Airborne troops are soldiers trained for assault by air. They may be dropped to the ground by parachute, or transported to combat areas by airplanes. Airborne troops of the United States Army are volunteers. The chief center for training U.S. airborne troops is at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. United States airborne troops are often called paratroops, paratroopers, and sky soldiers.
Volunteers must undergo a difficult training course. In combat, airborne troops land behind enemy lines, blow up bridges, destroy communications, and cut off supplies and reinforcements. They often take the enemy by surprise and engage in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Airborne troops carry heavy packs of equipment, including an automatic rifle, a machine gun, grenades, a medical kit, and radio equipment.
In World War II (1939-1945), both the Allies and the Germans used airborne troops. The Germans first employed sky soldiers in the Netherlands in 1940 and in capturing the island of Crete in 1941. The Allies made the most effective use of paratroops. They formed a complete army of sky soldiers and coordinated parachute attacks with air, land, and naval operations. United States Army paratroopers spearheaded attacks in Sicily, Normandy, and the Netherlands. In the Philippines, airborne troops recaptured Corregidor from Japanese forces. Airborne troops have taken part in all major military operations since World War II.
See also Parachute.
