AIRBORNE ORGANIZATION
From its conception in 1940, the organizational structure
for airborne troops evolved as the nature of their missions and
deployments changed. When the US Army first considered the application
of airborne forces, their view was limited to a need for battalion sized
structures that would meet a need for small, mobile, surprise insurgent
unit who would be dropped behind enemy lines to disrupt the enemy and
capture specific targets. The concept raised targets such as isolated
headquarters, bridges, or supply dumps or even just small raids designed
to cause confusion. To meet this requirement the early airborne forces
were organized into battalions.
From the humble beginnings of the Test Platoon, the 501st Parachute
Battalion grew, followed shortly by the 502nd Parachute Battalion.
However, two major factors came to play that changed the army’s
approach. Firstly, the Allied view of the success of the German invasion
of Crete in May 1941, conveyed that there was a viable role for larger,
possibly divisional sized airborne units; and secondly, when in December
1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, the US Army had more
resources and manpower at their disposal. Both these factors led to the
increase from battalion sized units to regiments and from regiments to
divisions.
The speedy expansion of the airborne forces meant that’ occasionally,
organizational structure were under strength from that of the more
traditional army lines. However, the basic airborne unit, the Parachute
Infantry Regiment mirrored the typical army structure with each having a
strength of Regimental HQ, HQ Company, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions each
made up of 3 companies and a service, antitank and medical support.
By 1944 and the invasion of mainland Europe, the Airborne forced had
been organized along more traditional army divisional lines with command
structures to mirror those of the regular army infantry. Because of the
speed of the build up and the operational demands of the European
Theater, their was still a great deal of fluidity as different units
were attached as an when the need arose. However, the following outline
basically defines the June 1944 Order of Battle for Normandy.
82nd Airborne - Order of battle
Commanding General : Major General Matthew B. Ridgway
Assistant Commanding : Brigadier General James Maurice Gavin
Assistant Commanding : Brigadier General George P. Howell
Chief of staff : Colonel Ralph P. Eaton (WIA 6 June)
Colonel Edson D. Raff (8-15 June)
Lt Col. Robert N. Wienecke (15 June - 11 July)
AC of S, G-1 Lt Col. Frederick M. Schellhammer
AC of S, G-2 Lt Col. Whitfield Jack
AC of S, G-3 Lt Col. Robert H. Wienecke
Lt Col. Walter F. Winton (15-19 June & 5-11 July)
Lt Col. Henry E. Adams (19 June-5 July)
AC of S, G-4 Lt Col. Bennie A. Zinn (WIA 7June)
Lt Col. Frank W. Moorman (From 7 June)
Inspector General : Lt Col. Charles M. Barrett
Signal Officer : Lt Col. Frank W. Moorman
Captain Robert E. Furman (From 7 June)
Adjutant General : Lt Col. Raymond M. Britton
Judge Avocate : Lt Col. Casimir D. Moss
Surgeon : Lt Col. Wolcott L. Etienne (WIA 6 June)
Major William C. Lindstrom (From 6 June)
Finance Officer : Lt Col. William E. Johnson
Chaplain : Lt Col. George L. Riddle
