First Allied Airborne Army
The First Allied Airborne Army was activated on August 2, 1944 after the lessons of Sicily and Normandy showed that a closer relationship was needed between allied airborne forces, troop carrier units and other land, sea or air assets. Commanded by Lieutenant General Lewis H. Brereton, it consisted of the U. S. XVIII Airborne Corps (17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions), all British airborne forces (1st and 6th Airborne Divisions and the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade), IX Troop Carrier Command (US) and Royal Air Force troop carrier units as required by the command.
The first combat operation of the First Allied Airborne Army was during Operation Market-Garden. This operation saw the insertion of the 1st (British), 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in addition to the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, into the Netherlands during September, 1944.
Although the American 17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions played an instrumental role in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945, Operation Varsity was the next major operation conducted by the First Allied Airborne Army. During Varsity, the British 6th and the American 17th Airborne Divisions leaped into Germany and helped breach the last major obstacle to the heart of Germany – the Rhine River.
The reenacting unit, First Allied Airborne Army, provides a single focal point for the various airborne units in the National Military Historical Association. The First Allied Airborne Army serves to disseminate information on battles, helps insure a proper balance of airborne forces in World War Two reenactments and directs interested new comers to available units.
The First Allied Airborne Army is a group of Airborne enthusiasts who portray a variety of Airborne Units both Allied and Axis. As a group, we portray the generic paratrooper from a particular country. By doing so, we can participate in nearly every scenario from Czechoslovakia to Berlin.
The units listed below were the major Allied airborne divisions in Europe during World War Two. In the case of British units, a reenactor does not have to change anything on his kit to represent either the 1st or 6th Airborne Divisions. As for the American paratrooper. a simple patch change is all that is necessary to reenact as either the 17th, 82nd or 101st Airborne Divisions.
Of course, there are members who wish to represent a particular unit within the a fore mentioned divisions. These members, and the particular unit the reenact, are listed below the division.
Order of Battle:
United States:
17th Airborne Division
82d Airborne Division -Unit History
376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, Batteries Able
and Baker
101st Airborne Division -Unit History
United Kingdom:
The Parachute Regiment -Unit History
1st Airborne Division -Unit History 6th Airborne Division
5th Parachute Battalion
7th Parachute Battalion
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
22nd Independent Parachute Company
