Saint Michael - Patron Saint of Paratroopers Embroidered Patch - 4 1/2" with Wax For Sale

Saint Michael - Patron Saint of Paratroopers Embroidered Patch - 4 1/2" with Wax Backing

In 1930, the U.S. Army experimented with the concept of parachuting three-man heavy-machine-gun teams. Nothing came of these early experiments.

The first U.S. airborne unit began as a test platoon formed from part of the 29th Infantry Regiment, in July 1940. The platoon leader was 1st Lieutenant William T. Ryder, who made the first jump on August 16, 1940, at Lawson Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, from a B-18 bomber. He was immediately followed by Private William N. King, the first enlisted soldier to make a parachute jump.

Although airborne units were not popular with the top U.S. Armed Forces commanders, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sponsored the concept, and Major General William C. Lee organized the first paratroop platoon. This led to the Provisional Parachute Group, and then the United States Army Airborne Command. General Lee was the first commander at the new parachute school at Fort Benning, in west-central Georgia.

The U.S. Armed Forces regards Major General William C. Lee as the father of the Airborne.

The first U.S. combat jump was near Oran, Algeria, in North Africa on November 8, 1942, conducted by elements of the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment. For the role of paratroopers in the Normandy Landings see American airborne landings in Normandy.

A US paratrooper is a soldier who parachutes into battle zones as part of an airborne infantry unit. Paratroopers are trained to conduct military operations, such as seizing strategic positions behind enemy lines.

• Paratroopers are deployed by aircraft and parachute into battle zones.
• They are often used in surprise attacks to seize strategic positions.
• Paratroopers are typically armed with small arms and light weapons.
• They may also use field guns, infantry fighting vehicles, and light tanks.
• Paratroopers are often used to establish an airhead to bring in larger forces.

Examples of US paratrooper units

82nd Airborne Division: This division is based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina and is part of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The 82nd Airborne Division is known as the "All American" division because its initial members came from all 48 states.

History of US paratroopers

Paratroopers participated in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Airborne forces are still maintained as a rapid response capability to get troops on the ground anywhere in the world within hours.