17th Airborne Division (United States)
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| 17th Airborne Division | |
|---|---|
 17th ABD Shoulder Sleeve Insignia |
|
| Active | April 15, 1943–September 16, 1945 |
| Country | USA |
| Allegiance | Inactivated |
| Branch | National Army |
| Type | Parachute Infantry |
| Nickname | Thunder from Heaven |
| Battles/wars | Battle of the Bulge, Operation Varsity |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Major General William Miles (Bud) Miley |
The 17th Airborne Division was a division in the United States Army during World War II. It was part of the First Allied Airborne Army. It was under the command of Major General William Miles (Bud) Miley. of Starkville, Mississippi.
[edit] Actions during World War II
It was activated on April 15, 1943 and arrived to Britain in August 1944. It was stationed there from August 25 to December 23, 1944.
From December 23 to December 25, elements of the Division were flown to the Reims area in France in spectacular night flights. These elements closed in at Mourmelon. After taking over the defense of the Meuse River sector from Givet to Verdun, 25 December, the 17th moved to Neufchâteau, Belgium, then marched through the snow to Morhet, relieving the 28th Infantry Division, 3 January 1945.
The Division entered the Ardennes campaign, 4 January to 9 January, at the Battle of Dead Man's Ridge. It captured several small Belgian towns and entered Flamierge, 7 January, but enemy counterattacks necessitated a withdrawal. During the battle for Flamierge, S/Sgt I.S. Jachman was killed - he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor[1]. However, constant pressure and aggressive patrolling caused the enemy to retreat to the Ourthe River. On 18 January, the Division relieved the 11th Armored Division at Houffalize, pushed enemy remnants from the Bulge, and seized Wattermal and Espeler, 26 January. Coming under the III Corps, the 17th turned toward Luxembourg, taking Eschweiler and Clervaux and clearing the enemy from the west bank of the Our River. Aggressive patrols crossed the river to probe the Siegfried Line defenses and established a limited bridgehead near Duisburg before being relieved by the 6th Armored Division, 10 February.
A period of reequipment and preparation began. Taking off from marshalling areas in France, the 17th dropped into Westphalia in the vicinity of Wesel, 24 March. Operation Varsity was the first airborne invasion over the Rhine into Germany itself. On the 25th, the Division had secured bridges over the Issel River and had entrenched itself firmly along the Issel Canal. Moving eastward, it captured Haltern, 29 March, and Münster, 2 April. The 17th entered the battle of the Ruhr Pocket, relieving the 79th Infantry Division. It crossed the Rhine-Herne Canal, 6 April, and set up a secure bridgehead for the attack on Essen. The "Pittsburgh of the Ruhr" fell, 10 April, and the industrial cities of Mülheim and Duisburg were cleared in the continuing attack. Military government duties began, 12 April, and active contact with the enemy ceased, 18 April. The Division came under the XXII Corps 24 April. It continued its occupation duties until 15 June 1945 when it returned to France for redeployment.
It was deactivated on September 16, 1945, but reactivated on July 3, 1948 as a training unit at Camp Pickett, Virginia, to absorb the influx of draftees occasioned by the Berlin Airlift crisis.
Units of the 17th Airborne Division during the war included:
- 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1 March 1945)
- 194th Glider Infantry Regiment
- 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (attached 27 August 1944 to 1 March 1945, thereafter assigned)
- 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment (replaced 517PIR on 10 March 1944)
- 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment (relieved 10 March 1944 and replaced by the 513PIR)
- HHB Division Artillery
- 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (75mm) (assigned 4 June 1945)
- 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (75mm)
- 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (75mm)
- 681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion (75mm)
- 139th Airborne Engineer Battalion
- 155th Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion
- 224th Airborne Medical Company
- Headquarters Special Troops
- Headquarters Company, 17th Airborne Division
- Military Police Platoon
- 717th Airborne Ordnance Maintenance Company
- 517th Airborne Signal Company
- 411th Airborne Quartermaster Company
- 17th Parachute Maintenance Company
- Reconnaissance Platoon
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. Combat Chronicle: 17th Airborne Division. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1950.
