43rd Infantry Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 43rd Infantry Division


caption=43rd Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1941-1945
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
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nickname=Winged Victory Division
patron=
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battles=World War II
anniversaries=
decorations=Distinguished Unit Citation (5)
battle_honours=
current_commander=
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identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=US Infantry
previous=42nd Infantry Division
next=44th Infantry DivisionThe 43d Infantry Division was a formation of the United States Army in World War II. It was activated on 21 March 1925 as a National Guard Division in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

World War II

*Activated: 24 February 1941.
*Overseas: 1 October 1942.
*Campaigns: New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Luzon.
*Distinguished Unit Citations: 5.
*Awards: MH-2 ; DSC-40 ; DSM-2 ; SS-736 ; LM-53; SM-51 ; BSM-2,496 ; AM-27.
*Commanders: Maj. Gen. Morris B. Payne (February-August 1941), Maj. Gen. John H. Hester (August 1941-July 1943), Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing (August 1943 to inactivation).
*Returned to U.S.: 19 October 1945.
*Inactivated: 26 October 1945.

Component Units

*103rd Infantry Regiment
*169th Infantry Regiment
*172nd Infantry Regiment
*103rd Field Artillery Battalion
*152nd Field Artillery Battalion
*169th Field Artillery Battalion
*192nd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
*43rd Signal Company
*743rd Ordnance Company
*43rd Quartermaster Company
*43rd Reconnaissance Troop
*118th Engineer Battalion
*118th Medical Battalion
*43rd Counter Intelligence Detachment

Combat Chronicle

The 43d Infantry Division landed in New Zealand on 23 October 1942. The 172d Infantry Regiment arrived at Espiritu Santo, 26 October. The Division moved to Noumea, New Caledonia, in November and to Guadalcanal, 17 February 1943. The Russell Islands were occupied without opposition, 21 February, and training continued. Elements landed on Vangunu and Rendova Islands against minor resistance, 30 June. Rendova served as the major staging point for the assault on the Island of New Georgia. The assault on New Georgia was met with determined enemy resistance. The Japanese fought fiercely before relinquishing Munda and its airfield, 5 August. Vela Cela and Baanga were taken easily, but the Japanese resisted stubbornly on Arundel Island before withdrawing, 22 September. After training at Munda, the 43d moved to Guadalcanal and thence to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation. On 19 July 1944, the Division assumed defensive positions at Aitape, engaged in patrols and reconnaissance at Tadji and along the Drinumor River, 25 July, and took the offensive, 8 August 1944, ending organized resistance on the 25th. On 9 January 1945, the 43rd made an assault landing in the San Fabian area, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. Under enemy fire, the Division secured the beachhead and fought into the Lingayen Plain by 12 February. The offensive was resumed against the enemy north and west of Fort Stotsenburg, 27 February. After ending Japanese resistance in the Zambales Mountains we helped from the Philippine Commonwelth forces, the 43d swung south against the Shimbu Line. On 6 May 1945, the attack continued in the Bulucan area. Ipo Dam was secured and enemy opposition smashed in the Ipo area, 19 May. Mopping-up activities continued until 30 June 1945. The Division left Manila, 7 13 September, for occupation duty in Japan until it left for home.

Recognition

U.S. Route 7 is signed as the 43rd Infantry Division Memorial Highway between Norwalk and Danbury, CT.Vermont Route 100 is signed as the 43 Inf Div highway.

References

*"The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States" U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/cc.htm CMH] .
*cite web
last = U.S. Army Center of Military History
first = Force Structure and Unit History Branch
authorlink =
coauthors =
date =
year = May 29, 2008
month =
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/043id.htm
title = 43rd Infantry Division
format =
work = Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States
pages =
publisher = U.S. Government Printing Office
language =
accessmonthday = August 5
accessyear = 2008