The Airborne Times

Paratroopers Role in World War II and Their Imp...

Paratroopers in World War II played a pivotal role in some of the most important battles of the conflict. These highly trained soldiers were dropped behind enemy lines to carry...

Paratroopers Role in World War II and Their Impact Today

Paratroopers in World War II played a pivotal role in some of the most important battles of the conflict. These highly trained soldiers were dropped behind enemy lines to carry out surprise attacks, gather intelligence, and disrupt supply lines. While the use of paratroopers had been pioneered in the early...

Operation Urgent Fury

On 25 October 1983, US military forces, with several Caribbean allies, intervened on the island of Grenada. Operation Urgent Fury was initiated to protect the lives of US students, restore democratic government...

Operation Urgent Fury

On 25 October 1983, US military forces, with several Caribbean allies, intervened on the island of Grenada. Operation Urgent Fury was initiated to protect the lives of US students, restore democratic government and eradicate Cuban influence on the island. Two US Army Ranger battalions, a brigade of the 82d Airborne Division, a...

A Brief History: The 1st British Airborne Division

During the Second World War, The 1st Airborne Division was established. It was an airborne infantry division of the British Army. In 1941, the division was formed as the 1st...

A Brief History: The 1st British Airborne Division

During the Second World War, The 1st Airborne Division was established. It was an airborne infantry division of the British Army. In 1941, the division was formed as the 1st Parachute Brigade and assigned to the newly formed British Airborne Forces. The brigade saw action during the Operation Torch landings...

How the modern backpack parachute came to be (p...

In part 1, we looked at how the modern backpack parachute came to be and how it has evolved. In part 2, we'll look at how the modern backpack parachute...

How the modern backpack parachute came to be (part 2)

In part 1, we looked at how the modern backpack parachute came to be and how it has evolved. In part 2, we'll look at how the modern backpack parachute is used and how it has evolved. The modern backpack parachute is used for various purposes, including sport parachuting, skydiving,...

Back At Bragg: The Renaming of Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg no more, Fort Liberty is official.⁣⁣The Department of Defense announced on Oct. 6 that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memo accepting the recommendations of...

Back At Bragg: The Renaming of Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg no more, Fort Liberty is official.⁣⁣The Department of Defense announced on Oct. 6 that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memo accepting the recommendations of a congressionally authorized commission to rename U.S. military installations honoring Confederate soldiers. ⁣⁣The Naming Commission, which first met in 2021,...

Jumping Tactical Nukes

Anybody ever jump with a nuke between their legs?⁣⁣Talk about “back in my day” material.⁣Specially trained Green Berets were assigned to Green Light Teams. Their purpose was to clandestinely deploy...

Jumping Tactical Nukes

Anybody ever jump with a nuke between their legs?⁣⁣Talk about “back in my day” material.⁣Specially trained Green Berets were assigned to Green Light Teams. Their purpose was to clandestinely deploy in NATO or Warsaw Pact countries and detonate their SADMs in a conflict with the Soviets. The Pentagon later included...

How the Modern Backpack Parachute Came to Be (P...

Gleb Kotelnikov was a Russian inventor who is credited with creating the first modern backpack parachute. Kotelnikov's parachute was designed to be worn on the back, unlike earlier parachutes which...

How the Modern Backpack Parachute Came to Be (Part 1)

Gleb Kotelnikov was a Russian inventor who is credited with creating the first modern backpack parachute. Kotelnikov's parachute was designed to be worn on the back, unlike earlier parachutes which were much larger and had to be carried by the user. Kotelnikov's design was smaller and more compact, making it...

The History of U.S. Army Fitness Testing

The U.S. Army has continually experimented with and implemented different physical fitness tests since WWII based on the 'last war.' Performance in combat meant there was scientific data in which...

The History of U.S. Army Fitness Testing

The U.S. Army has continually experimented with and implemented different physical fitness tests since WWII based on the 'last war.' Performance in combat meant there was scientific data in which the Army could measure how fitting were these tests in preparing soldiers for war. Though there was mixed feedback on...

From Bragg to Liberty: The Redesignation of For...

Fort Bragg is one of the most famous and largest military bases globally. Most people are aware that it houses significant commands, such as the U.S. Army Forces Command addition...

From Bragg to Liberty: The Redesignation of Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg is one of the most famous and largest military bases globally. Most people are aware that it houses significant commands, such as the U.S. Army Forces Command addition to housing many major commands and various units. However, everyone knows that it is home to the Mighty 82nd Airborne...