Ordnance Officer : Lt Col. Joshua A. Finkle (WIA 7 June)
Captain William B. McGuire (From 7 June)
Quartermaster Officer : Lt Col. John N. Rohrman
Headquarters Commandant : Major Don C. Faith
Provost Marshall : Major Frederick G. McCollum
Special Service Officer : Captain Rudrick R. Otto
Military Government Officer : Captain Peter Shouvaloff
Pathfinders Group : Major Neal L. Roberts
505th Parachute Infantry Rgt : Colonel William E. Ekman
RHQ Co : Captain Talton "Woody" Long
1/505th : Major Frederick C.A. Kellam (KIA 6 June)
Lt Col. Mark Alexander (From 7 June)
Second : Major James E. McGinity (KIA 6 June)
Hq Co : Lt Robert D. Keeler
A Co : 1st/Lt John J. "Red Dog" Dolan
B Co : Lt. James M. Irvin
C Co : Captain Arthur Stephanich
2/505th : Lt Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort
Hq Co : Lt. James Gray
D Co : Captain Taylor G. Smith
E Co : Captain Clyde Russell
F Co : Captain Hubert Bass
Lt. Joseph Holcomb (From 7 June)
3/505th : Lt Col. Edward C. Krause
G Co : Captain Robert Follmer (WIA 6 June)
1st/Lt. Ivan Woods
H Co : Captain Walter C.DeLong
I Co : Captain Harold H. Swingler
507th Parachute Infantry Rgt : Colonel George V. Millet (POW 8 June)
Lt Col. Arthur A. Maloney (8-15 June)
Colonel Edson D. Raff (From 15 June)
1/507th : Lt Col. Edwin J.Ostberg
A Co : Captain J. R. Nunn
C Co : Captain Sanford M. Frank
2/507th : Lt Col. Charles Timmes
D Co : Captain Clarence A. Tolle
E Co : Captain Roy E. Creek
F Co : Captain Paul F. Smith
3/507th : Lt Col. William H. Kuhn
G Co : Captain Floyd B. Schwarzwalder
I Co : Captain Gordon S. Allyn
508th Parachute Infantry Rgt : Colonel Roy E. Lindquist
1/508th : Lt Col. Batcheller (KIA 6 June)
Major Shields Warren
Hq Co : Captain Gerard A. Ruddy (KIA 6 June)
A Co : Captain Jonathan E. Adams
B Co : Captain Royal R. Taylor
C Co : Captain Walter Silvers
2/508th : Lt Col. Thomas J.B. Shanley
Hq Co : Captain Chester E. Graham
3/508th : Lt Col. Louis G. Mendez
Hq Co : 1st/Lt. Malcom D. Brannen
G Co : Captain Frank J. Novak
H Co : Captain Hillman C. Dress
325th Glider Infantry Rgt : Colonel Harry L. Lewis
1/325th : Lt Col. Klemm R. Boyd (Injured 7 June)
Major Teddy H. Sanford (From 7 June)
Hq Co : Captain Alex Bishop (KIA 9 June)
A Co : 1st/Lt. James Gayley (KIA 7 June)
1st/Lt. Wilbur Heckman (From 7 June)
B Co : Captain Richard M. Gibson
C Co : Captain Dave E. Stokley (WIA 9 June)
1st/Lt. Wayne Pierce (From 9 June)
2/325th : Lt. Col. John H. "Swede" Swenson (WIA 11 June)
Major Osmond Leahy (11-14 June)
Major Roscoe Roy (From 14 June - KIA 15 June)
Major Charles "Tad" Major (From 15 June)
Hq Co : Capt. Herbert Slaughter
E Co : Capt. Robert Dickerson (WIA 11 June)
1st/Lt. John Pardue (From 11 June - KIA 11 June)
1st/Lt. Frederick R. Jones (From 11 June)
F Co : 1st/Lt Joe B. Gault
G Co : Captain Irvin Bloom (KIA 11 June)
1st/Lt. George M. Cockle (From 11 June)
3/325th (2/401st) : Lt Col. Charles A. Carrell (Relieved 9 June)
Major Arthur W. Gardner (From 9 June - KIA 14 June)
Major Osmond Leahy (From 14 June)
Hq Co : Capt. Lewis S. Mentlik (KIA 14 June)
Capt. James Fogle (From 14 June)
I Co (E-401) : Major Charles Murphy (WIA 9 June)
1st/Lt. James White (From 9 June)
K Co (F-401) : Captain James M. Harney
L Co (G-401) : Captain John B. Sauls (WIA 9 June)
Lt Thomas E. Goodson
