united_states angels united_states_army airborne formation activated february world war consisting parachute infantry regiments supporting troops division underwent rigorous training played vital role successful organized determine viability large scale american airborne formations utility called question following disappointing performance allied invasion sicily held reserve united_states half june division transferred arrival entered period intense training november judged combat ready saw action island philippines traditional infantry role january division took invasion infantry regiments operated conventional infantry securing fighting way inland parachute infantry regiment held reserve days conducting division airborne operation combat drop ridge reunited division participated companies divisional conducted raid camp thousand civilians combat operation world war north aid combined american philippine forces battling subdue remaining japanese resistance island august division sent southern japan occupation force years later recalled united_states training formation parachute infantry regiment detached service korean war june division briefly reactivated february 11th air assault division test explore theory helicopter assault tactics june division personnel equipment transferred newly raised world war formation inspired pioneering german use large scale airborne formations later invasion crete allied powers decided raise airborne units resultant american british airborne divisions officially activated february camp north_carolina command major general formed division consisted complement men half strength regular infantry division world war division initially remained united_states training common airborne units extremely elite status training included lengthy forced marches simulated parachute landings foot foot towers practice jumps transport aircraft doorway aircraft resulted automatic failure candidate rate high shortage candidates especially american airborne units rate pay higher ordinary training complete debate developed best use airborne forces small compact units july large scale allied airborne operation carried elements support allied invasion sicily code named commanding general temporarily transferred act airborne advisor general operation observed airborne assault went badly inserted parachute suffered high casualties leading perception failed achieve objectives reviewed airborne role concluded large scale formations difficult control combat practical lieutenant general overall commander similar airborne supporter greatly disappointed performance airborne units north_africa recently sicily high ranking officers including army chief staff believed marshall persuaded set review board judgement outcome large scale maneuver planned december assessed swing returned united_states resume command mid september given role preparing exercise ordered form committee composed air force parachute infantry artillery officers arrangements maneuver effectively decide fate divisional sized airborne forces reserve united_states combat selected test formation maneuver additionally provide individual units training occurred months previously earlier large scale exercise conducted attacking force assigned objective capturing auxiliary airfield near north_carolina force defending airfield combat team composed elements 17th battalion entire operation observed commander ultimately significant deciding fate parachute infantry divisions maneuver took place night december thirteen separate objectives transport aircraft transport aircraft divided groups carried towed group took different airfield carolinas groups deployed total troops wave eighty percent delivered targets navigational error airborne troops seized auxiliary airfield secured landing area rest division daylight initial objectives taken launched coordinated ground attack reinforced infantry regiment conducted aerial resupply casualty evacuation missions coordination transport aircraft exercise judged observers great success pleased results attributed success great improvements airborne training implemented months following result division sized airborne forces deemed feasible permitted retention following maneuver 11th airborne remained reserve january moved train camp camp louisiana weeks final preparation combat role april division moved california transferred june june september division underwent continued airborne training conducting parachute drops new_guinea jungle airfield period troops parachute qualified making division fully airborne november division boarded convoy naval transports escorted philippines arriving november days later attached committed combat operating infantry division airborne capacity ordered relieve 7th stationed area engage destroy japanese forces operational area protect rear area supply airfields swing ordered guard rear installations secure division rear conduct aggressive patrols eliminate enemy troops area assigned task destroying japanese formations division operational area began november relieved 7th infantry advanced overland battalions abreast reserve progress proved slow face fierce japanese resistance lack mapped trails heavy rainfall inches falling november advance continued resupply progressively difficult division resorted large numbers aircraft drop food ammunition attempts improve rate advance dropping transport aircraft drop artillery pieces regiment location forms transport trains failed december japanese tried disrupt operations conducting small scale airborne raids attempted deploy small number japanese airborne troops occupy key american held airfields failed aircraft shot crash landed destroyed ground passengers second larger raid carried thirty transport aircraft supported fighters despite heavy losses japanese managed drop number airborne troops airfield headquarters located sentinel