Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
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Backbone of airborne assault in past operations and for <strong>the</strong> new First Allied <strong>Air</strong>borne Ariuv is <strong>the</strong> c.-t 7 shown here in invasion formatiou.<br />
AIRBORNE ARMY<br />
'THE history of warfare is <strong>the</strong> chronicle of armies' efforts<br />
to turn <strong>the</strong> enemy's flanks and to protect <strong>the</strong>ir 011"11.<br />
Defenders trv to anchor <strong>the</strong>ir lines at both ends. Attackers<br />
keep mancuvcr ing until <strong>the</strong>y somehow envelop <strong>the</strong><br />
enemy, getting to his side or rear.<br />
In this war, air bombardment has been <strong>the</strong> great new<br />
means of getting behind <strong>the</strong> enemy. Industries, transport<br />
svstcms, and supplv depots have been bombed to rubble.<br />
Communications lines have been slashed. Land forces have<br />
been harried and thrown disastrously off <strong>the</strong>ir stride.<br />
Now comes a still newer development. a method bv which<br />
<strong>the</strong> enemy's ground troops may be enveloped from a \\"110111'<br />
unpredictable quarter-s-vertical envelopment from <strong>the</strong> air.<br />
It is <strong>the</strong> First Allied <strong>Air</strong>borne An11\".<br />
This tough, spectacular force, organized and commanded<br />
bv Lt. Gen. Lewis I I. Brereton, is not to be thought of<br />
in terms of past paratroop or airborne operations. It is more<br />
than a spearhead. It is an army in el'ery sellSe-a strategic<br />
striking unit of enormous pOlver, able to supplv and maintain<br />
itself and to function independently against major<br />
objectives. Nothing like this army has ever been seen.<br />
Allied airborne operations have previously been tactical in<br />
nature. Paratroopers and in fan trv, trained by <strong>the</strong> ground<br />
torccs, have been flown in troop carrier planes and gliders to<br />
<strong>the</strong> scene of <strong>the</strong> battle for quick, specific jobs. To take<br />
airfields, perhaps, or knock out artillery positions. Their<br />
work. though critic.illv important, has been incidental to<br />
larger operations. Once landed, <strong>the</strong>y have fought under<br />
command of ground officers and, except for supply or cvacuation,<br />
have had no fur<strong>the</strong>r connection with <strong>the</strong> air forces.<br />
This was Germany's technique, also. The Ccrrnans never<br />
organized air troops bevond divisional status and always relied<br />
upon <strong>the</strong> Luftwaffe for transport and supplv. It is realized<br />
now that 'Ccnu.mvs carlv airborne successes were<br />
Iargelv due to a luck o{ prcparcducxs on <strong>the</strong> part of her<br />
12 victims.<br />
-•'ifffi<br />
This has not been <strong>the</strong> case in Allied airborne assaults.<br />
\Iost of <strong>the</strong>se have taken place against stubbornly defended<br />
enemy territory. Normandy provided perhaps <strong>the</strong> most brillian<br />
t success of such operations. On D-day th ree fully<br />
equipped divisions were landed behind German lines with<br />
<strong>the</strong> set task of seizing and holding <strong>the</strong> flanks of <strong>the</strong> Chcrbourg<br />
Peninsula while behind <strong>the</strong>m seaborne troops slogged<br />
up <strong>the</strong> beaches to overcome enem~' resistance. General<br />
Eisenhower has said that without achievement of this mission<br />
<strong>the</strong> entire assault might have been impossible. Later,<br />
in <strong>the</strong> south of France, paratroops and airborne infantry<br />
were used to OCcUPY <strong>the</strong> high ground overlooking <strong>the</strong> rocky<br />
coves and inlets toward which hundreds of Allied landing<br />
craft were steering.<br />
These exploits, along with o<strong>the</strong>rs in Sicily, Italy, ~Iarkham<br />
Valley of New Guinea, and elsewhere. surpassed in<br />
real effect anv of <strong>the</strong> vaunted German assaults from <strong>the</strong> skv<br />
and demonst'rated <strong>the</strong> value and unexplored possibilities of<br />
<strong>the</strong> airborne attack.<br />
The First Allied <strong>Air</strong>borne Army is a logical outgrowth of<br />
all this experience. Conceived and planned by Ccncr.il<br />
Marshall and General Arnold. this army is a weapon of<br />
untold military and psychological power. The projected<br />
scope of its activities is enough to make every German start<br />
looking under his cot at night.<br />
Composition of this army cannot be set forth exactly. but<br />
it contains clements of paratroops, airborne infantry. engineers,<br />
signals and communications men, and artillery. Supporting<br />
<strong>the</strong> combat forec arc streamlined supply, ordnance<br />
and medical units.<br />
The air teams consist of troop carrier crews, radio operators,<br />
wea<strong>the</strong>r experts, maintenance crews, cte. :\ lost of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
planes, gliders. and equipment arc prccisclv <strong>the</strong> same as han:<br />
been used heretofore, with C--t7s doing <strong>the</strong> bulk of <strong>the</strong><br />
hC;1\'\' dutv.<br />
h:om a' personnel standpoint, thi-, nnuv IS <strong>the</strong> interna-<br />
Supplies and paratroop, arc hcing dropped in <strong>the</strong> photos below during intensive training maneuvers whicl: preceded <strong>the</strong> hig '\orm;lIlch. drive.<br />
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