A List of Airborne Terms :

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AIRBORNE	A term used to identify soldiers, units, or equipment that are delivered to the battlefield by use of aircraft. In WWII, airborne meant both parachute and glider forces.
PARATROOPER	Soldier trained to jump using a parachute into combat.
COMBAT GLIDER	Half of an airborne Division, about 6,000 troops, went to battle on gliders. The American CG-4A Glider could carry 13 troops, or a combination of troops and artillery pieces, jeeps, trailers, supplies or engineering equipment. Usually towed by a C-47 airplane.
C-47A "SKYTRAIN"	Primary troop transport, jump, and glider tow aircraft of WWII. A military version of a DC-3, capable of carrying 18 combat equipped paratroopers and/or towing up two gliders. INFANTRY Soldiers trained to fight on foot. INFANTRY REGIMENT A combat formation of 1,800 soldiers carried to the battlefield by troop transport aircraft or glider. Easy Company was part of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, wich in turn was part of the 101st Airborne Division. AIRBORNE DIVISION By 1944 the U.S. Army had organized five airborne divisions, each comprised of three to four infantry regiments, three artillery battalions, an air defense/anti-tank battalion, a combat engineer battalion and supporting medical, military police and logistic units. Total strength was around 12,500 troops. JUMP WINGS Sterling silver parachute qualification badge awarded to soldiers after making five training jumps. Glider troops did not have a qualification badge until after D-Day. JUMP BOOTS Boots designed especially for paratroopers. They feature increased ankle support and distinctive "capped toe". D-DAY The date fixed for a major combat assault, such as the 6 June 1944 Allied attack on the Germans. BATTLE OF THE BULGE The last major offensive by the German Army in WWII. A counterattack against the Allied invasion in the Ardennes region of Belgium. So named because the German achieved only a bulge in the Allied lines before being repulsed. GREEN LIGHT As an airplane flies over the drop zone, a light by the door turns from red to green to alert the paratroopers that it is time to jump. DROP ZONE The designated area for paratroopers to land and assemble in combat.