533rd EB&SR
A site dedicated to the soldiers of the 533rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment
3rd Engineer Special Brigade.
Chronology of The 533rd EB & SR
from Surf and Sand
by
Robert Amory Jr.
1942
- MAY '42
- 9 - Joint Chiefs of Staff issue orders directing creation of amphibian engineer units.
- JUNE '42
- 5 - Engineer Amphibian Command activated at Camp Edwards
- 15 - 1st Engineer Amphibian Brigade activated at Camp Edwards
- 20 - 2nd Engineer Amphibian Brigade activated at Camp Edwards
- AUGUST '42
- 8 - 3rd Engineer Amphibian Brigade, including 533rd Engineer Shore Regiment and 593rd Engineer Boat Regiment, activated at Camp Edwards
- 21 - Colonel C. T. Tench assumes command of 533rd ESR.
- 25-31 - Allies drive off Jap attempt to seize Milne Bay.
- 28 - Colonel O.W. van den Berg assumes command of 593rd EBR.
- 31 - 2nd Battalion, 593rd EBR moves from Camp Edwards to Cotuit.
- SEPTEMBER '42
- 12 - Boat Battalion in first tactical exercise makes night landing on No Man's Land
- 29 - First antiaircraft machine gun firing at Popponessett
- OCTOBER '42
- 1-31 - Basic training for boat men on Nantucket Sound and shore engineers on Sandy Neck and other Cape Cod beaches.
- 25 - 3rd Brigade alerted for move to Carrabelle, Florida
- NOVEMBER '42
- 9 - 533rd ESR is redesignated 533rd Engineer Amphibian Regiment, receives 2nd Battalion of 593rd and 543rd Engineer Amphibian Regiments.
- 13-15 -Shore Battalion and regimental headquarters move by train from Camp Edwards, Cape Cod, Mass. to Carrabelle, Florida.
- 21 - Beginning of struggle to oust Japs from Buna-Gona area of New Guinea.
- 26 - Training with 38th Division begins at G Beach
- DECEMBER '42
- 11 - First regimental combat team landing with 149th Infantry.
- 17-20 - First full division landing problem with 38th Division - horrible fiasco.
- 29-31 Rerun of muffed 38th Division exercise.
1943
- JANUARY '43
- 6,9,21,26 - 3rd Brigade landing exercises on Dog Island
- 19 -Buna-Gona fight ends with fall of Sanananda
- 25 - Cadre for 4th Brigade departs for Ft. Devens, causing considerable shuffling of assignments.
- FEBRUARY '43
- 2 - Beginning of joint training with 112th Infantry and Special Troops of 28th Division.
- 9-10 - 3rd Brigade landing exercise at Red Beach
- 24-25 - Combat team landing with 112th Infantry.
- MARCH '43
- 4-6 - Full 28th Division landing at Red Beach.
- 5-6 - Night of the big storm.
- 6-8 - Salvage of wrecked boats.
- 9 - Army's Amphibian Training command abolished
- 10 - Special landing problem for benefit of news reels
- 11 - Beginning of intensive rifle marksmanship training
- 25 - Special landing problem to impress conference of Dixie governors
- 30 - Boat Battalion turns in all landing craft in preparation for move to west coast
- 31 - First regimental review
- APRIL '43
- 1 - Colonel Tench relinquishes command
- 1-17 - Firing for record with M-1 rifle
- 9-12 - Detachment of Boat Battalion takes 23 staff boats 440 miles to Fort Pierce, Florida
- 21-27 - Regiment moves by rail to Fort Ord, California
- MAY '43
- 11 - 7th Division lands on Attu
- 19-28 - Boat Battalion at Presidio of Monterey for surf training
- 22 - Colonel W.S. Moore assumes command of the regiment.
- 25 - 533rd Engineer Amphibian Regiment redesignated 533rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment.
- 29-June 6 - Boat Battalion plus detachment of Shore Battalion moves by truck to Desert for antiaircraft training.
- 31 - Regiment, after receiving over 500 replacements, virtually at full strength.
- JUNE '43
- 12 - First 3rd Brigade review.
- 17-29 - Boat Battalion at Monterey for training tests of boat platoons.
- 22 - War Department and Engineer Amphibian Command training inspection, including landing problem.
- 30 - Landings on Woodlark, Kiriwina, Nassau Bay and New Georgia start major Allied offensive in SWPA.
- JULY '43
- 1 - Company B establishes camp at Carmel Beach for intensive boat and maintenance training.
