Table Of ContentGHEH1 FIGHTING ELITE
'MtikV
MILIARY
ARMY
AIRBORNE
US
1940-90
YOLVAt*
GORDON ROTTMAN RON VOLSTAD
EDITOR: LEEJOHNSON
FIGHTING ELITE tmim
military!
ARMY
AIRBORNE
US
1940-90
Text by
GORDON ROTTMAN
Color plates by
RON VOLSTAD
First published in Great Britain in 1990 by Artist'sNote
Osprey, an imprint ofReed Consumer Books Ltd. Readersmay care tonotethat theoriginal paintings
Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, from which the colorplatesin this bookwere
London SW3 6RB prepared areavailableforprivatesale. All
andAuckland, Melbourne, Singapore andToronto reproductioncopyrightwhatsoeverisretained by the
© Copyright 1990 Reed International Books Ltd. pubMloidsheelr.EAmlploernqiuuimries tobeaddressed to:
Reprinted 1991, 1994 (twice), 1996 700 NorthJohnson
SuiteN.
All rightsreserved. Apart from anyfairdealingforthe
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purpose ofprivate study, research, criticismorreview, as
permitted underthe Copyright Designsand PatentsAct, California 92020
USA
1988, nopartofthispublication maybe reproduced,
stored ina retrievalsystem, ortransmitted in anyform or The publishers regret that theycanenterinto no
byanymeans, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, correspondence upon thismatter.
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be addressed to the Publishers.
Filmset in Great Britain Acknowledgements
Printed through World Print Ltd, Hong Kong No book, covering thescope thisoneattempts, could
becomea reality without the unselfish aid ofmany. A
thunderous 'Airborne!' goes to: KenAskins, Geoffrey
T. Barker, William A. Hudspeath, Les Huges, Paul
Lemmer, Tim Moriarty, Ken Montgomery, Steven
Mrozek (82d Abn. Div. Asso.), Allen Shoppe, Colleen
Urbanek (Colleen's Books), Ronald Yolstad, U.S.
Army Infantry School PublicAffairsOffice, and many
individual paratrooperswhodonated theirknowledge
and photographs.
US Army
Airborne 1940-90
Introduction simple fact that they know that the kind ofindividuals they
attracthavetheabilityand willingnesstotakethatextrastep
when the going becomes difficult, when an extra effort is
needed to win the day. Few countries nowadays actually
Thefirstfiftyyearsofthe USArmyairbornearm isastoryof expect toemploytheirairborneunitssolelybyparachute, but
continuingbattleswith thenation'senemies,ofbattleswithin they do know that paratroopers have the flexibility and
theArmy'shierarchy,ofchange,andofadaptation. Ifthereis motivation to successfully accomplish their mission when
anysingleattributetheairbornesoldiercanclaimashismost othersmightfalter. Thefactthat theyhavesoldierswillingto
—
sterling,itishisuncannyabilitytoadapt hisflexibility. Beit throwtheirbodies,burdenedwithexcessiveequipment,outof
on a confused battlefield deep behind enemy lines, in a a speeding aircraft on a moonless night is in itselfworth the
structuredexercise thatbeginstofallapart,inresponsetothe effort and expense ofmaintaining airborne units. Peacetime
demandforadifferenttacticalconceptortotheneedforanew training,regardlessofhowmuchlip-serviceispaidtorealism,
piece of equipment, a paratrooper will adapt: he will do isstill training. Soldiersdogethurtandkilledintraining, but
something. The very nature of a paratrooper demands this everyone knows it is all done with the priority on safety.
ability to adapt. There is something in most men who are Jumping from an aircraft in flight, and landing under a
willing to take that extra step and volunteer for the airborne parachute with a heavy load on who knows what kind of
thatsetsthemapartfromothersoldiers.Thisisnottosaythat terrain, is a conscious act requiring a soldier to control his
optahreartrsooolpdeirer,stahree imnofteriivoart;ibountatnhedeexstprriatefdfeorctoriptstaiktesdetvoelboepsa TanhdeBfiirdsdtlderCaow.i,nPghiolfatdheelpphairaacjheuwtelilsetrsb.adTgheeb5y01BsatilPeryc,hBt.anBkns.
withintheseunitsissomethingnot tobetakenlightly. ordered 350 on 6 March 1941 for presentation on 15 March;
Theveryreasonmanycountriesretainairborneunitsisthe officiallyapprovedon 10March.
