List of Second World War British airborne battalions

1st Airborne Division paratroopers and gliders during the Battle of Arnhem.

The Second World War British airborne forces consisted of the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, the airlanding battalions and from 1944 the Special Air Service Brigade.^[1] Their formation followed the success of the German airborne operations, during the Battle of France. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, directed the War Office to investigate the possibility of creating a corps of 5,000 parachute troops.^[2]

On 22 June 1940, No. 2 Commando was turned over to parachute duties and on 21 November, re-designated the 11th Special Air Service Battalion, with a parachute and glider wing.^[3][4] It was 38 men of this battalion who on 10 February 1941 took part in Operation Colossus the first British airborne operation.^[5] In September, the battalion was re-designated the 1st Parachute Battalion.^[5] A request for volunteers for parachute duties provided enough men to form the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Parachute Battalions.^[5] The volunteers for glider-borne infantry were formed into airlanding battalions from December 1941.^[6]

The success of early British airborne operations prompted the War Office to expand the existing airborne force, setting up the Airborne Forces Depot and Battle School in Derbyshire in April 1942, and creating the Parachute Regiment.^[7] The fledgling force received another boost following the German success in the Battle of Crete, when the War Office issued a communiqué.

The Airborne Forces of the British Army consists of the parachute troops and glider-borne troops of all arms of service. Officers and men in any regiment or corps, may apply for transfer to a parachute or glider-borne unit of the Airborne Forces.^[8]

By the end of the war the British Army had raised seventeen parachute and eight airlanding battalions. These battalions served in seven parachute brigades, three airlanding brigades and three airborne divisions. Some British battalions served in the Far East with Indian Army formations. One Canadian parachute battalion served in a British parachute brigade and a Polish parachute brigade served with a British division.^[6]

Almost all the battalions played some part in British airborne operations. The first of which was a platoon sized operation in Italy. The second a company parachute landing in France. Building experience all the time these operations were followed by three battalion sized parachute landings in Tunisia. Parachute and airlanding brigades carried out landings in Sicily and the south of France. But the pinnacle of British airborne operations, were three divisional landings at Normandy, Arnhem and the River Rhine crossing in Germany.

The British airborne forces were easily identified by their distinctive uniform. The maroon beret,^[9] the airborne forces patch of Bellerophon riding the flying horse Pegasus and parachute wings worn on the right shoulder of trained parachutists.^{[10][nb 1]} On operations, airborne forces wore their own pattern steel helmet instead of the standard British Brodie helmet and after 1942, the camouflaged Denison smock was issued to airborne forces.^[13]

