{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-507th-parachute-infantry-regiment-unit-history-book-17th-82nd-airborne-division","title":"Original U.S. WWII 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment Unit History Book, 17th \u0026 82nd Airborne Division","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. This is a scarce original WWII unit history book documenting the early stateside organization and training of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Measuring approximately 9 ¼ x 12 ¼” and containing roughly 190 pages, the volume presents a largely pictorial record of the regiment before its later combat service with the 82nd and 17th Airborne Divisions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a scarce early history of the regiment, which later dropped into Normandy on D-Day with the 82nd Airborne Division and suffered over 200 casualties in just two days. They would eventually attach to the 17th Airborne Division and spearhead the division's assault in Operation Varsity. Fought at the Battle of the Bulge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than serving as a retrospective combat history, the book concentrates upon the regiment’s formative period in the United States. Its contents include photographs of training, military duties, recreation, and daily life, accompanied by brief narrative passages and captions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe volume contains posed and captioned company portraits, group photographs, and a full roster identifying members of the regiment. These named images provide an important research resource, particularly because many of the men pictured would later participate in the airborne landings in Normandy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the book’s more unusual images is a photograph of the regiment’s large Great Dane mascot, “Chung,” together with his handler.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe photographs provide detailed views of early U.S. airborne uniforms and equipment. Visible subjects include jump boots, insignia, training clothing, and the football style protective helmets used during parachute instruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated in July 1942 and underwent airborne training before deploying overseas. The regiment was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division in preparation for the Normandy invasion, replacing an organic regiment that had not yet recovered from earlier combat losses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn June 6th, 1944, the 507th parachuted into Normandy as part of the 82nd Airborne Division. Scattered drops placed many of its men west of the Merderet River and led to difficult fighting throughout the following days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe regiment was transferred to the 17th Airborne Division in August 1944. It subsequently fought during the Ardennes campaign and took part in Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine on March 24th, 1945. During that operation, the 507th served as one of the leading parachute elements of the 17th Airborne Division.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause this volume was devoted primarily to stateside training, it preserves the regiment at an important point before its major combat operations. The company portraits and complete roster allow individual soldiers to be connected with the 507th’s later service in Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Varsity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of identified company photographs, complete roster information, and early airborne equipment imagery, provides considerable historical and research value. Although it is not a combat history, the book documents the organization and personnel who formed the wartime 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and would be especially relevant to a collection focused on U.S. airborne forces, Normandy, or Operation Varsity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45432967823429,"sku":"ONSV26CNB124","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26CNB124__01.jpg?v=1785517795","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-507th-parachute-infantry-regiment-unit-history-book-17th-82nd-airborne-division","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}