- 3 - Second regimental review
- 5 - Colonel Moore assumes command of Brigade during General Ogden's trip to SWPA.
- 22 - Company A replaces B at Carmel Beach camp
- 24 - Company C wins company honors and 533rd wins regimental honors in Brigade track meet.
- 25 - About half of Shore Battalion moves to Albany race track for cargo handling training at Oakland Port of Embarkation.
- AUGUST '43
- 5 - Munda air field on New Guinea captured by 43rd, 37th and 25th Divisions.
- 8 - B Company designated for early shipment overseas to ferry boats from Australia to New Guinea.
- 15 - Company C replaces Company A at Carmel Beach
- 16 - 563rd Boat Maintenance Battaion moves to port of embarkation
- 24-30 - Boat Battalion less Company B moves 450 miles down the California coast in LCPLs and Rs to Oceanside
- SEPTEMBER '43
- 1-12 - Training exercises at Oceanside, California, with 4th Marine Division
- 4 - 532nd EB&SR attached to 9th Australian Division participates in first large amphibian attack in SWPA, a few miles east of Lae.
- 7 - 563rd Boat Maintenance Battalion sails for New Guinea.
- 11 - Salamaua, New Guinea falls to 41st Division
- 13 - Regiment receives official alert for overseas movement
- 14-15 - Boat Battalion, less Company B, returns by truck to Fort Ord.
- 16 - Lae, New Guinea, captured by Aussies.
- 20-21 - 3rd Brigade CPX tests communications and staff work for major landings.
- OCTOBER '43
- 2 - Aussies capture Finschhafen.
- 1-20 - Final training in new weapons and equipment.
- 14 - 563rd Miantenance Battalion debarks at Milne Bay.
- 22 - Company B and Shore Battalion called to port of embarkation to sail 5 November.
- 29 - Company B and Shore Battalion load freight cars.
- 30 - Sailing date postponed indefinitely
- NOVEMBER '43
- 1 - 3rd Marine Division lands at Bougainville.
- 8-17 - 1200 mile cruise to Mexico demostrates long range possibilities of small landing craft.
- 10 - Company B and Shore Battalion again called to port of embarkation to sail November 23.
- 21 - Shore Battalion and Company B finally entrain for Camp Stoneman.
- 24 - Shore Battalion and Company B aboard USS West Point sail out the Golden Gate.
- DECEMBER '43
- 2 - Regimental Headquarters Company moves from Fort Ord to Camp Stoneman.
- 10 - West Point anchors in Milne Bay.
- 11 - Shore Battalion debarks and pitches camp on north shore of Milne Bay.
- 14-16 - Company B debarks and reloads on SS Cape Meers for Australia.
- 15 - 112th Cavalry Regiment lands at Arawe, New Britain.
- 17 - Boat Battalion, less Company B, entrains at Fort Ord for Camp Stoneman.
- 19 - Advance party of Shore Battalion moves from Milne Bay to Cape Cretin.
- 19-21 - Company B lands at Townsville and moves to Cairns, Australia by rail.
- 21-24 - Shore Battalion aboard SS Josiah Earle moves from Milne Bay to Cape Cretin.
- 22 - Regiment, less Shore Battalion and Company B sails from San Francisco aboard SS Cape Perpetua.
- 26 - 1st Marine Division lands at Cape Gloucester.
- 27 - Company B starts joint training with 6th Division (Australian) north of Cairns.
1944
- JANUARY '44
- 2 - 126th RCT lands at Saidor
- 5 -Shore Battalion takes over operation of Sixth Army beach at Cape Cretin.
- 7 - Company A, 563rd EBM Battalion moves to Langamak Bay to support 2nd ESB.
- 14 - Company A debarks from Cape Perpetua at Milne Bay.
- 15-Feb.16 - Lt. Farkas scouting mission to Umboi Island.
- 16 - Company C, Regimental, and Boat Battalion Headquarters Company debark at at Melauna Bay, Goodenough.
- 18 - Company C commences boat operations at Goodenough.
- 19 - Company A starts convoy runs from Milne Bay to Goodenough..
- FEBRUARY '44
- 4 - Regiment ordered to take over amphibious support of task forces at Cape Gloucester and Saidor by March 1.
- 13 - A Company moves from Milne Bay to Goodenough.
- 15 - New Zealanders occupy Green Island southeast of Rabaul.
- 18-21 - Boat Battalion, less Company B, in organic craft moves via Oro Bay to Finschafen.
