"Paratroopaloosa: These are all the times America did" Topic

… large-scale combat jumps.

"A combat jump and the gold star on your wings is the desire of all airborne personnel. During World War II, the U.S. Army fielded five airborne divisions, four of which saw combat, as well as numerous independent regimental combat teams and parachute infantry battalions. Today, the U.S. military fields one airborne division, two airborne brigade combat teams, and a number of special operations forces, all airborne qualified. Throughout the history of these forces, they conducted all manner of combat operations and tactical insertions. Here are the eighteen times, in chronological order, that the U.S. military conducted large-scale combat operations with airborne forces…."
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Amicalement
Armand

AIRBORNE !!!!!!

HOW FAR?!?!?

I think there is a difference in US parlance between airborne and parachute.

In the old days you could fly into an LZ in a plywood and canvas thing with wings…and you were glider borne and also "airborne". You were probably, in practice, more use than the chaps hanging from silk, because you had some reasonably heavy kit, which you could actually find in the dark, even if your boots were not quite as "cool".

Then came the helicopter. We surely all now know that paras, however much an elite, are for ultra small conflicts (IF delivered as para assault) and would not survive 24 hours in modern warfare. They have, since inception, been wasted as ultra elite reserves rushed in by trucks.

The list ignores (fair enough, it is discussing large scale and at least spotted that only the Rhine crossing had the medic pack on the helmets) the landings in Italy. Avellino for example?

I take it back…apologies…there it is!

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

that only the Rhine crossing had the medic pack on the helmets

The first aide or medical packs were worn on a variety of jumps on the helmet. Relatively uncommon on D-day it was seen fairly commonly on the 101st at Market Garden.

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HOW FAR?!?!?

ALL THE WAY !!!!

I think there is a difference in US parlance between airborne and parachute.

In WWII US ABN Divs had both Parachute Troops and Glider borne Troops. Generally is worked out to 2 Parachute Inf Rgts(PIRs) and 1 Glider Inf Rgt(GIR) per Div.

In some cases as in the PTO GIRs became PIRs because of the lack of gliders. The wooden gliders had a low recovery rate. IIRC the last Gliders in the US Army were used in an FTX in '47 … Then eventually all Inf Rgts in the ABN Divs became PIRs.

Then came the helicopter.

In the Korean war '50-'53 the Helicopter became primarily used for Medevac and Observation. The French in their war in Algeria in the '60s started to use Helos for troops insertions as well. On a small level.

In the early '60s the US ARMY exercised and perfected Air Assault Ops with entire units being carried into battle by Helicopters. And before the unit the 11th ABN [Test] Div was deployed to Vietnam from Ft. Benning, GA. Was reflagged as the 1st Air Cav Div. Then other units like the 101 ABN became an Air Assault Div., as it is today. With all assets being capable of being deployed by helos.

The USMC also does a number of Air Assault operations as well.

Today the US ARMY 82d ABN Div retains it's airborne status by having all it's elements being able to be deployed by Parachute or Helicopter.

I was fortunate to have been awarded both Parachute and Air Assault Wings. Having graduated from both courses. The Air Assault Wings have sort of replaced the Glider Wings …

[Yeah … I'm bragging ! ]

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

I have just sent a PM to say thanks re the medical pack on the helmet before The Rhine Crossing. I simply "knew" it was introduced only then as a Friend or Foe recognition aid. OK, so there might be much photographic evidence that I am wrong, much evidence actually, but I suspect this is forged, fake news, and some kind of conspiracy against me.

Or else I was wrong all along….

I am sure you would run circles around most of us when it comes to Napoleonics!

You got that that right !

A lot of folks don't realize that at least in the case of the 82nd and 101st divisions, the glider regiments were what initially made up the divisions. The parachute regiments were raised and trained independently and were only attached to the divisions later on. And sometimes the parachute regiments were moved around.

That is true initially. That is why I said it worked out to 2 Parachute Inf Rgts(PIRs) and 1 Glider Inf Rgt(GIR) per Div.

When I was in the 82d the 325th was a former glider regiment and it had a different designation AIR (Airborne Infantry Regiment) but the same functions as those of us in PIRs. There was not a glider badge in sight just Paratrooper wings.

Yes Sir, I'd think many Vets with Glider Wings would have long passed by then. Or certainly not be on active duty.