9
natural apprehension and fearfarbeyond what mostsoldiers The Early Days
are expected to endure. This form ofstress and fear is not
unlikethatfoundincombatandfamiliaritywithitwillgreatly
aid a soldierin controllingit once engaged in actual combat. The first proposal for an airborne assault came from none
Airbornetrainingprovidesacountrywithahighlymotivated, other than Benjamin Franklin. Influenced by the recent
aggressive, physically fit soldier with some degree of pre- Montgolfierhotairballoon, heproposed thatalargenumber
exposuretothestressofcombat,backedbyaunitboastingthe of balloons, loaded with soldiers, be sent into an enemy's
pride and prestige so necessary to maintain unit cohesion in countryside toreaphavocwhilehismain armywasdeployed
the rigours ofbattle. It creates a soldier with the ability and at the front. He reasoned that no country could afford to
desire to accomplish the mission against challenging odds, defend thewholeofthe countrysidewhile also maintaininga
with therequired flexibilityand independenceofaction. fieldarmy.
Score of books chronicle the battles and exploits of the Col. Billy Mitchell, commander of US aviation units in
airborne. In an effort not to providejust another such book, France, proposed thefirst airborne assault in Oct. 1918. The
this author will examine the evolution ofthe airborne's unit 1st Division was to be trained (involuntarily) to parachute
structure; how they adapted to the changes in military fromheavybombers (capableofcarryingasquadapiece) and
doctrine, tactics, equipment, and the enemies they fought. It extensively armed with machine guns. Units were to be
will also follow the confused genealogy ofthe many airborne parachuted behind German lines (one plan included taking
units—how they emerged, consolidated, and expanded; the city of Metz) in support of the planned spring 191
where thevserved, and what becameofthem. offensive, to establish strongpoints as bases ofoperation, and
to attack the enemy's rear in support of general frontal
attacks. Col. Mitchell hadsufficientvision toproposesupply-
ing these units by air-drop, and using attack aircraft to deny
Abbreviationsused:
the Germans use ofthe roads to attack the parachute units
Units: whiletheyfortifiedtheirbases.Theplanwasseriouslystudied
Del Detachment Sdn Squadron and sufficient bombers were expected to be available. The
Plat Platoon BG BattleGroup logisticsoftheoperationwouldhavebeenexcessiveduetothe
Co Company Bde Brigade
Bty Battery Gp Group
Trp Troop Regt Regiment
Bn Battalion Div Division NotesonUSArmydesignationpractices
(1) Troops and batteries are company-sized, squadrons are
battalion-sized. Infantry regiments were composed ofthree
Branches/Misc:
AAA Anti-aircraftArty. Lt Light organic battalions. Detachments are generally platoon or
Abn Airborne LRRP LongRange smaller sized, but administratively function as a company.
ADA AirDefenseArty. Recon. Patrol Brigades and groups have several attached battalions and
AIB Abn. Inf.Bn. Maint Maintenance smallerunits.
AAIRRCT AAbbnn..RInefg.iRmeegntt.al MMeIchorM...MMielcihtaarnyized a(n2)tiP-ariirocrratfot19ar5t7iltluerbyeuarntdiellrerythweasCouansdterArtthye.FiFerlodmArt1y9,57antdo
AArRmNdGorAR .CAGAuorrammmrboydarNetadtToieroanAamrlmor OOMprPndsorops ..OMIOinrptldeeinrltalaatirnigyceoennPcsoelice st1iu9nb6ge9leatrAutrbitelillealrneyrdyunabidrreardnectfhhe.encIFeniealr1dt9i6lAl9retryty,hewayenrwdeercaieornsadogelafiiednnactseepldsityisnwttieotmhsa
Arty Artillery maintenance) undertheAirDefenseArtillery.
ASA ArmySecurity Prcht PI arachute (3) The Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) was
Agency Pfdr Pathfinder adopted in 1957 to continue regimental lineages when the
AT Anti-tank PFAB Prcht. FieldArty. regimentwasreplaced bybattlegroupsfrom 1957 to 1964,in
Avn Aviation Bn. turn replaced by battallions/brigades in 1964. CARS battle
CA CivilAffairs PIB Prcht. InfBn. groups and the later battalions carried the lineages of the
(military PIR Prcht. Inf. Regt. originalregimentalcompaniesandnottheirbattalions. Upto
government) Prov Provisional 15 battle groups/battalions and/orseparatecompaniescould
Cav Cavalry (temporary) be established under a parent regiment. CARS units are
Engr Engineer Psyops Psychological
FA FieldArtillery Operations identifiedby, e.g. 1-506th Inf(1stBn., 506th Inf.). Therewas
GFAB GliderFieldArty. QM Quartermaster no regimental headquarters and units belonging to the same
Bn. (supply) parent regiment could be assigned to different divisions/
GIR GliderInf.Regt. Recon Reconnaissance brigades. In 1983 CARS began to be replaced by the Army
HHB Headquarters& Spl Special Regimental System (ARS). Similarto CARSwith battalions
HeadquartersBty. S&S Supply&Service and separate companies carrying the lineage of pre-1957
HHC Headquarters& S&T Supply& companies,itestablishesparentregiments,permittingsoldiers
HHD HHHeeeaaadddqqquuuaaarrrttteeerrrsssDC&eol.. SSipgt TSSirugapnnpasolprotrt tuonistesravreewiidtehnitniftiehde,sea.gm.e1u/n5i0t6sIonvfe.rAseRaSsarnedgiimnentthaelsthaeteasd.qAuaRrS-
HHT Headquarters& Svc Service tersarestrictlyadministrativeandarenotassignedtotactical
HeadquartersTrp. TOE Tableof formations nor have tactical control over units. Battalions
HQ, Headquarters Organization& organic to the pre-1957 regiments are identified in the same
Inf Infantry Equipment manner,e.g. 1/506 PIR.
