Evening star., 1942-10-04
aiming Sky Shock Troops for Invasion
~ wide World.

~ wide World.
LoNDoN.-Thousands Of paratroops
the shock soldiers of the skies, will head
other thousands Of air-borne trops In
the spearhead Of invasion when the
Allies strike at German domination Of
Europe.
Tough American jumpers already have
Joined forces with the British air-borne
divisions. and both are practicing aerial
invasion tactics in a realistic fashion.
The British warriors of the air got their
first taste of action in the raid on
Bruneval, French Channel port between
lie Havre and Dieppe, and are using that
experience in training against the day
when they will swoop down out OF the
European sky and pave the way for the
a-borne hosts to follow.
Presence Of the booted United States
parachutists in England was announced
oficially September 1S from headquarters
Of 1t. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, COM
mander in chief Of the AEF in the Euro
pean theater.
Although the paratroops are the most
spectacular elements OF the air-borne
force, British stan officers believe troops
borne by glider and by transport aircraft
will play an equally important part in
the invasion.
Everything will be thrown into one
gigantic invasion effort and it is certain
that our people will bear major part in
the early fighting" one British staff
officer said.
Just how major" part air borne
troops will play is not known, but both
British and American officers OF the
winged fighters argue with the frenzy OF
zealots that only the number Of aircraft,
gliders and parachutes available should
limit their employment in the coming
invasion.
Wind Prevents Safe Landing.
Two factors influence the use of air
borne troops and must be kept con-
stantly in mind. One is the weather.
The second is the terrain attacked.
The best paratrooper in the world is
unable to land safely If the wind Is blow
ing IN gusts Of more than 35 miles an
hour. Landing under those conditions
the trooper, who drops II feet second,
would break one or both legs.
Troops borne by glider or transport
plare are relatively unaffected by the
weather but cannot land in mountainous
country or even rocky plain These two
considerations must be kept in mind
wherever the tactics of air-borne troops
are discussed.
The primary value of the air-borne
arm is, of course, its ability to hurdle
water barriers like the English Channel
and the strongest ground Notifications
such as those now held by the Germans
on the western coasts of Europe.
Faced with the task of transporting to
Europe hundreds of thousands of men,
their equipment, food and munitions, the
Allies inevitably must depend on air.
borne forces to isolate bridgeheads,
knock out and then occupy German air.
dromes and destroy internal communica-
tons. %
Hurdlins the Seacoast. =
The main job, however, lies in the AL
lied occupation Of at least one major
European port, a job vital to the land
ing of the large numbers of supply
troops. the great amount of equipment,
arms and munitions which must follow
the initial invasion force.
To isolate the port, air-borne soldiers
will have to be used. These must land
we'll behind the port to set up strong
points along the principal roads, cutting
railroad lines and meeting and holding
enemy reinforcements moving forward to
attack the invaders main forces.
II is a vital role and one which only
the soldiers of the sky will be able to
play for they alone can hurdle the sea-
coast and land inland.
The paratroops are the most carefully
selected and require the longest training
of all air-borne soldiers Their job is
half infantry, half airman and embodies
much that is new in armament and
tactics.
Strict medical examination in their
own units turns back those unfit for the
hazardous duty ahead. Most para
troopers are between % and 80, although
an older man with lot of will power"
can make the grade, officers say
The candidates go through a strenu-
ous training ordeal for three weeks,
aimed first at building up leg muscles
to stand the impact of landing and Sec
ondly at preparing their minds for the
moment when they drop for the first
time out OF the aircraft into the empty
air.
Building.Up Exercises.
Rigorous calisthenics build up their
muscles. Once paratroopers start them
they never stop. Veterans go through
taxing exercise every day as long as they
remain paratroops.
Exercises in which officers and en-