- 21-23 - Regimental Headquarters Company and Medical Detachment move from Goodenough to Finschhafen. Regimental CP established on Nugundo Peninsula.
- 24 - Boat Battalion, Headquarters Company and Company A arrive at Cape Gloucester.
- 25 - Shore Battalion, less Company F, and Company C arrive at Saidor.
- 26 - Company A's boats help 5th Marines take Iboki Plantation.
- 28 - Company A, 563rd EBM Battalion arrives at Borgen Bay, New Britain.
- MARCH '44
- 3 - Company F arrives at Borgen Bay from Cretin.
- 5 - Company C participates in Yalau Plantation attack with 128th Infantry.
- 6 - 5th Marines with Company A and parts of Company F and Boat Battalion Headquarters Company attached makes assault landing at Volupai (Talasea), New Britain.
- 11 - Company A boats land 1st Marines at Linga-Linga Plantation, Eleonora Bay, New Britain.
- 20 - B Company relieved from attachment to Australian I Corps to await shipment to New Guinea.
- 26 - Marines land at Emirau completing encirclement of Rabaul area.
- APRIL '44
- 3 - F Company takes over beach at Borgen Bay . General Macarthur brought ashore in Company A LCVP at Borgen Bay.
- 22 - 24th, 32nd, and 41st Divisions land at Aitape and Hollandia on New Guinea.
- 22-23 - Company C moves from Saidor to Cape Gloucester.
- 24-25 - 533rd LCM's carry 185th Infantry from Borgen Bay to Talasea and bring back 5th Marines.
- 29 - Shore Battalion relieved from duty at Saidor to prepare for Wakde Island operation.
- MAY '44
- 3 - Rear Echelon Company C arrives at Borgen Bay from Saidor.
- 8-13 - Shore Battalion on SS Wm. N. Byers sails from Saidor to Aitape via Hollandia. Detour causes it to be dropped from Wakde Island task force.
- 8 - Landing at Cape Hoskins, New Britain.
- 14 - Shore Battalion takes over beach at Aitape.
- 15 - First inland reconnaisance by LCMGs executed on Kapiura River, New Britain.
- 15 - Company B moves into town of Cairns to stage for New Guinea.
- 19 - 163rd Combat Team invades Wakde Island and nearby shore of New Guinea.
- 27 - Balance of 41st Division lands on Biak Island.
- 28 - Unauthorized and unopposed landing at Garove, Vitu Islands, north of New Britain.
- JUNE '44
- 5-13 - 108th RCT moved from Borgen Bay at Arawe in A and C Company boats.
- 14 - Advanced detail of Company B arrives at Finschafen by air.
- 23-26 - Boat Battalion Headquarters Company and Company C in organic craft move from New Britain to Seleo Island off Aitape.
- JULY '44
- 2 - 158th RCT siezes Noemfoor Island.
- 13 - Scheduled shore-to-shore attack of 124th RCT (31st Division) from Aitape to Naparake canceled because of Jap break-through on the Driniumor River. B Company arrives at Finschafen from Cairns.
- 14-Aug.8 - Batle of Driniumor River results in virtual annihilation of Jap XVIII Army; LCMGs, DUKWs see considerable action.
- 30 - 6th Division lands at Sansopar near western tip of New Guinea.
- AUGUST '44
- 4 - C Company crews fly Aitape to Milne Bay to receive and bring forward the first group of replacement boats.
- 19-29 - Regimental Headquarters Company and B Company more in organic craft from Finschafen to Aitape and Seleo Island.
- 29-Sep.3 - Company F moves from Borgen Bay to Aitape in B Company LCMs.
- SEPTEMBER '44
- 3 - Warning orders for attack on Talaud Islands with 32nd Division on October 15 received by regiment.
- 15 - Talaud operation cancelled.
- 16-17 - LCMGs support advance of 103rd Infantry from Babieng to Suain Plantation.
- 20 - LCMGs save Company F, 172nd Infantry from disaster on Danmap River -extreme limit of American advance toward Wewak.
- OCTOBER '44
- 1 - Beach at Lemieng Village, Aitape, abandoned because of heavy surf, and operations shifted to Aitape Cove.
- 20 - Sixth Army invades Leyte.
- 26 - LCMGs enter Wewak area on unsuccessful attempt to rescue RAAF flyers.
- NOVEMBER '44
- 12 - Planning for Lingayen Gulf landing on December 20 commences.
- 14-17 - Company A moves from Borgen Bay, New Britain to Seleo Island.
