Operations, 82nd Airborne Division - Special Forces in World War 2

Operations

Mediterenean

November 8^th, 1942

Operation Torch

82^nd Airborne Division

During Operation Torch, the 82^nd Airborne Division is involved in the first major airborne assault carried out by the United States. The 2^nd Battalion, 509^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, is tasked with a critical mission: to capture the airfields at Tafraoui and La Sénia, located 24 kilometres and 8 kilometres south of Oran, respectively. This operation is vital for securing key strategic points to support the overall Allied landings in North Africa.

On November 8^th, 1942, the 2^nd Battalion, 509^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, aboard 39 C-47 Dakotas, departs from Cornwall in Great Britain. The flight takes them over Spain, with the intention of dropping near Oran to secure the airfields. However, the operation is plagued by significant challenges, including navigational and communicational issues. The anti-aircraft and beacon ship H.M.S. Alynbank, which is supposed to guide the aircraft, broadcasts on the wrong frequency, leading to confusion among the pilots.
Compounding these issues, poor weather conditions over Spain and the extreme distance of the mission cause the formation to scatter. Of the 39 aircraft, 30 are forced to land in a dry salt lake west of the intended objectives. The remaining planes face various misfortunes: one lands in Gibraltar, two in French Morocco, and three in Spanish Morocco. One Dakota mistakenly drops its paratroopers in Spanish Morocco, resulting in 67 American troops being interned by Franco’s forces until February 1943.

Despite these setbacks, the airfields at Tafraoui and La Sénia are eventually captured, though not primarily due to the airborne assault. The role of the 509^th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Operation Torch, while pioneering as the first major U.S. airborne operation, is limited in its effectiveness due to the operational difficulties encountered.

Relief forces from the main Allied invasion force, including British and American ground units, eventually reach the airfields and secure the area, allowing the Allied advance to continue.

July 10^th, 1943 – mid-August 1943

Operation Husky

82^nd Airborne Division

During Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, the 82^nd Airborne Division undertakes its first major combat mission. The division is tasked with securing key positions behind enemy lines to support the amphibious landings scheduled for July 10^th, 1943.

On the night of July 9^th-10^th, 1943, the 82^nd Airborne Division begins its airborne assault. However, the operation encounters immediate challenges due to strong winds and intense anti-aircraft fire, which scatter the paratroopers over a wide area of Sicily. This dispersal complicates the division’s ability to achieve its initial objectives as planned.
Despite the chaos, small groups of paratroopers manage to regroup and carry out their missions. These scattered units engage in a series of skirmishes with Italian and German forces, disrupting enemy communications and securing critical crossroads. One of the division’s key objectives is to support the 1^st Infantry Division by securing the town of Gela, a crucial point for the success of the amphibious landings. Although the wide dispersal of troops hinders a coordinated effort, the presence of the paratroopers sows confusion among the Axis forces, preventing them from mounting effective counterattacks against the main Allied landing forces.

On July 11^th,1943, elements of the 82^nd Airborne Division play a significant role in the defence of the Allied beachhead at Gela, where they help repel a determined Axis counterattack aimed at driving the Allies back into the sea. Their actions are critical in maintaining the integrity of the landing zones and ensuring the continued flow of Allied reinforcements and supplies onto the island. After the initial landings the 82^nd Airborne Division is involved in further operations across the island, engaging in numerous skirmishes and securing key positions as the Allied forces advance. The 82^nd Airborne Division remains active in Sicily for nearly six weeks until the island is fully secured in mid-August 1943.

September 9^th, 1943 – December 1943

Operation Avalanche

82^nd Airborne Division

On September 9^th, 1943, U.S. and British troops launch Operation Avalanche, landing along the Salerno coastline with the primary objectives of seizing the port of Naples to ensure resupply and cutting across to the east coast to trap Axis forces further south. The U.S. 5^th Army, under Lieutenant General Mark Clark, lands along the Salerno coastline, while British Commando units and U.S. Rangers land on the peninsula itself. Rockets launched from landing craft provide crucial cover for the troops as they come ashore.

Despite the initial success of the landings, the German Army, supported by coerced Italian troops, mounts a determined counterattack against the Allied beachhead. The situation becomes critical as the German forces threaten to push the Allies back into the sea. In response, General Clark calls in the 82nd Airborne Division for support.

By September 15^th, 1943, elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, including the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, are dropped into the area to reinforce the beleaguered beachhead. Their arrival, combined with heavy naval and air bombardment, plays a pivotal role in stabilising the situation. The paratroopers quickly secure key positions and help repel the German counterattacks, ensuring that the Allies maintain control of Salerno.

