Contents

Introduction

Combat mission

Preparation for war: doctrine and training

Lessons learned • Training

Unit organization

Parachute infantry regiment • Glider infantry regiment • Airborne artillery

Airborne engineer battalion • Airborne anti-aircraft battalion • Airborne tank battalion

Airborne weapons and equipment

Troop carrier organization • Airborne tactics: the navigation problem

Command and control

Tactics

Operation Neptune: night drop over Normandy • Operation Dragoon: the champagne campaign

Operation Market: paving the way to a bridge too far • Operation Varsity: bouncing the Rhine

Assessing the combat record

Unit status

82nd Airborne Division • 101st Airborne Division • 17th Airborne Division

13th Airborne Division • 1st Provisional Airborne Task Force (Seventh Army Provisional Airborne Division)

Further reading

Official studies and reports • Books

Glossary