Thread by @USArmy

Today we celebrate the Airborne #Soldiers that love their knees in the breeze on #NationalAirborneDay.

What better way to celebrate than a history thread on U.S. #Paratroopers.

Let's Begin.

In 1940, a test platoon from @FortBenning's @29thID Regiment executes the #USArmy's first airborne training jump less than 45 days after airborne was formed.

The U.S. joined several world powers who had also developed the capability after World War I.

#NationalAirborneDay

In November 1942, the U.S. carried out its first major #airborne assault of World War II during the largely-amphibious invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch​.

#NationalAirborneDay

In June 1944, U.S. #Paratroopers would participate in Operation Overlord.

The invasion of Normandy on #DDay, started with a 1,200-plane airborne assault into German-occupied France hours before the larger beach landings.

#NationalAirborneDay

American paratroopers from the @101stAASLTDIV and @82ndABNDiv achieved mixed results.

They accomplished some key goals such as securing flanks for the amphibious invasion, though they also suffered missed landing zones and other #DDay objectives.

#NationalAirborneDay

In March of 1945, more than 16,000 allied paratroopers participate in Operation Varsity during the last major airborne operation of WWII and the largest one-day drop.
The mission successfully overwhelmed the German opposition.

#NationalAirborneDay

During Operation Tomahawkin in March of 1951, the second of two Korean War jumps, about 3,400 ‘#Rakkasans’ with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team jump behind enemy lines in attempt to trap enemy forces north of Seoul.

#NationalAirborneDay

In February 1967: About 800 paratroopers engage in America's lone combat jump into Vietnam, Operation Junction City.

While able to inflict significant causalities, the objective of finding and destroying the Viet Cong's central command post failed.

#NationalAirborneDay

December 1989: The @82ndABNDiv makes its first jump since World War II.

4,000 paratroopers, along with the #75thRangerRegiment, drop in to invade Panama and ultimately help remove dictator, drug trafficker, and former CIA-informant Manuel Noriega.

#NationalAirborneDay

About 950 paratroopers from the @173rdAbnBde jump into Northern Iraq into Bashur Airfield in March 2003, which had already been secured by the #USArmy's 10th Special Forces Group and Kurdish allies.

#NationalAirborneDay

Former President George W. Bush proclaimed Aug. 16 to be #NationalAirborneDay in 2001, and the U.S. Senate backed that up in Senate Resolution 235 in 2009.

So today we remember the honor, courage and heritage of our #SkySoldiers.