reconnaissance aircraft transport destroyed raiders eliminated hoc combat group engineers support troops led swing reinforced continued slow steady progress december broke japanese lines arrived western shoreline linking elements period private earned posthumous medal honor helped repel counterattack personally killing seven japanese soldiers mortally wounded sniper regiment ordered set temporary defensive positions relieved december 1st 2nd considerable casualties heavily dug enemy original base camp january january division placed alert operation island north days later regiments embarked sea flew transport aircraft dawn january led amphibious assault near southern supported short naval barrage havoc light bombers lightning fighter aircraft beach head established face light japanese resistance regiment moved rapidly secure advanced island arterial highway deny japanese time establish defenses inland moved south crossing securing division right flank elements pushed deep southern creating space come ashore relieved regiment continued advance reaching river securing vital bridge destroyed japanese combat engineers following highway regiment began encounter heavier japanese resistance midnight took lead infantry regiments rested briefly main japanese defensive lines consisted trenches linked fortified caves manned infantry numerous artillery pieces support february infantry launched assault midday managed break japanese position spent rest day conducting operations morning february second line breached midnight broken divisional reconnaissance platoon vicinity intended site combat drop airborne operation originally scheduled february insistence drop ahead ground forces range offer support japanese resistance encountered delayed operation transport aircraft available forced deploy waves regimental staff half drop rest regiment arrive second lift drop february troops lift entered transport planes transports left protected escort black widow night fighters arriving followed highway ridge open space thousand yards long thousand yards wide places largely cleared japanese troops local filipino soldiers recognized lift approximately men successfully drop zone second consisting approximately men dropped prematurely landed thousand yards east lift encountered problems men dropping correctly dropping early pilot error poor jump discipline entire regiment assembled hours landings overcoming minor japanese resistance contact entire division assembled single formation ridge having cleared remaining defenders division began advance manila reaching city protected major japanese defensive belt stretched manila southern edge line consisted approximately story deep naval guns large caliber mortars entrenched heavy anti aircraft weapons machine gun nests traps naval bombs completed defenses manned japanese soldiers ordered breach drive manila link american forces attacking city north regiments committed assault division attack february overcame fierce resistance broke crust japanese position soon relieved regiment took push westwards face heavy opposition changed axis advance attempted city north february division penetrated far airfield formed center heavily fortified number entrenched naval guns series short artillery bombardment morning february attacked airfield north west corner entire regiment moved south south eastern corners movement succeeded taking airfield despite local counter attack nightfall position secured following day division thrust fort william headquarters commander japanese defenders advance private class japanese division progress capturing single killing eighteen japanese soldiers posthumously awarded medal honor february 1st battalion alongside american units launched attack extremely heavily fortified position featuring defensive measures days hard fighting multiple frequent use heavy artillery point secured having taken heavy casualties approach particularly japanese detonated quantity buried naval depth charges february rest assaulted fort led break february area cleared defenders sporadic fighting continued march organized japanese resistance ended raid los large number civilian prisoners detained japanese camps scattered island largest located campus los miles south east manila general tasked rescuing february division ongoing combat operations left unable divert resources time accomplished february gather information primarily liaison groups operating los swing command staff daily officer working groups major civilians escaped camp established surrounded barbed wire fences approximately feet tall guard towers perimeter containing guards prisoners left morning armed guard gather food supplies nearby town informed camp population consisted american civilians distinct groups protestant missionaries families roman catholic priests professional workers doctors engineers families group included women children inmates appeared good health weak food february swing finally able release sufficient troops raid camp phase plan devised major divisional staff officers divisional reconnaissance platoon travel nearby lake outskirts camp securing large adjacent field drop zone company having landed eliminate japanese resistance area secure camp prepare evacuation amphibious transport additional companies lake shore established continued camp evacuate occupants simultaneously task force consisting reinforced infantry battalion battalions heavy artillery tank destroyer battalion advance highway los japanese attempts interfere assisted group night february divisional reconnaissance platoon way lake collected despite navigational difficulties platoon came ashore near following morning securing drop zone concealed jungle near camp afternoon company 1st battalion transferred airfield deployed rest battalion convoy morning february took transport aircraft arriving drop zone shortly landed reconnaissance