Battalions

Battalion	Active in role	Brigade	Division	Operations	Image
1st Parachute Battalion	1941–1945	1st Parachute Brigade[14]	1st Airborne Division[14]	Operation Torch[15] Operation Fustian[16] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[18]
1st Border Regiment	1941–1945	1st Airlanding Brigade[6]	1st Airborne Division[6]	Operation Ladbroke[19] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[20] Operation Doomsday[21]
1st Royal Ulster Rifles	1941–1945	1st Airlanding Brigade [nb 2] 6th Airlanding Brigade[23]	1st Airborne Division[6] 6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
No. 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment [nb 3]	1941–1945	Glider Pilot Brigade [nb 4]		Operation Tonga[27] Operation Mallard[28] Operation Market Garden[27] Operation Varsity[27] [nb 5]
1st SAS Regiment [nb 6]	1941–1945	SAS Brigade[1]		Operation Houndsworth[30] Operation Bulbasket[31] Operation Archway[32] [nb 7]
2nd Parachute Battalion	1941–1945	1st Parachute Brigade[14]	1st Airborne Division[14]	Operation Biting[33] Operation Torch[15] Operation Fustian[16] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[18]
2nd South Staffordshire Regiment	1941–1945	1st Airlanding Brigade[6]	1st Airborne Division[6]	Operation Ladbroke[19] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[20] Operation Doomsday[21]
2nd Ox and Bucks Light Infantry	1941–1945	1st Airlanding Brigade [nb 8] 6th Airlanding Brigade[23]	1st Airborne Division[22] 6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
2nd King's Own Royal Regiment	1945	14th Airlanding Brigade[34]	44th Indian Airborne Division[35]	Participated in Chindit operations.[36]
2nd Black Watch	1945	14th Airlanding Brigade[37]	44th Indian Airborne Division[37]	Participated in Chindit operations.[36]
No. 2 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment	1941–1945	Glider Pilot Brigade		Operation Freshman[27] Operation Ladbroke[38] Operation Fustian[39] Operation Market Garden[27] Operation Varsity[27]
2nd SAS Regiment	1943–1945	SAS Brigade[1]		Operation Loyton[40] Operation Archway[32] Operation Tombola[41] [nb 9]
3rd Parachute Battalion	1941–1945	1st Parachute Brigade[14]	1st Airborne Division[14]	Operation Torch[15] Operation Fustian[16] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[18]
4th Parachute Battalion	1942–1945	2nd Parachute Brigade[14] [nb 10]	1st Airborne Division[14]	Operation Fustian[16] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Rugby[43] Operation Manna[44]
5th Parachute Battalion [nb 11]	1942–1945	2nd Parachute Brigade[14] [nb 12]	1st Airborne Division[14]	Operation Fustian[16] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Rugby[43] Operation Manna[44]
6th Parachute Battalion [nb 13]	1942–1948	2nd Parachute Brigade[14] [nb 14]	1st Airborne Division[14]	Operation Fustian[16] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Rugby[43] Operation Manna[44]
7th Parachute Battalion [nb 15]	1942–1945	3rd Parachute Brigade [nb 16] 5th Parachute Brigade[23]	6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
7th King's Own Scottish Borderers	1943–1945	1st Airlanding Brigade[6]	1st Airborne Division[6]	Operation Ladbroke[19] Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[20] Operation Doomsday[21]
8th Parachute Battalion [nb 17]	1942–1945	3rd Parachute Brigade[23]	6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
9th Parachute Battalion [nb 18]	1942–1945	3rd Parachute Brigade[23]	6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
10th Parachute Battalion [nb 19]	1943–1944	4th Parachute Brigade[6]	1st Airborne Division[6]	Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[20]
11th Parachute Battalion [nb 20]	1943–1944	4th Parachute Brigade[6]	1st Airborne Division[6]	Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[20]
11th Special Air Service Battalion	1940–1941			Operation Colossus[49]
12th Parachute Battalion [nb 21]	1943–1945	5th Parachute Brigade[23]	6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
12th Devonshire Regiment	1943–1945	6th Airlanding Brigade[23]	6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Operation Varsity[26]
13th Parachute Battalion [nb 22]	1943–1945	5th Parachute Brigade[23]	6th Airborne Division[23]	Operation Tonga[24] Battle of the Bulge[25] Operation Varsity[26]
15th Parachute Battalion [nb 23]	1945	77th Indian Parachute Brigade[37]	44th Indian Airborne Division[37]	Participated in Chindit operations before converting to parachute duties.[36]
16th Parachute Battalion [nb 24]	1945	50th Indian Parachute Brigade[37]	44th Indian Airborne Division[37]	Participated in Chindit operations before converting to parachute duties.[36]
17th Parachute Battalion	1945	1st Parachute Brigade[53]	1st Airborne Division[54]
151st Parachute Battalion [nb 25]	1942	50th Indian Parachute Brigade[56]
156th Parachute Battalion [nb 26]	1942–1944	4th Parachute Brigade[6]	1st Airborne Division[6]	Operation Slapstick[17] Operation Market Garden[20]

