WWII Paratroopers
- Thread starter Orleander
- Start date
German paratroops were used (dropped) in Crete, but used as ground troops in other places (outside of Europe).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratrooper
I thought so, but wasn't sure.
Because they couldn't support them: paratroops are quick at taking an objective, but require rapid reinforcement to hold it.
(Unless opposition is light).
Dropped into Britain there'd have been no way to keep them going - hence they might well have done some damage, but they'd have been over-run and lost.
Much like Rapid Reaction Forces today - the unofficial motto of whom is "Fly light: die early".
Buffalo Roam
Registered Senior Member
I just bought a WWII paratrooper sweetheart bracelet at a garage sale for $1 (stupid woman said it belonged to her grandmother). It has nine of these end to end.
Did WWII paratroopers ever land anywhere other than Europe during missions?
Check out D-Day June the 6 1944, the 101st Airborne Div., and the 82nd Airborne Div.,all dropped into France.
The first U.S. Airborne operation was during Operation Torch in North Africa on 8 November 1942. by 531 men of the U.S. 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
The next was Operation Husky, in Sicily, the men of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, making their first combat parachute jump.
The biggest drop was Operation Overlord on D-Day June 6, 1944, when American glider and parachute infantry of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions went in behind the lines and flanks of Normandy.
Next was Operation Albatross, Bluebird and Dove, the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, the 509th and 551st Parachute Infantry Battalions, the glider-borne 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion, dropped into it invasion beachs in southern France.
And the famous A Bridge To Far, operation Market Garden, we supported the British with drops of the US 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division.
And the last Airborne Operation, Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine, the American 17th Airborne Division, as part of the US XVIII Airborne Corps, secured areas behind the crossing points.
These are just the major operations.
Yes, a long and glorious history goes along with that Bracelet, if what I know about those bracelets is correct, the 9 jump wing represent 9 combat jumps into enemy territory.
Out standing, and it is worth far more than the dollar you spent on it to collectors.
If you have any way to get it appraised do so, you just may want to get that piece of history insured.
Thank Buffy!!! :thankyou: I've looked on ebay but have only found a man's bracelet.
What killed me if she had no issue with my $1 offer for her family's history (I assume her grandfather was the WWII paratrooper) but wanted to haggle over a $2 Little Kitty pillow. stupid woman
For combat, but not into combat.
Dropped because it was easier than walking through the jungle to get to where they wanted to - before they moved forward to meet the enemy.
As opposed to being dropped and having to fight more or less straight away.
Dropped because it was easier than walking through the jungle to get to where they wanted to - before they moved forward to meet the enemy.
As opposed to being dropped and having to fight more or less straight away.
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Even in the Crete operation, which was damn close to an ALL airborne Affair(some glider troops and airlifts), suffered massive casualties. It was successful, but Hitler then did not want to risk his very best troops in such adventures after that. They basically fought on the ground and proved to be the single biggest pain in the ass in Italy.
Re-orging the British, American, Polish and Canadian Airborne units for Market Garden(a few months after D-Day drops), was such a logistical nightmare, they decided it wasn't worth it. And of course Market Garden was heavy casualties for small payoff (relatively speaking).
They are good for sudden, complete surprise attacks against nearly non-existent forces (like early D-Day, Netherlands, even Crete could have gone better). Secureing things like ports/airbases so heavy shit can pour into an area and kill people 20th century style, with machines.
Re-orging the British, American, Polish and Canadian Airborne units for Market Garden(a few months after D-Day drops), was such a logistical nightmare, they decided it wasn't worth it. And of course Market Garden was heavy casualties for small payoff (relatively speaking).
They are good for sudden, complete surprise attacks against nearly non-existent forces (like early D-Day, Netherlands, even Crete could have gone better). Secureing things like ports/airbases so heavy shit can pour into an area and kill people 20th century style, with machines.
Buffalo Roam
Registered Senior Member
The U.S. 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment made a highly successful, unopposed landing at Nadzab, New Guinea in September 1943.
The most famous operation was a landing on Corregidor, "The Rock", in February 1945,by the U.S. 503rd during the Philippines Campaign.
The 511th Parachute Regiment of the U.S. 11th Airborne Division, made the division's first jump at Tagaytay Ridge, 3 February 1945.
The U.S. 11th Airborne Division final operation was a jump at, Camalaniugan Airfield, south of Aparri, Cagayan, Luzon, Philippines.
Because they were absolutely hammered in Crete--Hitler had intended to take other Mediterranean islands, but changed his mind after his paratroopers suffered such terrible losses. I believe the Germans lost ca. 6000 men in Crete.
Buffalo Roam
Registered Senior Member
Actually the reason is as stated before, they could not support them once they landed, and it would have been interesting to see how well the Ju 52 would have survived against the British Air Force, lets see,
Maximum speed: 165 mph at sea level.
Hurricane IIC
Armament Guns: 1× 13 mm MG 131 machine gun in a dorsal position
2× 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns.
Maximum speed: 340 mph at 21,000 ft.
Armament Guns: 4 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon.
Spitfire Mk Vb
Maximum speed: 378 mph.
2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon.
4 × 0.303 Browning machine guns.
British Fighting over their own ground, against the Luftwaffe Fighters at the end of their escort range?
Remember what happened to the Luftwaffe bombers during the Battle of Britain, and they were more heavily armed, and faster than the Ju 52.
It would have rivaled the Marianas Turkey shoot.
One of my favorite stories is how many indians specifically Mohawk indians were incredibly good at paratrooper...ing 
D) because of the long hunts they did made them useful for long times away from a friendly base.
Im sure some of you have seen this picture before of two Mohawk paratroopers doing facepaint.
D) because of the long hunts they did made them useful for long times away from a friendly base.Im sure some of you have seen this picture before of two Mohawk paratroopers doing facepaint.
Meh, it became a "trademark" of that particular unit, AFAIK even the not-actually Mohawk members started having that cut.
http://www.gearboxity.com/content/view/145/33/
I didn't mean the hair cut. I meant the face paint.
excellent link by the way, thanks
Special forces always get a lot of slack cut for them: it fosters an esprit de corps for one thing and improves morale.