Timeline
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February 15 1943
Creation of the 11th Airborne Division -
March 15 1943
Creation of the 517th PIR -
April 15 1943
Creation of the 17th Airborne Division -
April 28 1943
Departure of the 82nd Airborne Division from the New-York harbour -
May 10 1943
The 82nd Airborne Division arrives in Casablanca -
June 7 to July 20 1943
101st Airborne manoeuvres in Tennessee, US -
July 9 to 11 1943
Operations Husky I and II -
All along 1943
Creation of multiple US Airborne Training Centers -
August 13 1943
Creation of the 13th Airborne Division -
September 5 1943
First combat jump in the Pacific / The 101st Airborne departs from the US towards Europe -
September 7 and 8 1943
Secret visit in Italy -
September 13 and 14 1943
Operation Avalanche -
September 15 1943
Landing in Salerne -
October 1st 1943
The paratroopers of Major Edward C. Krause's 3/505th enter Naples -
October 10 1943
Colonel James M. Gavin is promoted Brigadier General -
November 18 1943
The 82nd Airborne Division leaves the Mediterranean front
September 13 and 14 1943
Operation Avalanche
On 13 September 1943, 1,300 paratroopers from the 1 and 2/504th PIR, followed on 14 September by 2,100 paratroopers from the 505th PIR were dropped on the Paestum DZ south of Salerno in Italy. Operation Avalanche was also an opportunity to test teams of Pathfinders, to mark out and secure the Drop Zones.