Notes

Footnotes

1. The maroon beret has since become the symbol of airborne forces worldwide.^[11] The airborne forces patch was chosen by Lieutenant General Frederick Browning. The emblem was designed in May 1942 by Major Edward Seago, to be worn on the arms of all Airborne soldiers.^[12]
2. 1st Airlanding Brigade until May 1943, then transferred to the 6th.^[22]
3. Trained as soldiers first, the Glider Pilot Regiment consisted of two wings. Each wing was the equivalent of to a small infantry battalion.^[27]
4. The two wings of the Glider Pilot Regiment were trained to fight as a two battalion brigade.^[27]
5. Operation Dragoon and Operation Manna in the Mediterranean were carried out by an independent Glider Pilot Squadron the equivalent of an infantry company.^[29]
6. The SAS regiments became part of the British Airborne forces in March 1944.^[1]
7. Only operation while attached to airborne forces included
8. 1st Airlanding Brigade until May 1943, then transferred to the 6th.^[22]
9. Only operation while attached to airborne forces included
10. Part of the 1st Airborne Division until November 1943 when it became an independent parachute brigade^[42]
11. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 7th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.^[45]
12. Part of the 1st Airborne Division until November 1943 when it became an independent parachute brigade^[42]
13. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 10th Royal Welch Fusiliers.^[45]
14. 1st Airborne Division until November 1943 when it became an independent parachute brigade^[42]
15. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 10th Somerset Light Infantry.^[45]
16. Until August 1943 replaced by the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.^[46]
17. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 13th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.^[45]
18. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 10th Essex Regiment.^[45]
19. Formed in Indian from volunteers from the 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions, Royal Sussex Regiment. It was disbanded after the battle of Arnhem.^[47]
20. Formed from volunteers from the 156th Parachute Battalion. It was disbanded after the battle of Arnhem.^[48]
21. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 10th Green Howards.^[50]
22. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 2/4th South Lancashire Regiment.^[50]
23. Converted to a parachute battalion from the 13th King's Regiment (Liverpool).^[51]
24. Converted to a parachute battalion with volunteers from the 1st South Staffordshire Regiment.^[52]
25. Formed in India from volunteers of 27 British infantry battalions in India. The unit moved to Egypt and then to England and renamed 156 Parachute Bn and formed part of the 4th Parachute Brigade^[55]
26. Renumbered from the 151st Parachute Battalion in December 1942. It was disbanded after the battle of Arnhem.^[55]

Citations

1. Shott & McBride, p.12
2. Otway, p.21
3. Shott & McBride, p.4
4. Moreman, p.91
5. Guard, p.218
6. Guard, p.275
7. Harclerode, p.218
8. Peters, p.5
9. r Ferguson, p.16
10. Guard, p.227
11. King, p.185
12. "The Journal Of The Parachute Regiment And Airborne Forces". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Retrieved 18 March 2011.
13. Guard, p.232
14. Chant, P.270
15. Harclerode, p.209
16. Chant, p.58
17. Chant, p.254
18. Ferguson, p.22
19. Mitcham, p.73
20. Ferguson, p.23
21. Otway, p. 325
22. "1 Airlanding Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
23. Ferguson, p.16
24. Ferguson, p.17
25. Cole, p.154
26. Chant, p.317
27. Peters, p.10
28. Peters, p.15
29. Peters, p.41
30. Bowman, p.144
31. "Operation Bulbasket". Royal British Legion. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
32. Davies, p. 19
33. Chant, p.7
34. "14 Airlanding Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
35. "44 Indian Airborne Division". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
36. Wiest, pp.144–145
37. Conboy, p.5
38. Peters, p.11
39. Peters, p.14
40. "Obituary:Henry Duce". Daily Telegraph. London. 7 February 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
41. "Obituary for Major Roy Farran". London: Daily Telegraph. June 5, 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
42. "2 Parachute Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
43. Rottman, p.15
44. Chant, p.158
45. Horn, p.270
46. "3 Parachute Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
47. "10 Parachute Regiment". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
48. "11 Parachute Regiment". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
49. Harclerode, p.200
50. Gregory, p.53
51. "15 Parachute Regiment". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
52. "16 Parachute Regiment". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
53. "1 Parachute Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
54. "1 Airborne Division". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
55. "151 Parachute Regiment". Order of Battle. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
56. Conboy, p.3

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