82nd Airborne Div. Artillery : Colonel Francis A. March
319th Glider FA Bton : Lt Col. C. James C. Todd
320th Glider FA Bton : Lt Col. Paul E. Wright
376th Parachute FA Bton : Lt Col. Wilbur N. Griffith
456th Parachute FA Bton : Lt Col. Wagner J. d'Alessio
80th Airborne AA Bton : Lt Col. Raymond E. Singleton
A Btry : Captain Norman Nelson
B Btry : Captain Nock Russell
C Btry : Captain William Pratt
D Btry : Captain Norman Connell
E Btry : Captain James Sherman
F Btry : Captain Choice Rucker
307th Airborne Engineer Bton : Lt Col. Robert S. Palmer (POW 6 June)
Major Edwin A. Bedell (From 8 June)
B Co : Captain William Connally
307th Airborne Medical Co : Major William H. Houston (KIA 6 June)
Major Jerry J. Belden (From 6 June)
407th Airborne Quartermaster Co : Captain Samuel H. Mays
782nd Airborne Ordnance Main. Co : Captain Jeff Davis, Jr
82nd Airborne Headquarters Co : Captain George J. Claussen
82nd Airborne Signal Co : 1st/Lt Robert B. Nerf
82nd Airborne Reco Platoon : 1st/Lt Joseph V. Demasi
82nd Airborne Military Police : Major Frederick G. McCollum
82nd Parachute Maintenance Co : Captain James E. Griffin
101st
Airborne - Order of battle
Commanding General : Major General Maxwell D. Taylor
Assistant Commanding : Brigadier General Don F. Pratt (KIA 6 June)
Chief of Staff : Colonel Gerald J. Higgins
AC of S, G-1 Lt Col. Ned D. Moore
AC of S, G-2 Major Arthur M. Sommerfield
Major Paul A. Danahy (From 7 July)
AC of S, G-3 Lt Col. Raymond D. Millener
Lt Col. Harold W. Hannah (From 1 July)
AC of S, G-4 Lt Col. Carl W. Kohls
AC of S, G-5 Major Glen C. Eberle
Major Charles H. Stephens (From 18 June)
Adjutant General : Lt Col. Edward Schmitt
Air Officer : Lt Col. William F. Stewart
Chaplain : Lt Col. Louis R. Goodrich
Engineer Officer : Lt Col. John C. Pappas (KIA 13 June)
Lt Col. Hugh A. Mozley (From 13 June)
Finance Officer : Lt Col. William P. Machemehl
Judge Avocate : Lt Col. Trueman E. O'Quinn
Military Government Officer : Major Robert S. Smith
Ordnance Officer : Lt Col. Roger W. Parkinson
Postal Officer : Captain Joseph F. Noonan
Public Relations Officer : 1st/Lt. John H. Shumaker, Jr
Quartermaster Officer : Major Charles J. Rich
Signal Officer : Lt Col. Sidney S. Davis
Surgeon : Lt Col. David Gold
Headquarters Commandant : Major J. T. Nelson
101st Pathfinder Co (Provisional) : Captain Frank L. Lillyman
501st Parachute Infantry Rgt : Colonel Howard R. Johnson
Rgt Hq Co : Captain William G. Burd
Rgt Service Co : Captain William H. Butler
1/501st : Lt Col. Robert C. Caroll (KIA 6 June)
Lt Col. Harry W. O. Kinnard (From 8 June)
Hq Co : Captain John W. Simmons
A Co : Captain William W. Paty, Jr (WIA,POW 7 June)
B Co : Captain Loyal Bogart (KIA 11 June)
1st/Lt. Ian M. Hamilton (From 11 June)
C Co : Captain Robert H. "Hawk" Philips
2/501st : Lt Col. Robert A. Ballard
Hq Co : Captain Edmund Rhett
D Co : 1st/Lt. Bill E. Osborn
E Co : Captain Donald A. Brown
F Co : Captain Sammie N. Homan
3/501st : Lt Col. Julian J. Ewell
Hq Co : 1st/Lt. Jack F. Thornton
G Co : 1st/Lt. Vernon Kraeger (WIA)
1st/Lt. Norman M. Baker
H Co : Captain Felix W. Stanley
I Co : Captain Richard E. Hotchkiss (KIA 6 June)
Captain Claude J. Wallace, Jr
502nd Parachute Infantry Rgt : Colonel George Moseley (WIA 6 June)
Lt Col. John H. Michaelis (From 9 June)
Rgt Hq Co : Captain Rudolph M. Jones
