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Philip Katcher, "U.S. 101st Airborne Division, 1942-45" (Vanguard 5) (repost)

Posted By: TimMa
Philip Katcher, "U.S. 101st Airborne Division, 1942-45" (Vanguard 5) (repost)

Philip Katcher, "U.S. 101st Airborne Division, 1942-45" (Vanguard 5)
Publisher: Osprey | 1978 | ISBN: 0850452864 | English | PDF | 48 pages | 30.92 Mb

In early 1940 the whole world watched as German paratroopers opened the way for their army into Belgium and Holland. One US soldier who was especially interested in these developments was the Chief of Infantry, who, on 2 January 1940, had been ordered to study paratroopers and airtransported infantry.
On 25 June 1940, forty-eight soldiers out of 200 volunteers from the 29th Infantry Regiment were formed into a Parachute Test Platoon. The fledgling paratroopers began work at Fort Benning, Georgia, developing equipment and tactics. At first they copied German and Russian methods (the Red Army having used paratroops as early as 1930); later uniquely American equipment was developed. The test platoon developed into a company and, in October 1940, the company was named the 50lst Parachute Battalion. In February 1941 the 50lst participated with the 4th Infantry Division and 2nd Armored Division in working out air/ground tactics.

Philip Katcher, "U.S. 101st Airborne Division, 1942-45" (Vanguard 5) (repost)