Full Description
From the fields of Normandy to the streets of Nijmegen and the frozen hills of the Ardennes, America's airborne warriors proved themselves some of the toughest and most determined soldiers of World War II. What made these soldiers so special? How did they live, train and fight? This study examines what it was like to be one of the United States' airborne elite, through the eyes of the soldiers themselves. It is the story of the men who invariably led the way - the soldiers who flew to battle and walked home.
Contents
History of the concept of airborne forces - Europe leads, Germany excels, the US follows; birth of the US airborne; basic training; four weeks of jump school; jumps and jump qualification; paratrooper clothing, equipment and weapons; airborne unit; organization/TO&E; chronology of significant airborne events in World War II; transferring overseas to Northern Ireland and England; the paratrooper in action; an overview of major airborne operations in the African, European and Pacific theatres; paratroopers at the end of World War II; World War II airborne Medal of Honor Recipients.
