The 463th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion was created on February 21, 1944 near the small Italian village of Borgo Bainsizza on the bridgehead of Anzio.

It is formed from batteries "C" and "D" from the 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion of the 82nd Airborne.

It was commanded by Major Hugh Neal The officer and men of the newly created unit were 82nd veterans who fought in Sicily in July 1943, participated in the Anzio campaign.

June 44 - Rome - Italie

After its new designation, the battalion remained as a support of the WSP, which in early June 44 led the allied forces to Rome. The new battalion commander is Major John T. Cooper Jr., Major Neal being seriously wounded during the fighting for Anzio on May 31st.

Major John T. Cooper Jr. 

After the fall of Rome, the battalion receives 200 new recruits to complete its two batteries "C" and "D".
A month later the battalion was set in motion for the invasion of the South of France as part of the First Airborne Task Force with the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The battalion left the airports of Grosseta and Follonica near Rome.

August 44 –  France South –  Dragoon Operation

In the early hours of the morning of August 15, 44, a group commanded by Major Stuart M. Seaton jumped near Le Muy in France. A second group under the command of Major Cooper is dropped over a large area around St Tropez where they fought high concentrations of Germans.