What are your thoughts of the structure of the 101st airborne division on D-Day? Did you realise there were so many areas of the division? Welcome back! If you are new here make sure to hit subscribe to expand your knowledge on Military History and join the growing Premier History Community!
A major omission in this description of the 101st Airborne Division on D Day is the 326 Airborne Engineer Bn. The 326th AEB basically had three companies. A company had 3 platoons. 2 were glider borne engineers and 1 platoon was air droppable. B Company had the same structure. C Company was entirely airdroppable ie paratroop engineers. For the DDay drop, the paratroop engineers from A,B and C company were assigned to the infantry regiments to support the demolition of bridges. For all intents and purposes, these engineers who were as widely dispersed as the infantry paratroopers fought alongside them as additional infantryman as they are more than capable. The famous photo of 101st paratroopers painting their faces up as American Indians actually shows members of the 326th AEB readily identifiable by the large “E” emblem on the side of their combat helmets.
Very informative! I watched band of brothers but never realized how complex the 101st airborne division had to be structured. another great documentary by Premier History!
Yes. Typical of US Army divisions it was a combined arms fighting team and could sustain itself for quite a bit of time independently. The structure of the airborne divisions in particular was something that fluctuated over time. The number of parachute and glider infantry regiments varied with some divisions having more glider infantry than parachute infantry. The numbered regiments that were assigned were also often switched in an out. The 507th for example was assigned to the 82nd Abn Div on D Day to replace the 504th PIR. Later the 507th PIR would be assigned to the 17th Airborne Division.
Both this and your 82nd Airborne Division videos give the wrong impression about both Divisions on D-Day. There were two major errors in your organization. First, in your breakdown of the Infantry Platoon, you state that the platoon had FOUR squads, three Rifle Squads and a Weapons Squad. While the strength given was correct, the Platoon only had TWO Rifle Squads, in addition to the Weapons Squad according to the most appropriate Table of Organization (T/O&E 7-37 of 1944). Second, in not breaking down the Glider Infantry Regiments, you make it seem as if the 327th had three Battalions, it did not. Glider Infantry Battalions were organized almost identically to that of the regular Infantry Battalion, but the Regiments only had two Battalions. Hence, the reason why, prior to D-Day, the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment of the 101st was split, with the 1st Battalion joining the 327th Infantry Regiment as it's 3rd Battalion, and the 2nd/401st joining the 325th as it's 3rd Battalion (I don't know what happened to HHC, 401st Glider Infantry). The lineage of the 325th and 327th Infantry Regiments recognize and reflect those two battalions.
Maybe in the American army, in the British Army the bandsmen were all trained medics and the military police are responsible for upholding military discipline, route marking and also guarding prisoners of war. Plus every member of the British Army is a soldier first and a tradesman second regardless of job.
Cook, admin people and band members all received basic training and parachute or glider training. Ask any of them who were ate Bastogne. They weren’t playing “Stars and Stripes Forever”. They were pressed into service and fought as infantrymen! Same as all the “clerks and jerks”!
![101st Airborne Helmet Markings [Explained]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZRTWwjv1fnI/mqdefault.jpg)
What are your thoughts of the structure of the 101st airborne division on D-Day? Did you realise there were so many areas of the division?
Welcome back! If you are new here make sure to hit subscribe to expand your knowledge on Military History and join the growing Premier History Community!
A major omission in this description of the 101st Airborne Division on D Day is the 326 Airborne Engineer Bn. The 326th AEB basically had three companies. A company had 3 platoons. 2 were glider borne engineers and 1 platoon was air droppable. B Company had the same structure. C Company was entirely airdroppable ie paratroop engineers. For the DDay drop, the paratroop engineers from A,B and C company were assigned to the infantry regiments to support the demolition of bridges. For all intents and purposes, these engineers who were as widely dispersed as the infantry paratroopers fought alongside them as additional infantryman as they are more than capable. The famous photo of 101st paratroopers painting their faces up as American Indians actually shows members of the 326th AEB readily identifiable by the large “E” emblem on the side of their combat helmets.
Can you do the structure of the 502nd Parachute infantry regiment
Very informative! I watched band of brothers but never realized how complex the 101st airborne division had to be structured.
another great documentary by Premier History!
Thanks for the support Comrade Ivan, much appreciated!
Yes. Typical of US Army divisions it was a combined arms fighting team and could sustain itself for quite a bit of time independently. The structure of the airborne divisions in particular was something that fluctuated over time. The number of parachute and glider infantry regiments varied with some divisions having more glider infantry than parachute infantry. The numbered regiments that were assigned were also often switched in an out. The 507th for example was assigned to the 82nd Abn Div on D Day to replace the 504th PIR. Later the 507th PIR would be assigned to the 17th Airborne Division.
Hot tip, turn the playback speed to 1.25 and it's a normal passed narration....
Thank you! This made me damp in the cellar.
Thank you! I knew my Grandfather was in Fox company of the 501st but was never sure what battalion that was.
Both this and your 82nd Airborne Division videos give the wrong impression about both Divisions on D-Day. There were two major errors in your organization. First, in your breakdown of the Infantry Platoon, you state that the platoon had FOUR squads, three Rifle Squads and a Weapons Squad. While the strength given was correct, the Platoon only had TWO Rifle Squads, in addition to the Weapons Squad according to the most appropriate Table of Organization (T/O&E 7-37 of 1944). Second, in not breaking down the Glider Infantry Regiments, you make it seem as if the 327th had three Battalions, it did not. Glider Infantry Battalions were organized almost identically to that of the regular Infantry Battalion, but the Regiments only had two Battalions. Hence, the reason why, prior to D-Day, the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment of the 101st was split, with the 1st Battalion joining the 327th Infantry Regiment as it's 3rd Battalion, and the 2nd/401st joining the 325th as it's 3rd Battalion (I don't know what happened to HHC, 401st Glider Infantry). The lineage of the 325th and 327th Infantry Regiments recognize and reflect those two battalions.
Can u make vid on weapons & equipment of div
Awesome!
Glad you liked the video Andy!
For paratroopers structure 2:02
Thank you!
Can you do the roman emperor rank system simplified as I can't find any ranks for the roman empire that makes sense
Ok
Thanks PYeitme
band & mps what a waste of combat
Maybe in the American army, in the British Army the bandsmen were all trained medics and the military police are responsible for upholding military discipline, route marking and also guarding prisoners of war. Plus every member of the British Army is a soldier first and a tradesman second regardless of job.
MPs provide rear area security, guard command posts, and escort supply convoys while in combat.
I dunno about World War Two, but during the Korean War, band members were used as Medical Litter Bearers.
Cook, admin people and band members all received basic training and parachute or glider training. Ask any of them who were ate Bastogne. They weren’t playing “Stars and Stripes Forever”. They were pressed into service and fought as infantrymen! Same as all the “clerks and jerks”!