.
problems of training thousands of troops and acquiring Membersofthe501st Prcht.Bn.atFtBenning, 1941 wearing
sufficient parachutesin time. Fortunatelyforthe ist Division aviation coveralls, Riddell helmets, leather neck protector
the warended thefollowingmonth. But, none theless, it was btiiebd,.a(nMd.DT.-B4oplaarnadchvuiateAsw.bMroesytNohrarvies)their leg cuffs taped or
proved a valid concept 22 years later by the very army that
Mitchell's'wild' proposalwasaimedagainst.
Theairborne torchwasnext takenupby theSoviet Union
(1931), Germany (1937), France (1937), and Italy (1938). detachment of'air infantry". When initial co-ordination was
Othercountries were todabble with parachute troops in the attemptedwiththeAirCorpstoobtainthenecessaryaircraft,
pre-war years, but it was Germany and the USSR that that branch proposed that airborne troops should be under
undertook the most ambitious efforts. Great Britain formed their control and designated 'Air Grenadiers'. The Corps of
her first parachute units in 1940, these being special oper- Engineerslikewisemaintained that,sincetheairbornetroops
ationsunits;shedidnotestablishtacticalunitsuntillate 941 would principally be employed as saboteurs and demolition
1
These were followed by a massive airborne establishment to specialists in their behind-the-lines operations, they should
includetheformationofAllied specialopsand tacticalunits. come under Engineer authority. In late 1939, after a confer-
Despite involvement with developing emergency para- ence involving the three concerned branches, the infantry
chutes for aviators since 1918, the US Army's first tactical received control of air infantry and air-landing troops
experimentwasconductedon29April 1928atKellyFieldon development.
theoutskirtsofSanAntonio,Tex., undertheauspicesofnone On 2Jan. 1940 the ChiefofInfantry was directed by the
other than Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell. Three volunteers from War Department to study the practicability ofair infantry
the 2d Division, stationed at nearby Ft Sam Houston, andtheairtransportrequirementsofinfantrydivisionground
parachuted from a bomber using manually activated para- troops.Aplanwassoonproposedtoformatestplatoonunder
chutes, and set up and fired a machine gun as part of a the Infantry Board, and was approved in April. Co-
demonstration. Regrettably, nofurtherexperimentation was ordinationwith theAirCorpswasordered andwhatcameto
conducted. beknownastheAirborneEffortbegan.
The Army did experiment with air-landing troops, how- The 940Germansuccesseswithparachute,glider,andair-
1
ever. In 1931 an artillery battery was air lifted across the landed troops in the Low Countriesgave an added emphasis
isthmus of Panama. In 1932, during manoeuvres at Ft to the programme. Theaccomplishmentsofthesesmall units
DuPont,Del.,asmallinfantryelementwasair-landed behind were a key factor in increased interest, and also proved the
the opposing force's lines. The following year, again in conceptsvalid. ThetacticsemployedbytheGermanswereto
Panama, an entire artillery battalionwasair-lifted duringan initially influence the development of the Army's own air-
exercise. borne doctrine. The 2d Division was directed to test proce-
No further development took place until May 1939 when dures for the air-landing oftroops in Sept. 1940. The study
the thief of Infantry proposed the formation of a small focused on a reinforced combined arms infantry battalion for
.
agency was needed to take the burden off the Chief of
Infantry. TheProvisionalPrcht.Groupwasformedon25
Feb. 1941, not as a tactical headquarters, but to provide
cadres for new units, prepare training literature, study unit
organization, and develop tactical doctrine. The still under-
strength 501st Prcht. Bn. was furtherdepleted to provide the
cadreforthe502c!Prcht.Bn.activatedon 1July 1941
Problemshadarisenwith thequalityofvolunteers,and the
'wash-out'ratewasexcessive. Uptothistimevolunteerswere
obtained from replacement training centres, but authoriz-
ation was given to recruit directly from the 8th and 9th Inf.
