376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion


The 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion is an inactive airborne field artillery battalion of the United States Army. Active with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1942–1957, the 376th PFAB saw action during World War II in Sicily, Italy, the Netherlands, the Battle of the Bulge, and Germany, often serving in support of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team.

History

The 376th PFAB was activated using cadre from the Parachute Test Battery. The initial battalion commander was Major Paul Wright. The battalion was composed of five batteries: Headquarters Battery, three batteries of four 75mm pack howitzers, and Battery D, and antiaircraft/antitank battery with 37mm antitank guns and.50cal machine guns. In October 1942, Major Wright assumed command of the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, and Captain Robert Neptune assumed command. In January 1943, Major Wilbur Griffith assumed command, and now-Major Neptune returned to his duties as battalion executive officer. In April 1943, the battalion departed Fort Bragg, and staged at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts before departing New York Port of Embarkation on the George Washington. The battalion arrived at Casablanca on 10 May 1943, and staged there briefly before moving to Oujda, French Morocco. There the battalion, the 504th Regimental Combat Team and the 82nd Airborne Division trained in miserable conditions until before moving to Kairouan, Tunisia on 1–2 July.
En route from North Africa to Sicily with the 504th PIR on 11 July 1943, the battalion was heavily damaged by friendly fire, with 24 killed and 11 missing.

Lineage & Honors

Lineage

Distinctive Unit Insignia