Member-only story
The Last Major Combat Parachute Operation In History
When was it? And why did airborne operations decline over the years?
At one time in history, military planners believed that airborne operations were the future. The ability to put troops far behind enemy lines to sow chaos and confusion seemed like an ace in the hole. Specialized planes and gliders could be outfitted to insert troops almost anywhere within range of a simple airstrip. It looked like a no-brainer, and it seemed unbeatable. When looking at a map, all generals saw was the potential to put troops wherever they wanted.
Airborne troops were used heavily during World War II, but it quickly became apparent that the downsides often outweighed the upsides. Paratroopers were instrumental during the D-Day invasions, the Nazi invasion of Crete, and during Operation Market Garden, but they were rarely as effective as people first imagined. Paratroop drops were inherently chaotic. Men got separated and lost. Key supplies were often lost when they dropped in the wrong locations or were blown off course. Paratroopers suffered some of the highest casualties of the war, with glider pilots often suffering 50% casualty rates or more. Hitler was so traumatized by the losses that his airborne troops suffered at Crete that he grounded them for the remainder of the war. It simply wasn’t worth…
