74:. As the campaign wore on, explorers John and Adam Fahnestock conceived the idea of improvising a civilian fleet to deliver supplies to the entrenched forces, under the codename 'Mission X.' From an affluent yachting family, their acquaintance with
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93:- the Section assumed a wider role in delivering ammunition, medical supplies and food to positions beyond the reach of conventional deep draft ships. From May 1942, the Section operated from Macarthur's Headquarters in the
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Hall of Fame - recognizing the pivotal role played by the
Section in sustaining the Allied liberation of the Pacific. A commemorate plaque now stands at the former site of the Sections Headquarters at the
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On arriving in
Melbourne, the Allied withdrawal from the Philippines led to the expansion of the ‘Mission X’ mandate into a broader logistical focus - formalised as an official Section of the
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The
Section continued to serve under intensive fire throughout the Papuan and Philippine campaigns - variously collaborating with the
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expanded the eligibility criteria for campaign awards to Small Ships veterans. In 2010, the section was inducted into the
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Together, these acknowledgments recognize the essential role played by the
Section in sustaining the
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On the 18th of
October 1942, the Section conducted its first amphibious assault - deploying the
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246:"MacArthur's small ships: Improvising Water Transport in the Southwest Pacific Area"
105:- ultimately expanding to include Dutch freighters and a First World War destroyer.
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ashore near Buna. Here, a vessel from the
Section was notably commandeered by
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stationed in
Melbourne. Under the leadership of the Fahnestocks and
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World War II naval operations and battles of the
Pacific theatre
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may have played a role in the mission's ultimate authorisation.
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Small Ships
Section, Southwest Pacific Area of World War II
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to provide logistical support to Allied
Operations in the
97:- assembling an improvised flotilla at No. 10 Pier in
70:- beyond the reach of assistance from a stretched
62:, the Japanese offensive led to the entrapment of
336:"United States Army Small Ships Section Memorial"
50:- providing critical logistics under enemy fire.
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34:. Between 1942 and 1945, over 4,372 Allied
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340:www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au
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365:Ships of the United States Army
179:South West Pacific Area Command
20:The US Army Small Ships Section
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294:Erin, Frick (21 March 2014).
181:during the Second World War.
154:for the duration of the war.
168:US Army Transportation Corps
128:2nd Engineer Special Brigade
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136:Battles of Cape Gloucester
124:2/7th Australian Battalion
89:, and with the support of
244:Babcock, Kenneth (2014).
114:Major Archibald Roosevelt
132:Sixth United States Army
334:webadmin (2012-04-11).
110:128th Infantry Regiment
42:civilian vessels "from
16:Civilian fleet in WW II
252:. No. 90 (90): 26–42.
118:Battle of Scout Ridge.
83:Transportation Service
300:Australian Geographic
60:Philippines campaign
76:President Roosevelt
260:– via JSTOR.
72:United States Navy
22:was an improvised
28:Douglas MacArthur
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48:Philippines"
40:commandeered
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134:during the
58:During the
32:Pacific War
359:Categories
345:2021-05-12
185:References
103:Lend-Lease
201:"Welcome"
140:Hollandia
99:Walsh Bay
91:Macarthur
64:US Forces
258:26298870
54:History
46:to the
305:12 May
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158:Legacy
130:, and
68:Bataan
254:JSTOR
144:Leyte
307:2021
278:help
152:Cebu
150:and
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