The efforts of the 82^nd Airborne Division, alongside the approaching British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery, which includes the 1^st Canadian and 5^th British Infantry Divisions, force the Germans to retreat. By September 15^th, 1943, Salerno is firmly in Allied hands, thanks to the combined efforts of airborne reinforcements, naval and air support, and the steady advance of ground forces.

The 82^nd Airborne Division remains active in Italy for several months, participating in the campaign to secure southern Italy. Their actions during the invasion of Salerno and subsequent operations are instrumental in the success of the Allied campaign, ultimately leading to the capture of Naples and the continued push northward. By December 1943, having contributed significantly to the liberation of southern Italy, the division is withdrawn in preparation for future operations in Europe.

North West Europe

June 6^th, 1944 – July 4^th, 1944

Operation Overlord

82^nd Airborne Division

The 82^nd Airborne Division plays a critical role in Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, which begins on June 6^th, 1944. Their mission is to secure the area west of the Allied landing zones, with key objectives including capturing bridges over the Merderet and Douve rivers, securing the town of Sainte-Mère-Église, and preventing German reinforcements from reaching the Utah Beach landing area.

On the night of June 5^th-6^th, 1944, the division is dropped into Normandy, but due to adverse weather and heavy anti-aircraft fire, many paratroopers are scattered far from their intended drop zones. Despite this, the 82nd Airborne Divisionmanages to capture Sainte-Mère-Église on June 6^th, 1944, making it the first town in France to be liberated by the Allies.

One of the division’s critical objectives is to secure the La Fière Bridge over the Merderet River. By June 9^th, 1944, however, the 82^nd Airborne Division still has not fully gained control of the bridge. The 325^th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR), supported by tanks, forces a crossing under heavy fire to link up with elements of the 507^th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), extending their line west of the Merderet to Chef-du-Pont.

On June 10^th, 1944, the 505^th Parachute Infantry Regiment captures Montebourg Station, northwest of Sainte-Mère-Église, supporting an attack by the 4^th Infantry Division. This action secures a key position and further disrupts German attempts to reinforce their defenses. The 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment then launches an attack across the Douve River at Beuzeville-la-Bastille on June 12^th, 1944, capturing the town of Baupte the following day. By June 14^th, 1944, units of the 101^st Airborne Division link up with the 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Baupte, solidifying Allied control of the area.

As the division continues its advance, the 325^th Glider Infantry Regiment and 505^th Parachute Infantry Regiment pass through the positions of the 90^th Infantry Division, which had earlier taken Pont l’Abbé, and drive west on the left flank of VII Corps. On June 16^th, 1944, they capture the strategic town of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. On June 19^th, 1944, the 82^nd Airborne Division is reassigned to VIII Corps. The 507^th Parachute Infantry Regiment establishes a bridgehead over the Douve River south of Pont l’Abbé, further securing the Allied advance.

The division continues its march towards La Haye-du-Puits, with its final major action occurring on July 3^th, 1944 during an attack against Hill 122 (Mont Castre) in a driving rainstorm. This difficult assault marks the last major engagement for the 82^nd Airborne Division in Normandy. On July 4^th, 1944, the division is “pinched out” of the line by the advance of the 90^th Infantry Division and goes into reserve, preparing to return to England, one day later.

September 17^th, 1944 – September 25^th, 1944

Operation Market Garden

82^nd Airborne Division

The 82^nd Airborne Division is tasked with securing vital bridges and crossings over the Maas and Waal rivers during Operation Market Garden, beginning on September 17^th, 1944. Their primary objectives are to capture the bridges at Grave and Nijmegen, ensuring a secure route for Allied ground forces advancing towards Arnhem and into Germany.

The division quickly achieves its first objective by capturing the bridge over the Maas River at Grave on September 17^th, 1944. They then focus on the Waal River bridge at Nijmegen, one of the most strategically important targets of the operation. The bridge is heavily defended, and the 82^nd Airborne Division faces significant resistance from German forces entrenched in the area.

On September 20^th, 1944, the division undertakes a daring daylight assault across the Waal River, using small boats to cross under heavy fire. This river crossing is one of the most heroic and dangerous actions of the operation, and despite suffering heavy casualties, the 82^nd Airborne Division successfully captures the Nijmegen bridge. This achievement is crucial for the Allies, as it allows ground forces to continue their advance.

However, delays in securing the bridge and the inability of the British forces to capture the bridge at Arnhem mean that the operation’s overall objectives are not fully realized. The 82^nd Airborne Division’s actions are marked by bravery and effective combat performance, but like the other divisions involved, they face challenges due to the unexpectedly strong German defenses and coordination issues among Allied forces. The division remains engaged in defending the corridor through late September, ensuring that “Hell’s Highway” remains open for supply and reinforcements, albeit at a high cost.