U.S. Parachute Infantry Regiments (1942-1945) - origins, development and deployment

The U.S. Parachute Infantry Regiments came into existence in the spring of 1942 and were often deployed alone or in the context of the airborne division. This video delves into the origins, development and deployment of the American parachute infantry regiments and airborne divisions during World War II.
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#airborne

[@The_Red_Off_Road]

My step-grandfather was Grady Boykin from Meridian, MS and was 19 years old on D-Day. He was in Able Company 506th PIR. When the movie 'Saving Private Ryan' came out, the vets and reunion groups were given the opportunity to watch it before the general public was able to watch it. I was about 10 years old when it came out and was absolutely clueless about the world and what actually happened in WW2. I got my chance to ask him some questions at Thanksgiving one year and the only thing he would talk about was training and one single night in France. He talked about the tower that they used to train the paratroopers. He said he was more scared of jumping off that tower than he ever was jumping out of a plane. Apparently, the whiplash from the tower was brutal and hurt some guys during training. The only story he told about France was about finding a wine cellar one night. He said they got so drunk they couldn't get out of the cellar and wound up sleeping in it. Thats the only stories I got the chance to hear. When I tried to ask more questions, my stepdad cut me off. I later learned that my stepdad learned at an early age not to ask about it, and I guess he didn't want me to get the same response and treatment that he may have received as a kid. The last time that I saw him alive was at my stepsister's wedding. He was around 90 years old and barely able to speak. Bound to a wheelchair, I got on one knee and gave him a big ole hug and told him, "Thank you for what you did." I'm not sure if he was aware enough of his surroundings but I'm glad I got the chance to tell him thank you. 19 years old.

[@streetgato9697]

Great video, very well detailed. I just wanted to add, even though the 18th ABN Corps performed the last large scale Allied airborne operation in Europe with Operation Varsity, the last parachute operation by the US in WW2 was conducted by the 11th ABN on June 23, 1945 in Aparri, the northern tip of Luzon Island, Philippines. Known as the 'Gypsy Task Force', its mission along with the US 37th Infantry Division advancing from the south, was to secure the northern flank of Luzon to cutoff the Imperial Japanese Army Shobu Group, close possible escape route and prevent any Japanese reinforcements from Formosa and Indochina. The Gypsy Task Force involved the 1st Battalion of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, G and I Co, 2nd Battalion, 457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, Glider battalion, plus engineering, signal and medical detachments. Excellent work, thank you for sharing!

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

Thank you for your appreciation and valuable information. Making this video taught me a lot about the war in the Pacific.

[@blchandl2]

Thank you explaining the history of the Airborne. My dad was in the 509th until it was disbanded.

[@garrettness-xk1yo]

My good friend Lloyd Plummer served with the 509th and turns 100 this year!

[@madogllewellyn]

Wonderful history recap!!! My grandfather was in the 2/503rd PRCT in the Pacific.

[@cohee100]

Best I have seen.

[@Mosey410]

My Great Uncle was with the 551st

[@garyschwab8802]

Dad was in the 511th PIR of the 11th Airborne Division.

[@phillipgowdy3218]

Well done!

[@slawroski]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dangrewe3315]

Nicely done! You took a complex topic with constant changes and made it more accessible.

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

Thank you for your appreciation! Writing is good but with video you can show things which are hard to explain in writing. Did you also check out my video about the US armored divisions during World War Two?

[@dangrewe3315]

@@ArmiesAndBattles Yes I did. That was also quite interesting.

[@manuelmarcigan8886]

Way cool my dad was in 517 th I was wondering when you show rigements in boxes on your gride can show there patches my dad's was the eagle talons

[@jasonrusso9808]

I own two, 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade patches with attached tab. Some ppl will try to sell the 1958-1964 2nd Inf. Bde. patches as original WWII. Anyways if the tab is attached there's no doubt that it's WWII because that's the only time that they had Airborne status. Now I've NEVER seen a photo of anyone wearing the unit's patch so I'd like to know who wore it and on what uniforms. I only saw one photo of a dagger with the 2nd A/B glued on. As for the 1st Brigade I think they wore the A/B Command red glider/parachute patch

[@Ekatjam]

One of my prized possessions is my uncles original 508th patch that has a devil with a parachute. He jumped on D-Day and was killed in Holland.

[@Ace0486]

101st is more famous than the 82nd among civilians, mainly because of the show band of brothers but many civilians don’t know that the 82nd has way more combat jumps than the 101st. And the 82nd is still airborne to this day while the 101st is air assault.

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

So true! For me the 82nd will always have a special place in my memory due to the gripping memoirs of General Gavin (On to Berlin).

[@lisacox2833]

Do you have any additional information specifically associated with 513, 17th division, company B?

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

Unfortunately not! I have made this overview but I have not delved into the individual units.

[@jameshaven1056]

You forgot the 187 Th company F that is shame i lost my uncle 2/15/1945 George Wilson Haven on Nichols field he was a Rakkasans they had the same training as the 188 TH they were glider parachute unit i would like info on these two unit

[@abcdzyxw00000001]

This guy makes it sound like if it wasn't for the 541st PIR, there would be no 188th PIR. Wrong! General Swing already had planned the transformation of the 188th GIR months prior to meet the new 2 PIR/1 GIR TOE already in place (the 11th A/B was late in switching from 2 GIR/1 PIR). Some 75% of the 188th was already parachute-trained in New Guinea when they first arrived in the Pacific.

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

Thank for sharing your knowledge! Appreciated.

[@lynnallen1585]

Good presentation. Many people don’t know about the 11th, 13th and 17th Airborne Divisions.

[@reddevilparatrooper]

I am from the 508th PIR. We are the Red Devil Paratroopers. AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!!!

[@ArmiesAndBattles]

It is great to stand in the tradition of a regiment of such fame!

[@reddevilparatrooper]

@@ArmiesAndBattles Sir. I will yell you this. Majority of people can become Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen etc. Not everyone can be a Paratrooper if they want to be one. Like pilots, Special Forces, Rangers, all can try to join and be selected. Being a Paratrooper is the begining of any elite tier of elite soldiers. That's my opinion from my experience...