for a soldier to stand in. The DZ was littered with boxes, cans, and debris from spent airdropped ration packs.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
The air was filled with the odor of unburied, decomposing Japanese bodies and a large, prosperous swarm of flies. The real estate blossomed with green, yellow, and white cargo parachutes that the men of 2/187th set up as tents for shelter. For the next few days, 2/187th dug a perimeter, incorporating some of the foxholes left by the 511th.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
In the middle of December, General Swing relocated his infantry battalions. The 188th GIR moved to a location near Manarawat. Colonel Hildebrand and several members of the 187th GIR headquarters staff moved to Anonang by way of Manarawat to take over command of operations in the central mountains from Anonang to Mahonag. On 20 December, F/188th relieved 2/187th of its DZ security mission at Mahonag. On 21 December, General Swing flew into Manarawat and hiked up to Mahonag, arriving late in the afternoon.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
At 04:00 on 23 December, Swing and 2/187th, with First Lieutenant Joseph B. Giordano's 2nd Platoon, G/187th, leading off, departed Mahonag for a two-hour march westward to make contact with the 511th PIR on Rock Hill, near Anas, and aid in the breakthrough to the west coast. Swing wanted to personally direct the breakthrough and the 511th was pushing forward along the Japanese MSR that ran along a ridge in the direction of Ormoc. At about 06:00, the column reached the approach to Rock Hill.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
At the same time, the 511th on Rock Hill launched its attack on a Japanese-occupied ridge to clear the last known Japanese position blocking the advance. The 511th attack cracked the Japanese defenses with demolition charges, flamethrowers, bazookas, and hand grenades. By 08:30, the ridge was firmly in the 511th's possession. Word came down for 2/187th to move forward and pass through the 511th. At noon, 2/187th with Giordano's platoon on the point passed through the 511th and took over the lead in the march to the west.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
After putting a Japanese machine gun position out of action and clearing out several weak Japanese pockets of resistance, Giordano and his platoon reached a point high on the western slope of a mountain from where they could see Leyte's west coast. The battalion halted and popped a purple smoke grenade, the signal for friendly forces intended to attract elements of the 77th Infantry Division that might be in the vicinity. On a ridgeline to the west, purple smoke was observed. 2/187th had made visual contact with US forces on the west coast. However, the appearance of the rugged terrain between the two US forces promised that more fighting would take place before physical contact was made.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
The column pushed on, continuing to follow the Japanese MSR, and soon reached the approaches to a "dangerous-looking position to the front." Giordano stopped the column, put out security, and sent out a patrol to reconnoiter the position. As the column closed up, all the command hierarchy came forward to learn the reason for the halt. The patrol soon returned and reported that the ridgeline to the front was honeycombed with caves and deeply dug-in foxholes, that it appeared to have been heavily shelled and recently abandoned, and that the area was littered with dead Japanese.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
Giordano led his platoon to the top of the ridge and found the position well laid out, camouflaged, and dug into almost solid rock. The number of Japanese dead served as mute evidence of heavy fighting. Among the dead were two American soldiers who appeared to have been killed less than 24 hours before. When he reached the west end of the ridge, Giordano could see Ormoc and the seacoast. To his front, about 200 yards (180 m) away, he saw more dug-in emplacements that were soon alive with members of the 32nd Infantry Regiment.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), World War II, Leyte, Clearing the Mountains
They were amazed to see Americans coming through the same Japanese positions that had given them so much trouble earlier. "We expected you," said one of the 32nd's infantrymen. "We saw the purple smoke, but we didn't think that you were coming over that hill. Last night, it was solid with Japanese. We lost two of our boys on it." Thus, physical contact was made with the Ormoc Corridor, the road was opened between Burauen and Anas, and the area west of Mahonag was cleared. That night, 2/187th spread out beside the Talisayan River headwaters near Albuera.