Parachute Brigades begin operating with battalion-size parachute assaults and operations in North Africa in 1942 that are expanded to division size efforts in Sicily and Italy in 1943.
Operation FRESHMAN was an operation mounted during the night of 19/20 November 1942, using gliders and airborne Royal Engineers to sabotage German production of the atomic bomb at a heavy water plant at Vermork in Norway.
about Norway (Operation Freshman)
The 1st Airborne Division landed unopposed at Taranto during Operation AVALANCHE, the invasion of Italy on 9th September 1943.
about Italy
The newly formed 1st British airborne Division spearheaded Operation HUSKY the Allied amphibious assault on Sicily in the summer of 1943. The 1st Air Landing Brigade attacked the Ponte Grande bridge on 9th July near Syracuse and the 1st Parachute Brigade the Primosole bridge in view of Mount Etna, four days later.
about Sicily (Operation Husky)
1ST Parachute Brigade was fully operational for Operation TORCH, which began with amphibious landings by the Allied 1st Army on 8th November 1942. Employed initially in the classic airborne role, dropping ahead of advancing ground forces until link-up, they were later employed in the infantry role, earning for themselves the nickname the ‘Red Devils’.
about North Africa (Operation Torch)
Macedonia (Operation Bessemer)
In August 2 PARA were deployed with 16 Air Assault Brigade to Macedonia on Op
about Macedonia (Operation Bessemer)
Iraq (Operation Telic)
During February 2003 16 Air Assault Brigade formed part of the massive build up of
about Iraq (Operation Telic)
Kosovo (Operation Agricola)
In May 1999 1 PARA was directed to prepare for possible operations in Kosovo following
about Kosovo (Operation Agricola)