Divs; this greatly eased the manning problems, and both
existingbattalionswerebroughtuptostrength.Theparachu-
tists,previouslytrainedasinfantrymenorinotherspecialities,
were instructed in parachute packing and repair and all
aspects ofjumping, followed by tactical training up through
battalion level. The units' training programmes were often
disrupted, however, by requests for demonstrations and
participation in manoeuvres. Throughout this period the
units were discouragingly short ofparachutes, the manufac-
turers being unable to keep pace with even the Air Corps'
requirement.
The other component ofthe Army's Airborne Effort were
aid-landingtroops'.Thisitselfwasdividedintotwoelements,
dedicated air-landingunitsand conventionalunits trained in
an air-landing role. The Air Corps began experiments with
gliders inJuly 94 and requirements were issued for cargo
1 1,
gliderscapableofcarryingheavierandlargerloads. Require-
mentswere also established fornew transport aircraft. Much
ofthis effort was restricted due to a severeshortage ofgliders
Membersofthe501stPrcht.Bn.,offeringagoodviewoftheT- and transports, emphasis being placed on bombers and
4(Mb.aDc.kBpoalcakn,dbvoiaarAdvavbCr-e4y7NaotrrLiasw)son Field, Ft Benning, 1941. fighters. These deficiencies were really never corrected and
shortages continued due to the unforeseen needs for trans-
possibleserviceasan air-landed taskforce. Experimental test ports, and to excessive losses ofgliders both in training and
parachutedropsofpersonnel and supplies were alsoconduc- operationally.
tedatLawsonField, FtBenning, Ga. The first dedicated air-landing unit, 550thAbn. Inf. Bn.,
The activation of the Army's first parachute unit, the was activated at Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone, on 1
ParachuteTest Platoon, was authorized on 25June 1940. July 1941. Reinforced by Co. C, 501st Prcht. Bn., the unit
It was formed on 1July at Ft Benning, home ofthe Infantry conducted extensive training and developed its air-landing
School, from volunteers from the 29th Inf. Regt. Forty-eight skillsusingAirCorpstransports.Theunitalsodoubledaspart
men were selected from the 200 who volunteered. Training oftheCanal'sdefenceforce.Thesecondsuchunit,88thAbn.
beganinearnestwiththeplatoonmakingitsfirstjumpson 16 Inf. Bn, was activated on 10 Oct. 1941 at Ft Benning. This
Aug.; thefirstmassjumpwasexecutedon the29th. battalionwasstrictlyanexperimentalagencyundertheChief
In the meantime the War Department G-3 Section first ofInfantry, tasked with determining aircraft load planning,
recommended that the project be placed directly under its air-landing unit equipment needs, organization, tactical
control, and later that it be placed under the Air Corps. doctrine,and trainingrequirements.—
General Headquarters (GHQJ maintained that the primary The 503d Prcht. Inf. Bn. (PIB the 501st and 502d did
mission ofairborne troops was ground combat, and that air not receive the Infantry designation) was activated on 22
transport was merely a means ofentry onto the battlefield. Aug. 1941; thiswasfollowedbythe504thPIBon5 October.
Also discussed was where the project should be based, with Atthetimethe501stBn.wasformed theprevalentconceptof
recommendations ranging from North Carolina to Texas to parachute unit employment was that they would never be
California. After prolonged discussion the Army's Deputy committed inlargerthanbattalion-sized forces. Noprovision
ChiefofStaffdirected thattheprojectremainundertheChief wasmadeforhigherheadquartersandtheywereorganizedas
GHQ
ofInfantryat FtBenning. separate battalions. Events in Crete demonstrated
On 16 Sept. 1940 the War Department activated the 1st otherwise, anditwasnotlongbeforeconsiderationwasgiven
Prcht. Bn. at Ft Benning, redesignating it the 501st Prcht. tolargerparachuteunits.Thegroupwasdeemedinadequate
Bn. on 1 Oct. to place its designation in line with the due to its small administrative headquarters and lack of
numbering system then adopted by GHQ. The members of support elements. In late 1941 it was decided that a regi-
the Test Platoon were absorbed into the new unit, and the mental structure should be adopted, since it was a term
parachute project was rapidly expanded with improved
etfrfaeicntiinvgelyfapcillaintieasndanedxenceutwedtrheopcoznotniensu.edInexopradnesriotnoomfotrhee it1nrAcatliuntsehidiv,seoptroegiranmtniarzeecfdle,arrraiifnnigdcanteoiqtounoinoplfpyethdteonfpocraurtrarrcaehnnusttpoeArrtumniiytns,tAeibrrumtsCotiorspraseiqrau-iilrracenrdda.iftn'gAaiunrndibtoasrsnsaesa'uwlwetallsla—andnuinnailgtl.s-
Airborne Effort, and to co-ordinate training, a controlling Later,gliderunitswerealsoincludedunderairborne.
