The First Allied Airborne Army was activated on August 2, 1944 after the lessons of Sicily and Normandy showed that a closer relationship was needed between allied airborne forces, troop carrier units and other land, sea or air assets.
Commanded by Lieutenant General Lewis H. Brereton, it consisted of the U. S. XVIII Airborne Corps (17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions), all British airborne forces (1st and 6th Airborne Divisions and the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade), IX Troop Carrier Command (US) and Royal Air Force troop carrier units as required by the command.
The first combat operation of the First Allied Airborne Army was during Operation Market-Garden. This operation saw the insertion of the 1st (British), 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in addition to the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, into the Netherlands during September, 1944. Although the American 17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions played an instrumental role in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945, Operation Varsity was the next major operation conducted by the First Allied Airborne Army. During Varsity, the British 6th and the American 17th Airborne Divisions leaped into Germany and helped breach the last major obstacle to the heart of Germany – the Rhine River.
The Allied Airborne Army, is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the units that served in the First Allied Airborne Army.
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