National Airborne Day
Courtesy Arnoud Lathouwers. 75th Anniversary Market Garden.
On August 16, 1940, the United States Army conducted its first official parachute jump, ushering in a new era of combat capabilities by sending highly trained Airborne soldiers to infiltrate enemy territory from the skies above. It was a dangerous yet exciting concept for modern warfare.
The first combat jump took place on November 8, 1942, when the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) took off from Cornwall, England, en route to Oran, Algeria, to capture the airfield at Tafraoui Airport.
While this mission into Northern Africa would not be the enormous success the military had envisioned, Operation Torch, as it was known, would provide valuable insights and lessons for what was to come for these new paratroopers.
During World War II, the U.S. Army created five Airborne Divisions, including the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, and 101st, along with several Parachute Infantry Regiments and battalions to accompany them.
These groups of paratroopers would eventually be involved in 14 major offensives and dozens of smaller operations throughout the war, primarily in the European Theater, with only a few in the Pacific Theater.
Operation Overlord in France and Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands would become the famous combat jumps for the Airborne Divisions. However, each ended with high losses and lackluster results.
Eventually, many of these paratroopers would be deployed as ground infantry units in the Battle of the Bulge, where they would make a heroic stand against the Germans and overwhelming odds.
Operation Varsity in Germany would be the last major airborne offensive during the war, with General Eisenhower calling it "the most successful airborne operation carried out to date.” Most military historians would agree.
After World War II, many airborne units were reorganized or deactivated; however, the 101st Airborne Division and other attached units would eventually see combat in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
In current times, the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne, along with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and others, have bravely fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the Global War on Terror.
On August 14th, 2002, President George W. Bush officially declared August 16th as National Airborne Day to honor our nation’s airborne forces. Without a shadow of a doubt, the United States Army Airborne has left a memorable mark on history.
Today, we remember the paratroopers who have made great sacrifices to preserve our freedom.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
Jim “Pee Wee” Martin making a jump for Market Garden 75.
