National Airborne Day, August 16, was chosen by former President George W. Bush back in 2002 as a day to recognize the past, present, and future contributions of American airborne troops in all campaigns, theaters, and peacekeeping missions. For example, the invasion of Normandy during World War II might have gone the wrong way and cost thousands more lives, if not for Allied soldiers dropping from aircraft behind enemy lines. From the first American use of paratroopers on August 16, 1942 to the 101st “Screaming Eagles,” airborne divisions are some of our best and bravest.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY
In terms of young or old warfare tactics, using American airborne forces to surprise an enemy by landing behind battle lines has only been a “thing” since the 1940s. It was just after World War I when .. continued.
