82nd Airborne

Formed as a division in August 1942, America's paratroopers first saw action in the invasion of Sicily in 1943. They gained undying fame with their drop into Normandy on the eve of D-Day. Later actions included Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and the final Allied advance into Germany, where the 82nd was chosen to occupy especially important positions. Each Spearhead title includes an evaluation of the units combat effectiveness as seen by the unit, its opponents and subsequent researchers, and a research section including a bibliography and a listing of museums, websites, re-enactment groups and memorials.