1 of 5:
Here's the answer to our #TuesdayTrivia: the @FightingFirst was selected to conduct the world's first combat airborne assault. In October, 1918, the entire 1st Infantry Division (12k troops) was to jump into Metz, France to envelop the German forces there.
Here's the answer to our #TuesdayTrivia: the @FightingFirst was selected to conduct the world's first combat airborne assault. In October, 1918, the entire 1st Infantry Division (12k troops) was to jump into Metz, France to envelop the German forces there.
2 of 5: In fact, none other than General John J. Pershing approved of the transfer of the 1st Infantry Division to the Air Service for this and possible follow-on airborne operations.
3 of 4: As @CAHutch1990 pointed out, the operation would likely have been a complete disaster: the airborne concept was not fully cooked, aircraft had little ability to navigate over select drop zones, & the parachutes (1918 chute pictured here) hadn't been tested w/ combat equ't
4 of 4: Nonetheless: can you imagine what could have been?
Imagine the legacy of the Big Red One as an airborne force. Imagine if the BRO division had jumped into Metz, ended the stalemate, and remained an airborne force - the only airborne division in the Army today.
Imagine the legacy of the Big Red One as an airborne force. Imagine if the BRO division had jumped into Metz, ended the stalemate, and remained an airborne force - the only airborne division in the Army today.
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