The
history of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
can be traced back to the original Parachute Test
Platoon created in June 1940, an offshoot of the
29th Infantry Regiment, and were later to form the
nucleus of the 501st PIR which was activated in
November 1942.
From Camp Toccoa the majority of volunteers moved to Ft. Benning to complete jump training before being assigned to Airborne Command in Camp MacKall, NC. The regiment was later moved to England in preparation of the Europe invasion and was permanently attached to the 101st Airborne Division in early 1944.
The 501st took part in the Normandy air drop as part of D-Day, landing east of Carentan in the early hours of June 6th 1944 with the objective of taking and holding the canal docks at La Barquette, as well as destroying various bridges across the Douve River.
The two 501st battalions were able to complete all objectives including the capture of Carentan, overcoming numerous hurdles including widespread miss-drops, though it is believed this in itself aided the Allies as it confused the defending forces as to the attacking forces true objectives as well as genuine force strength.
On June 27th the 101st Division was relieved and returned to England for further training, rest and resupply before being deployed as part of an audacious Allies plan to end the the war before the end of 1944 - Operation Market Garden.
The 101st mission was to hold and protect a stretch of road that became known as "Hell's Highway" to allow the rapid advance of British armored and motorised elements that desperately needed the bridges in their headlong dash for Arnhem.
Again the 501st completed all objectives, however they were bogged down until mid October 1944 and were not redeployed in support of the British airborne as had initially been anticipated.
Following the German counterattack in December 1944 the 101st were quickly deployed into the Ardennes Forest, this became known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 501st were the first Regiment deployed and held off German armored elements outside the town of Bastogne until the remaining support could arrive.
American forces held off elements of 7 German divisions before General Patton broke through the encirclement on December 26th. The Airborne of the 101st and 82nd have always maintained that they didn't need rescuing...
From Camp Toccoa the majority of volunteers moved to Ft. Benning to complete jump training before being assigned to Airborne Command in Camp MacKall, NC. The regiment was later moved to England in preparation of the Europe invasion and was permanently attached to the 101st Airborne Division in early 1944.
The 501st took part in the Normandy air drop as part of D-Day, landing east of Carentan in the early hours of June 6th 1944 with the objective of taking and holding the canal docks at La Barquette, as well as destroying various bridges across the Douve River.
The two 501st battalions were able to complete all objectives including the capture of Carentan, overcoming numerous hurdles including widespread miss-drops, though it is believed this in itself aided the Allies as it confused the defending forces as to the attacking forces true objectives as well as genuine force strength.
On June 27th the 101st Division was relieved and returned to England for further training, rest and resupply before being deployed as part of an audacious Allies plan to end the the war before the end of 1944 - Operation Market Garden.
The 101st mission was to hold and protect a stretch of road that became known as "Hell's Highway" to allow the rapid advance of British armored and motorised elements that desperately needed the bridges in their headlong dash for Arnhem.
Again the 501st completed all objectives, however they were bogged down until mid October 1944 and were not redeployed in support of the British airborne as had initially been anticipated.
Following the German counterattack in December 1944 the 101st were quickly deployed into the Ardennes Forest, this became known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 501st were the first Regiment deployed and held off German armored elements outside the town of Bastogne until the remaining support could arrive.
American forces held off elements of 7 German divisions before General Patton broke through the encirclement on December 26th. The Airborne of the 101st and 82nd have always maintained that they didn't need rescuing...