Rgt Service Co : Captain Eldia R. Haire
1/502nd : Lt Col. Patrick F. Cassidy
Hq Co : Captain James J. Hatch
A Co : Captain Richard L. Davidson (KIA 6 June)
1st/Lt. Wallace A. Swanson (From 6 June)
B Co : Captain Cleveland R. Fitzgerald (WIA 6 June)
C Co : Captain Fred A. Hancock
2/502nd : Lt Col. Steve A. Chappuis
Hq Co : Captain James R. Martin, Jr
D Co : Captain William A. Bolton (WIA)
E Co : 1st/Lt. Fred O. Drennan
F Co : Captain Legrand K. Johnson
3/502nd : Lt Col. Robert G. Cole
Hq Co : Captain Raymond T. Smith
G Co : Captain Robert L. Clements (WIA 11 June)
H Co : Captain Cecil L. Simmons
I Co : Captain Ivan R. Hershner, Jr
506th Parachute Infantry Rgt : Colonel Robert Sink
Rgt Hq Co : Captain Edward A. Peters (KIA 6 June)
Rgt Service Co : Captain George L. Barton III
1/506th : Lt Col. William L. Turner (KIA 7 June)
Lt Col. James L. LaPrade (From 7 June)
Hq Co : Captain Lloyd E. Patch
A Co : Captain Melvin O. Davis
B Co : Captain Clovis Y. Tollett
C Co : Captain Knut H. Raudstein (WIA)
2/506th : Lt Col. Robert L. Strayer
Hq Co : Captain Lloyd J. Cox
D Co : Captain Jerre S. Grosse (KIA 8 June)
1st/Lt. Joseph F. McMillan (From 8 June)
E Co : 1st Lt Thomas Meehan III (KIA 6 June)
Captain Richard D. Winters (From 6 June)
F Co : Captain Thomas P. Mulvey
3/506th : Lt Col. Robert L. Wolverton (KIA 6 June)
Captain Robert F. Harwick (Acting 9 June)
Major Oliver M. Horton (From June)
G Co : Captain Harold Van Antwerp (KIA 6 June)
Captain Joseph B. Doughty (From 6 June)
H Co : Captain Robert F. Harwick (POW)
1st/Lt. Richard P. Meason (From 7 June)
I Co : Captain John T. McKnight (POW)
327th Glider Infantry Rgt : Colonel George S. Wear
Colonel Joseph H. "Bud" Harper (From 10 June)
Rgt Service Co : Captain William Webb
1/327th : Lt Col. Hartford T. Salee (WIA)
A Co : Captain Joseph B. Johnson
B Co : Captain Robert B. Trenner (KIA)
C Co : Captain Robert B.Galbraith
2/327th : Colonel Thomas J. Rouzie
E Co : Captain Ira E. Hamblin (KIA 12 June)
Captain Robert H. Lemon (From 12 June)
F Co : Captain James F. Adams
G Co : 1st/Lt. R. Hugh Evans
3/327th (1/401st) : Lt Col. Ray C. Allen
Hq Co : Captain Joe S. Brewster
A Co : Captain Eldridge Naugher (KIA 13 June)
Captain Taze R. Huntley
B Co : Captain Robert J. McDonald
C Co : Captain Preston E. Towns
101st Division Artillery : Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe
Hq Btry : Captain Williekneff
81st Airborne AA Bn : Major X. B. Cox, Jr
A Btry : Captain Thomas Moran
B Btry : Captain Alphonse Gueymard
C Btry : Captain William S. Lockman
D Btry : Captain William G. Joe
E Btry : Captain Gene B. Ganier
F Btry : Captain Robert L. Jackson
321st Glider FA Bn : Lt Col. Edward L. Carmichael
907th Glider FA Bn : Lt Col. Clarence F. Nelson
377th Parachute FA Bn : Lt Col. Benjamin Weisberg
Hq & Service Btry : Captain Charles E. Knight
A Btry : Captain Charles D. Aldrich
B Btry : Captain Grover C. Robinson
C Btry : Captain Marion A. Parrott
D Btry : Captain Fred C. Culpepper, Jr
101st Airborne Signal Co : 1st/Lt. William H. Breen, Jr
326th Airborne Medical Co : Major William Barfield
326th Airborne Engineer Bn : Lt Col. John C. Pappas (KIA 13 June)
Hq & Service Co : Captain Walter W. Hogrefe
A Co : Captain Jack L. Rogers
B Co : Captain Donald H. Froemke
C Co : Captain Francis Liberatori
