List_of_British_airborne_brigades_of_the_Second_World_War

List of British airborne brigades of the Second World War

List of British airborne brigades of the Second World War

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Impressed by the German airborne force during the 1940 Battle of France, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, ordered the creation of a paratrooper force of 5,000 men. The success of Operation Colossus, a small scale commando raid, prompted further expansion of this force, and resulted in an additional requirement for a glider force of 10,000 men to be created.[1][2][3] The recruitment for the size of this force took through to 1943, by which time two divisions had been formed.[4] The airborne division was to comprise three brigades: two parachute brigades, each with three battalions from the Parachute Regiment, and an airlanding brigade with three infantry battalions.[5] The first parachute battalions were formed from volunteers from across the British military. As the airborne force grew, infantry battalions were selected to be converted into parachute battalions. The men were invited to volunteer for parachute service, or assigned to a new unit. The new battalions were then brought up to strength from volunteers from other units. The airlanding battalions came from existing infantry units that had been converted into this new role, and the soldiers did not have the ability to opt-out. The latter were flown into battle via gliders, while the former parachuted in.[6][7]

British paratroopers during training

Airlanding

More information Formation name, Existing or date created ...

Parachute

More information Formation name, Existing or date created ...

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Otway 1990, p. 21.
  2. [2]
    Harclerode 2006, pp. 204–205, 218.
  3. [3]
    Tugwell 1971, p. 123.
  4. [4]
    Joslen 2003, pp. 104–107.
  5. [5]
    Joslen 2003, pp. 132–133.
  6. [6]
    Messenger 1994, p. 112.
  7. [7]
    Flint 2004, p. 90.
  8. [8]
    Joslen 2003, p. 414.
  9. [9]
    Joslen 2003, p. 415.
  10. [10]
    Joslen 2003, p. 416.
  11. [11]
    Joslen 2003, pp. 407–408.
  12. [12]
    Joslen 2003, pp. 409–410.
  13. [13]
    Joslen 2003, p. 411.
  14. [14]
    Joslen 2003, p. 412.
  15. [15]
    Joslen 2003, p. 413.
  16. [16]
    Joslen 2003, p. 456; Shortt & MacBride 2005, pp. 12, 14–16.

References

  • Flint, Keith (2004). Airborne Armour: Tetrarch, Locust, Hamilcar and the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment 1938–1950. Solihull: Helion. ISBN 978-1-87462-237-6.
  • Harclerode, Peter (2006). Wings Of War – Airborne Warfare 1918–1945. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-0-30436-730-6.
  • Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
  • Messenger, Charles (1994). For Love of Regiment 1915–1994. A History of British Infantry. Vol. II. London: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-0-850-52422-2.
  • Otway, T.B.H. (1990). The Second World War 1939–1945 Army – Airborne Forces. London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 978-0-90162-757-5.
  • Shortt, James G.; MacBride, Angus (2005) [1981]. The Special Air Service. Men-at-Arms. Botley, Oxfordshire: Osprey Press. ISBN 978-0-85045-396-6.
  • Tugwell, Maurice (1971). Airborne to Battle: A History of Airborne Warfare, 1918–1971. London: William Kimber. ISBN 978-0-71830-262-7.
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