Today we celebrate the Airborne #Soldiers that love their knees in the breeze on #NationalAirborneDay.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
What better way to celebrate than a history thread on U.S. #Paratroopers.
Let's Begin. pic.twitter.com/UhRHuWZNrq
In 1940, a test platoon from @FortBenning's @29thID Regiment executes the #USArmy's first airborne training jump less than 45 days after airborne was formed.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
The U.S. joined several world powers who had also developed the capability after World War I.#NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/L5TXngbzLd
In November 1942, the U.S. carried out its first major #airborne assault of World War II during the largely-amphibious invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch.#NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/g7dkjd50zX
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
In June 1944, U.S. #Paratroopers would participate in Operation Overlord.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
The invasion of Normandy on #DDay, started with a 1,200-plane airborne assault into German-occupied France hours before the larger beach landings. #NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/9cZbLPUnxz
American paratroopers from the @101stAASLTDIV and @82ndABNDiv achieved mixed results.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
They accomplished some key goals such as securing flanks for the amphibious invasion, though they also suffered missed landing zones and other #DDay objectives.#NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/YHVq1BnYxT
In March of 1945, more than 16,000 allied paratroopers participate in Operation Varsity during the last major airborne operation of WWII and the largest one-day drop.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
The mission successfully overwhelmed the German opposition. #NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/zfFiCXRyg5
During Operation Tomahawkin in March of 1951, the second of two Korean War jumps, about 3,400 ‘#Rakkasans’ with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team jump behind enemy lines in attempt to trap enemy forces north of Seoul. #NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/IUehQFOx4L
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
In February 1967: About 800 paratroopers engage in America's lone combat jump into Vietnam, Operation Junction City.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
While able to inflict significant causalities, the objective of finding and destroying the Viet Cong's central command post failed.#NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/IJVnxWw1Tt
December 1989: The @82ndABNDiv makes its first jump since World War II.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
4,000 paratroopers, along with the #75thRangerRegiment, drop in to invade Panama and ultimately help remove dictator, drug trafficker, and former CIA-informant Manuel Noriega.#NationalAirborneDay pic.twitter.com/IK4X9QLalA
Former President George W. Bush proclaimed Aug. 16 to be #NationalAirborneDay in 2001, and the U.S. Senate backed that up in Senate Resolution 235 in 2009.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 16, 2020
So today we remember the honor, courage and heritage of our #SkySoldiers. pic.twitter.com/lg7n2WK8dR
See Also: The View from Here