Every U.S. Army Airborne Division and What It’s Known For

Do you know every U.S. Army Airborne Division? Regarding Army units, the Airborne divisions are among the best of the best. Today, we're going to take a closer look at a group of folks who willingly throw themselves out of perfectly good airplanes for the fun of it.

The most famous U.S. Army Airborne Division is the Screaming Eagles or the 101st Airborne Division. Formed in 1918, the 101st has been a key component of every major Army offensive over the last 80 years. During the Invasion of Normandy in 1944, the Screaming Eagles gained renown for its actions, when paratroopers went behind enemy lines to soften targets.

The 11th Airborne Division was activated originally in 1943 and is one of the few airborne units to be deployed to the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. Known as the Arctic Angels, this is an airborne combat unit that gained its fame during the Phillippines Campaign during the Second World War.

The Golden Unicorns are a defunct airborne division from the United States Army. The 13th never had a chance to prove itself in combat, coming too late to some of the major operations in the last years of the Second World War. It would be deactivated in 1946.

With a nickname like the Golden Talons, you'd have great expectations of the 17th Airborne Division. Activated originally in 1943, the 17th saw action during the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity. The 17th was deactivated permanently in 1949.

If the 101st wasn't around the 82nd would be the defacto most famous airborne division in the United States Army. However, the 82nd has seen combat in every major war since the First World War, gaining fame and renown during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Still, the division's exploits could easily fill a separate list with its most famous battles.

Not every airborne unit is intended for serious combat operations. The 100th was established originally as an infantry division before transitioning to airborne operations before finally ending up in its current role as a training unit. Century saw combat in the European Theater of the Second World War, facing heavy action during the Battle of the Bulge.

Activated originally in 1946, the Golden Griffins are now a training division. During the Gulf War and War on Terror, the 108th served as an infantry division. From 1946 to 1956 it did serve as an airborne division, despite seeing zero action during the Korean War.

The 80th Training Division is one of the oldest divisions on this list, originally activating in 1917. As an infantry division, it saw heavy combat in both World Wars. It would serve as an airborne division from 1946 to 1959 when it was subsequently reorganized as a training division.

The Second World War saw all manner of subterfuge on both sides. Out of this deception was the concept of phantom divisions. However, the 21st technically never existed, despite undergoing operations from June to November of 1944. The 21st was comprised of the 521st Parachute Infantry Regiment, the 277th Glider Infantry Regiment, and the 278th Glider Infantry Regiment.

The 6th Airborne Division is another phantom unit, devised for Operation Vendetta during the Second World War. Much like the 21st, there isn't a 6th Airborne Division. Instead, it was cobbled together from the 517th Regimental Combat Team, the 460th Field Artillery Battalion, and the 550th Airborne Battalion. However, the ruse was dropped in July of 1944, but by then D-Day was already completed.