Categories timeline: US Airborne (1940-1945)
February 15 1943
Creation of the 11th Airborne Division
On 15th February 1943, the 11th Airborne Division was created at Camp Mackall in North Carolina, under the command of Major General Joseph M. SWING. Composed essentially of the 511th PIR, 187th and 188th GIR, 127th AEB, 457th PFAB and 472nd GFAB. The division took part in campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines (Leyte, Luzon, Manila, Los Banos) in 1943-44, then served as an army of occupation in Japan in 1945.
Back to the listDecember 26 1942
The 509th's raid in Tunisia
December 26 1942: 30 paratroopers from the 2/509th PIR as well as 2 french paratroopers take part in a raid in Tunisia with the task of blowing up El Djem’s railway bridge.
Back to the listNovember 15 1942
The 2/509th PIR jumps in Algeria
On 15 November 1942, as part of Operation Torch, 350 paratroopers from the 2/509th PIR jumped near Youks les Bains airfield in Algeria.
Back to the listNovember 8th 1942
First combat mission of the US paratroopers: Operation Torch
On 8 November 1942, 556 paratroopers from the 2/509th PIR boarded 39 C-47 aircraft for the longest combat flight in the history of US airborne troops. They took off from England with the aim of seizing the airfields of Tafraoui and La Sénia, near Oran in Algeria.
Back to the listBeginning of November 1942
The Airborne Command moves to Camp Mackall
In November 1942, Airborne Command moved to Camp Hoffman in North Carolina. On 8th February 1943, the base changed its name to Camp Mackall, in honour of Pvt John T. Mackall, a member of the 2/509th Pir who was among the first casualties of his unit’s fighting during the invasion of North Africa.
Back to the listNovember 2nd 1942
The 2/503rd PIR is renamed 2/509th PIR
On 2 November 1942, in England, the 2/503rd PIR changed its name once again to the 2/509th PIR. The battalion, under the command of Colonel Edson Raff, was preparing to take part in the first US paratroop combat operation as part of Operation Torch in North Africa.
Back to the listOctober 30 1942
Creation of the 551st PIB
October 30 1942: Creation of the 551st PIB under the orders of Ltc. Wood G. Joerg, at Fort Kobbe in the Panama Canal zone.
Back to the listOctober 20 1942
Creation of the 508th PIR
On October 20 1942, creation of the 508th PIR in Camp Blanding, Florida, under the orders of Ltc. Roy E. Lindquist.
Back to the listOctober 3rd 1942
82nd Airborne Division settles in Fort Bragg
October 3rd 1942: The 82nd Airborne Division, made up of the 504th PIR, the 325th GIR, the 376th PFAB, the 307th AEB, the 319th and 320th GFAB, settles in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Back to the listSeptember 29 1942
101st Airborne Division settles in Fort Bragg
September 29 1942: The 101st Airborne Division, made up of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, the 327th and 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, the 321st and 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, settles in Fort Bragg.
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