- 24-26 - Company A makes hasty move from Seleo Island back to Finschafen.
- 27-Dec.1 - A Company moves on naval transports from Finschafen to Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville.
- 30 - Transports arrive in Aitape Roads to take 43rd Division and 533rd less A Company to Luzon, Philippines.
- DECEMBER '44
- 1 - Lingayen Gulf "S" Day postponed 20 days to January 9; 60 LCMs and crews attached to transports.
- 5-24 - Loading of supplies and vehicles in heavy surf.
- 7 - 77th Division lands at Ormoc, western Leyte.
- 15 - 24th Division lands on Mindoro Island, southwest of Luzon.
- 16 - A Company with 37th Division leaves Bougainville aboard naval transports.
- 18-19 - A Company participates in rehearsals off Lae, New Guinea.
- 21 - A Company arrives at Manus Island.
- 26 - Troops embark at Aitape.
- 27 - Rehearsals at Aitape.
- 28 - Convoy sails from Aitape.
- 28-29 - Boat Battalion rear echelon moves to Hollandia to await turnaround shipping.
- 31 - 37th Division convoy sails from Manus Island.
1945
- JANUARY '45
- 4 - Convoy enters Philippine waters.
- 9 - Regiment lands at White Beach, San Fabian. Sixth Army lands at Lingayen Gulf.
- 19 - Assault phase terminates and Regiment passes to operational control of Base M.
- 19-20 - Boat Battalion brings out guerilla battalion from Aringay.
- 29 - 38th Division lands at Subic Bay.
- 30 - Regimental rear echelon arrives at San Fabian from Aitape.
- 31 - White Beach 2 reorganized with 543rd and 533rd Shore Battalions handling unloading of LCMs and LCTs respectively. 11th Airborne Division lands at Nusugbu, south of Manila Bay.
- FEBRUARY '45
- 4 - 37th and 1st Cavalry enter Manila.
- 10 - A Company moves from Dagupan River to Bued River.
- 12 - 543rd relieved on White Beach; 533rd Shore Battalion takes over LCM beach while 534th begins to handle LCTs.
- 16 - Air and sea-borne assault on Corregidor.
- 18 - Regiment advised it would make shore-to-shore attack northward on Luzon.
- 25 - Convoy service to guerilla-held points and PT refueling station on northern Luzon innaugurated.
- 28 - 186th RCT lands on Palawan Island.
- MARCH '45
- 6 - Regiment alerted for operation on Mindinao.
- 10 - 41st Division lands at Zamboanga.
- 15 - First real information of new operation received.
- 18 - 40th Division invades Panay.
- 20 - Regiment relieved from operational control of Base M.
- 26 - Regiment ceases operations on White Beach.
- 27 - Americal Division lands on Cebu.
- 29 - 40th Division invades Negros.
- 31 - Boat Battalion in organic craft departs Lingayen Gulf.
- APRIL '45
- 1 - Boat Battalion stops overat Subic Bay. 158th RCT lands at Lingayen.
- 2-3 - Boat Battalion arrives Mangarin Bay, Mindoro.
- 4-6 - Rest of Regiment on LSTs moves from Lingayen Gulf to Mindoro.
- 5 - Joint MacArthur-Nimitz command of all Pacific forces announced for invasion of Japan.
- 8 - Regiment attached to 24th Division begins to load out at Mindinao.
- 10 - B Company convoy departs for Zamboanga.
- 11 - A Company convoy departs for Zamboanga.Rehearsal of operation held at Mindoro.
- 12 - C Company convoy departs for Zamboanga. Roosevelt dies.
- 14 - Naval convoy leaves Mindoro.
- 16 - Drastic change in plans as Army and Navy convoys join off Zamboanga.
- 17 - "R" Day landings at Malabang and Parang, Mindinao.
- 18 - Beginning of Mindinao River operations; seizure of Cotabato and Lomopog.
- 22 - Capture of Carmen Ferry ends offensive phase of Mindinao River operation.
- 30 - Platoon of B Company and Company F leave for Davao Gulf.
- MAY '45
- 1 - Australians land at Tarakan, Borneo.
- 3 - Platoon of B Company and Company F join 24th Division at Santa Cruz in Davao Gulf.
- 4 - Davao River ferry innaugurated and Talomo Beach established.
- 5 - Malabang Beach closed down and D Company moved to Parang.
- 6-7 Germans surrender; VE Day.
- 9 - Shore-to-shore operation against Samal Island, Davao Gulf.
