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World War II saw the most concentrated use of airborne operations,
with five Army divisions dedicated to using this new method
of putting men and equipment on the battlefield. The 11th,
13th, 17th, 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions spearheaded many
operations, and were joined by early special operations soldiers
from units such as the Rangers, OSS, and the 1st Special Service
Force. Conventional American airborne forces from WWII until
1948 were composed roughly of equal parts paratroopers and
glider troops. Gliders were used to bring soldiers and equipment
including jeeps, engineering and artillery pieces, to the battlefield.
Places such as Sicily, Normandy, and Corregidor became legendary
proving grounds for the paratroopers, glider troops, and special
operations soldiers, and were the building blocks of victory
in Europe and the Pacific.
On display at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum
is a replica of part of a French village from the Normandy
Invasion of June 1944. As visitors walk the streets of the
village, they are surrounded by images of war. From the bullet
holes in the stucco walls to the C-47 "Skytrain" flying
low overhead with jumper in the door, the museum transports
the visitor to war torn occupied France at the dawn of Europe's
liberation.
The visitor is then transported to the Pacific-Asiatic theater
of operation, immersed in excitement and uncertainty as they
prepare for combat in the thick jungle. Video displays here
and throughout the gallery show original newsreel footage and
other scenes of American troops in action.
One of the most rare and impressive displays is that of a completely
restored WACO CG-4A glider. Gliders were used extensively in
the war, and the largest operations used them by the thousands.
The gliders were very fragile, had little peacetime use, and
have not been used by the military since 1950-51. For these reasons
there are only a handful of gliders left in the world, and few
of these have been properly restored. The museum's glider is
the finest example in existence.
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