The Raid on Los Banos

Under the cover of the dark, before sunrise, on Feb. 23rd, 1945, the U.S. 11th Airborne paratroopers waited to launch a daring surprise attack and rescue on the Los Banos...

The Raid on Los Banos

Under the cover of the dark, before sunrise, on Feb. 23rd, 1945, the U.S. 11th Airborne paratroopers waited to launch a daring surprise attack and rescue on the Los Banos Japanese war camp in conjunction with Filipino guerillas. 2,148 civilian prisoners at the camp, most of them American and European...

Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far

As one of the largest operations in history containing joined Allied operations, Operation Market-Garden was conducted in hopes of ending the war before the holidays hit. However, unfortunately—as we all...

Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far

As one of the largest operations in history containing joined Allied operations, Operation Market-Garden was conducted in hopes of ending the war before the holidays hit. However, unfortunately—as we all know now, this date was only a dream, one that would never come to be. Late in 1944, deep into...

Operation Alamo: 503rd Landing At Nadzab

As the first American airborne unit to operate in the Pacific, Operation Alamo was carried out by a team nicknamed "The Rock." As a successfully unopposed mission near Nadzab, New...

Operation Alamo: 503rd Landing At Nadzab

As the first American airborne unit to operate in the Pacific, Operation Alamo was carried out by a team nicknamed "The Rock." As a successfully unopposed mission near Nadzab, New Guinea, the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment opened the floodgates to allow the Australian infantry forces to seize the necessary airfields...

Operation Dragoon: The 1st Airborne Task Force ...

Having joined together a powerful alliance of several battalions, Operation Dragoon was set to invade southern France on August 15, 1944. Limited to only a few days of training before...

Operation Dragoon: The 1st Airborne Task Force (ABTF) Jumps Into France

Having joined together a powerful alliance of several battalions, Operation Dragoon was set to invade southern France on August 15, 1944. Limited to only a few days of training before the big day, the Allies worked to mobilize and configure a vast team of 10,000 airborne troops, set to jump...

Operation Husky: The 505th Brave The Storm Into...

From one battle to the next, the leading Allied powers—the US and Great Britain—went from winning in the North African Campaign to looking to occupied Europe, strategizing on how to...

Operation Husky: The 505th Brave The Storm Into Sicily

From one battle to the next, the leading Allied powers—the US and Great Britain—went from winning in the North African Campaign to looking to occupied Europe, strategizing on how to finally take down Nazi Germany. With a joint invasion, the Allies hoped that targeting Italy and causing a diversion to...

Operation Table Tennis: The 503rd Jumps Into Ne...

On Independence Day, many years after the Revolutionary War took place, Colonel George M. Jones of the 503rd Parachute Infantry found himself and his crew in the midst of battle....

Operation Table Tennis: The 503rd Jumps Into New Guinea

On Independence Day, many years after the Revolutionary War took place, Colonel George M. Jones of the 503rd Parachute Infantry found himself and his crew in the midst of battle. However, this time, it was in World War II, many days after the nation signed the Declaration of Independence, and...

THE BATTLE FOR MUSA QALA

𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟽𝘵𝘩, 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟽. That evening some 600 American paratroopers from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division were airlifted to the north of the town in Chinooks and Blackhawks escorted...

THE BATTLE FOR MUSA QALA

𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟽𝘵𝘩, 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟽. That evening some 600 American paratroopers from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division were airlifted to the north of the town in Chinooks and Blackhawks escorted by Apache Helicopters, 19 helicopters in total. During the night the paratroopers fought through the Taliban defensive trenches to clear...

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PARAMARINES

The Paramarines were a short-lived specialized combat unit of the United States Marine Corps, trained to be dropped from planes by parachute to capture critical points like airfields and conduct...

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PARAMARINES

The Paramarines were a short-lived specialized combat unit of the United States Marine Corps, trained to be dropped from planes by parachute to capture critical points like airfields and conduct reconnaissance. Though like all Airborne forces, though it will never be admitted, the Paramarines would have to rely on follow...

A Brief History Of Glider Infantry In World War II

A revolutionary development in the realm of airborne forces, glider infantry were first introduced to warfare by the Germans in World War II. This innovative method of inserting soldiers and...

A Brief History Of Glider Infantry In World War II

A revolutionary development in the realm of airborne forces, glider infantry were first introduced to warfare by the Germans in World War II. This innovative method of inserting soldiers and their heavy equipment into enemy-controlled territory proved to be a crucial development for the war and the use of glider...