- 10 - 108th RCT lands at Macajalar Bay, Mindinao.
- 12 - Australians finally capture Wewak.
- 13 - Capture of Balete Pass after bitter struggle seals fate of Japs on Luzon.
- 17-19 - Balance of B Company moves from Cotabato to Talomo.
- 24 - 31st Division and 108th RCT meet on Sayre Highway.
- 20-June 2 - Companies A , E, and Boat Battalion Headquarters move from Parang via Zamboanga to Bugo.
- JUNE '45
- 1 - Assault landing at Luayon Point, Davao Gulf.
- 4 - Assault landing on Balut Island, Davao Gulf.
- 5 - Assault landing at Cape St. Augustin.
- 10 - Australians land at Brunei Bay, Borneo.
- 19 - B Company platoon leaves Talomo for run up east coast of Mindinao to Agusan River.
- 19-21 - Regimental Headquarters Company moves from Parang to Bugo overland and by LSMs.
- 25 - Regiment less Boat Battalion alerted to move to Oahu to stage for invasion of Japan.
- 25-30 - Using A and B Company boats , 155th RCT is moved 100 miles up Agusan River to trap last Japs in northern Mindinao.
- JULY '45
- 1 - Australians land at Balikpapan, Borneo.
- 4 - MacArthur announces Phillipine campaign completed.
- 8 - Headquarters Company, Shore Battalion and Company D leave Parang for Bugo.
- 10 - Company F departs Talomo for Leyte.
- 12 - B Company boats with 21st RCT make final amphibious assault of the War at head of Sarangani Bay.
- 14-15 - Regiment less Boat Battalion moves from Bugo to Leyte.
- 20 - Colonel Moore takes command of 3rd ESB and is succeeded in 533rd by Lt. Col. Amory.
- 26 - Allied heads of governments at Potsdam give Japs conditions for unconditional surrender.
- 30 - Regimental Headquarters Company sails from Leyte for Oahu.
- AUGUST '45
- 4 - Shore Battalion sails for Oahu from Leyte.
- 6 - First atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
- 10 - Japs sue for peace, but announce certain reservations to Potsdam terms.
- 14 - Regimental Headquarters Company arrives at Oahu. Japs accept President Truman's terms; War is over.
- 15 - Regiment alerted for occupation duty in Japan.
- 18 - Shore Battalion arrives at Oahu.
- 28 - First Americam troops under Colonel Tench land in Japan at Atsugi.
- 31-September 4 - Convoys sail from Oahu for Japan.
- SEPTEMBER '45
- 1-2 - Japs sign surrender in Tokyo Bay, VJ Day.
- 13 - Company C moves from Bugo to Zamboanga to load out 41st Division.
- 17-21 - Layover at Saipan for Shore Battalion and Regimental Headquarters.
- 20 - Convoy with Boat Battalion, less B Company, leaves Mindinao after picking up X Corps, Company A and Headquarters Company at Bugo.
- 27 - Regiment, less Boat Battalion, lands with 98th Division at Wakayama.
- 29-30 - Regiment, less Boat Battalion, re-embarks for Hiro.
- OCTOBER '45
- 1-3 - Convoy from Mindinao rides out typhoon off Okinawa.
- 6 - Landing with 41st Division at Hiro-Kure.
- 15 - Regiment, less B Company, concentrated at Kure Naval Base; B Company departs from Talomo for Japan with 24th Division.
- 22 - B Company lands at Mitsuhama, Shikoku.
- 25 - 100 point officers and 83 point men entrain for Nagoya.
- 27 - Boats turned over to harbor craft companies and Boat Battalion becomes inactive.
- NOVEMBER '45
- 4 - Regiment relieved from X Corps and attached to Kure Base.
- 5 - 80-81 point men leave for Nagoya.
- 6 - All men with less than 60 points transferred to other units except for small selected caretaker detachment.
- 13-19 - Final turning in of equipment of all types; Regiment becomes virtually inactive.
- 14 - 71 point men and 90 point officers leave for Nagoya reducing Regiment's strength to 40 officers and 400 men.
- 24 - Remainder of Regiment moves from Kure to Koyama, half way to Hiroshima.
- 29-December 5 - 60-70 point men and 73-89 point officers leave for Nagoya.
- DECEMBER '45
- 4 - "Regiment" reduced to 40 men, attached to 1874th Engineer Aviation Batalion, moves back to Kure.
- 31 - Regiment inactivated.
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