82nd Airborne

The All-American's courageous campaign in Normandy !

The 82nd Airborne Division's story is long and glorious. Engaged as of the First World War as a simple infantry division, these men rapidly distinguished themselves on the battlefield. The division's renown is not only owed to the bravery of Sergeant Alvin York, but also to its total commitment during combat in Saint-Mihiel and Argonne.

During the Second World War, the division took on a new face as an airborne division, entering into a brand-new era, as it made its first combat jump during the Allied invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943.

It was engaged in Italy again in support of the Salerno bridgehead, where it made its second operational jump, hence confirming its strategic role in Allied operations.

Transferred to England in February 1944, the division prepared for a mission of unprecedented scale and importance. It began training for what was to become the greatest military operation of all time : Operation Overlord.