PIAT PLATOON
The PIAT pl, for the R day operation, was broken down and distributed to Rifle Coys and platoons. We had four guns in each rifle coy, one with each platoon and one with Coy HQ. Sgt R Wyrostok did a grand job of equipping the platoon and we had everything that we needed.
L/Sgt D. Fairborn took over #1 Sec and was attached to C Coy. Cpl A Pearson commanded #2 Sec with "B" Coy and L/Sgt C. Crouse had our #3 sec with "A" Coy. L/Sgt H Holloway and our #4 AA Sec went as a protection sec for Bn HQ. All the detachment jumped with the platoon to which they were attached and on hitting the deck immediately went to their various RVs.
#1 Sec under L/Sgt Fairborn had their most active time when the enemy put in a counter-attack in "C" Coy at 0430 hrs, 25 MAR. L/Sgt Fairborn took over his four PIATS and opened up at high-angle fire. They knocked out one SP gun and were responsible for the hasty withdrawal of the remainder. In this way #1 sec assisted C Coy in repelling the counter- attack and were able to take over the enemy positions.
#2 Section was gathered together on the RV by Cpl A Pearson. They accompanied B Coy to their objective. On the way they ran into an SP gun and machine gun fire. Cpl Pearson immediately went out with Pte. K. Burr and Pte. R. Pollon to take out the gun. They stalked it for a while, getting into a good fire position and in a short time sent a volley of bombs at the gun which wrote it off completely. This enabled the Coy to continue its advance. When they were almost to their objective the PIATS opened up on a group of houses and provided covering fire for the advancing coy. Not many bombs went off before the enemy came out waving many white flags.
#3 Sec was met at the RV by L/Sgt C. Crouse who linked up with A Coy and took off with them to their objective. Their objective consisted of some buildings and the PIATS were of inestimatable value in blasting the way for the advancing company.
On this operation we were sorry to lose Pte. J. Mason who was killed on the DZ. We had wounded: Ptes, Kolcun, McCarthy, Kirby, Carlton, and Morneau.
Piat Pl Commander
L/Sgt D. Fairborn took over #1 Sec and was attached to C Coy. Cpl A Pearson commanded #2 Sec with "B" Coy and L/Sgt C. Crouse had our #3 sec with "A" Coy. L/Sgt H Holloway and our #4 AA Sec went as a protection sec for Bn HQ. All the detachment jumped with the platoon to which they were attached and on hitting the deck immediately went to their various RVs.
#1 Sec under L/Sgt Fairborn had their most active time when the enemy put in a counter-attack in "C" Coy at 0430 hrs, 25 MAR. L/Sgt Fairborn took over his four PIATS and opened up at high-angle fire. They knocked out one SP gun and were responsible for the hasty withdrawal of the remainder. In this way #1 sec assisted C Coy in repelling the counter- attack and were able to take over the enemy positions.
#2 Section was gathered together on the RV by Cpl A Pearson. They accompanied B Coy to their objective. On the way they ran into an SP gun and machine gun fire. Cpl Pearson immediately went out with Pte. K. Burr and Pte. R. Pollon to take out the gun. They stalked it for a while, getting into a good fire position and in a short time sent a volley of bombs at the gun which wrote it off completely. This enabled the Coy to continue its advance. When they were almost to their objective the PIATS opened up on a group of houses and provided covering fire for the advancing coy. Not many bombs went off before the enemy came out waving many white flags.
#3 Sec was met at the RV by L/Sgt C. Crouse who linked up with A Coy and took off with them to their objective. Their objective consisted of some buildings and the PIATS were of inestimatable value in blasting the way for the advancing company.
On this operation we were sorry to lose Pte. J. Mason who was killed on the DZ. We had wounded: Ptes, Kolcun, McCarthy, Kirby, Carlton, and Morneau.
Piat Pl Commander
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