platoon supporting fighters opened fire camp defences rounds penetrate concrete entered camp engage garrison soon joined battle japanese guards overcome rounded evacuation companies secured convoy reached camp incident priority loading given women children wounded able bodied men walked alongside returned beach evacuation convoy left camp approximately company reconnaissance platoon remaining provide rearguard civilians evacuated convoy returned rearguard leaving beach approximately highway deployed protect operation met heavy japanese resistance suffered casualties able block japanese forces advanced camp retreating american lines raid complete success civilians southern day freed headquarters assigned task destroying japanese formations southern south manila bulk division moved south following day advancing abreast detached main advance swing eliminate japanese units operating hills southern shore manila bay forces belonged strong groups general end april acting conjunction filipino soldiers recognized elements subdue conducting combat operations extremely difficult mountainous terrain japanese units elected fight death surrender organized resistance southern ended division captured near city established base centered japanese outskirts runway lengthened accommodate transport aircraft engineering work completed division combat troops participated training courses operation took place june province northern time japanese forces remaining island positioned far north belonged strong general groups proved forcing commander sixth united_states_army commit infantry divisions armored task force large band filipino soldiers units recognized forces pinned japanese 37th began advance northwards defeating weaker formation main japanese force ensure success 37th drive called airborne force land near southwards meet advancing 37th drop battalion sized combat team approximately miles south advance southwards eliminating japanese resistance linked leading elements 37th accomplish swing formed special unit comprising 1st companies regiment artillery battery parachute field artillery battalion platoon engineers miscellaneous signal medical detachments transported thirteen commando aircraft land supplies task force june detachment division flown secure days later transport aircraft carrying troops escorted fighters area detachment set colored smoke mark drop zone fierce winds uneven ground airfield proved hazardous causing deaths seventy injuries drop despite casualties force rapidly concentrated began advance southwards japanese resistance stiff forcing airborne troops rely eliminate fortifications route days fighting having eliminated significant portion task force encountered lead elements 37th continue resistance september marked final combat operation war occupation japan general plans use invasion japan remain operational reserve committed required end hostilities shortly nuclear weapons hiroshima nagasaki division instead selected general lead american forces occupy japan divisional staff received orders effect august division transported okinawa august operation involved bombers commando transport aircraft men vehicles approximately million pounds equipment remained okinawa weeks august ordered land airfield outside main japanese home island instructions secure surrounding area evacuate japanese civilians military personnel radius miles finally occupy large number transport aircraft available carrying swing divisional staff landing airfield august took week fully assemble division september joined japan time later moved northern japan established camps coast island training occupation duties japan continued relieved recalled united_states division transferred camp campbell kentucky training formation subordinate units including training continued outbreak korean war service korea renamed detached division formed separate saw years fighting korea conducting airborne operations operating conventional infantry rest division continued training role processing training approximately thirteen thousand recalled september december remained korea october transferred japan years replaced returned united_states july unit independent parent division sent germany early operation replace stationed munich division route relocated fort campbell taking camps 11th recently vacated july year arc transferred newly reactivated began organisation known battalions designated early 1st transferred join parent formation 2nd remained july 1st instead moved 11th air assault division early 1960s united_states_army began explore alternative means conducting future combat operations ideas resulting effort concept helicopter assault test concept feasibility reactivated february renamed 11th recommendation known board president lieutenant general 11th existed division test period intent create air assault brigades reality air assault brigade parachute qualified brigade ground air artillery elements air artillery provided armed helicopters known aviation group control helicopters assigned division 11th aviation group consisting elements original combat units reformed new division years 11th developed refined air assault tactics equipment required operate effectively role tested helicopters exercises ranging command control maneuvers scouting screening aerial resupply assess ability perform combat aircraft division final time june personnel equipment merged form newly raised colors time assigned korea transferred fort 2nd moved korea earlier predecessor current air assault badge worn troops 11th qualified making helicopter feet feet soldiers required aircraft safety procedures familiar aircraft orientation proficient hand arm signals combat assault operations able prepare inspect rig equipment external loads able equipment inside helicopters badge awarded early authorized wear soldiers 11th
11th Airborne Division (United States)