101st Airborne Division - Screaming Eagles

Activated 15 Aug 1942  •  Entered Combat 6 Jun 1944 at D-Day  •  Days of Combat 214  •  Casualties 9,328

Chronological History of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II

Formation and Early Years

• August 16, 1942: The 101st Airborne Division was activated at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, under the command of Major General William C. Lee.

• September/October 1942: The division relocated to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where it commenced rigorous training under the Airborne Command. Initially, the division comprised of the 327th and 401st Glider Infantry Regiments and the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. Later, two new parachute infantry regiments joined the unit: the 501st and 506th.

• September/October 1943: The 101st Airborne arrives in England.

• February 5, 1944: Maj. Gen. William C. Lee, the first commander of the 101st and a key figure in the development of U.S. airborne forces, suffered a heart attack. He was subsequently relieved of command and returned to the United States.

• March 14, 1944: Brig. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor, former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery commander, took command of the 101st.

June – July 1944, Normandy, Operation Overlord

• June 6, 1944: The 101st Airborne Division's first combat experience was during the D-Day landings in Normandy. As part of VII Corps, they parachuted into Normandy before the main amphibious landings to secure critical positions west of Utah Beach, disrupt German defenses, and facilitate the inland advance of the 4th Infantry Division. Their objectives included capturing causeway bridges behind Utah Beach, seizing the la Barquette lock to prevent flooding, and establishing bridgeheads on the Douve River. They encountered significant challenges due to scattered drops caused by factors like anti-aircraft fire and cloud cover. Despite these difficulties, they successfully achieved most of their objectives.

• June 7-13, 1944: After landing, the 101st faced continued fighting in Normandy, playing a vital role in the success of the Allied invasion and the subsequent breakout from the beachhead. The 101st focused on capturing Carentan, a strategically important town controlling vital crossings of the Douve River. This action was crucial for linking the American forces that had landed on Utah Beach with those on Omaha Beach. The division launched converging attacks, battling through difficult terrain and fierce resistance from well-positioned German defenders. During this battle, elements of the 101st made contact with the advancing 29th Infantry Division, successfully linking the two beachheads.

• June 13, 1944: A German panzer grenadier division counterattacked near Carentan, aiming to split the Allied beachheads once again. The 101st, with support from elements of the 2nd Armored Division, repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the Germans. This victory secured the link between the beachheads and allowed further Allied advances inland.

• June 15, 1944: The 101st was transferred to VIII Corps.

• June 27, 1944: The 101st was relieved by the 83rd Infantry Division.

• June 29, 1944: The 101st was sent to Cherbourg, relieving the 4th Infantry Division. They served as a First Army reserve until mid-July.

• Mid-July 1944: The 101st returned to England for rest, replenishment, and training following their combat operations in Normandy.

• Mid-July to August 1944: With the Allied advance in France progressing rapidly, there was no immediate need for further airborne operations. They focused on training and preparation for their next mission, which would ultimately be Operation Market Garden in September 1944.

September – November 1944, Operation Market Garden

• September 1944: The 101st, under the command of the newly formed First Allied Airborne Army, participated in Operation Market Garden, a major airborne operation in the Netherlands.

• September 17-22, 1944: The 101st executed a daylight jump into the Netherlands. Their mission was to secure bridges and the main highway leading from Eindhoven to Arnhem, paving the way for the advance of the British Second Army. The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment landed near Veghel; the 506th PIR near Son; and the 502nd PIR, in reserve, near the 506th. 53 of 70 gliders successfully landed without accident, carrying 252 men and 32 jeeps.

• September 18-19, 1944: The 501st successfully secured Veghel and the surrounding bridges. The 506th cleared the town of Zon. The Germans demolished the Son bridge, but a small footbridge was erected. The 502nd captured St. Oedenrode and its bridge across the Dommel River. The 506th liberated Eindhoven.

• September 20-21, 1944: After achieving most of its initial objectives, the division was assigned to keep the road north to Arnhem–“Hell’s Highway”–open. The 101st fended off counterattacks as Germans attempt to cut the road.

• September 23 - October 4, 1944: The 101st continued to face German counterattacks and defend their positions along Hell's Highway.

• October 5, 1944: With the British troops now positioned along the highway, the 101st was moved north to defensive positions on "The Island," a narrow strip of land north of Nijmegen located between the lower Rhine and Waal Rivers.

• October 5 – November 1944: The 82nd Airborne Division joined the 101st on the "Island". Both divisions endured heavy fighting and sustained significant casualties defending this vital sector.

• November 1944: The 101st was relieved from their positions on the "island" and moved back to Mourmelon, France for rest and refitting.

December 1944 - January 1945, The Battle of the Bulge

• December 16, 1944: The Germans launched a major offensive in the Ardennes Forest, creating a bulge in the Allied lines.

• December 17-18, 1944: The 101st Airborne Division, along with the 82nd Airborne, was resting in Mourmelon, France, when the Germans attacked. With the situation deteriorating, the 101st was ordered to Bastogne, a strategically important road junction in Belgium.

• December 18, 1944: The 101st Airborne Division traveled by truck to Bastogne, Belgium, arriving that evening. The 101st was tasked with holding the city, a critical road junction for the German advance. General Taylor was on leave, so Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe took temporary command.

·       December 19, 1944: In addition to the 101st Airborne Division, General McAuliffe took control of several other units in Bastogne.

• December 20 - 27, 1944: The 101st and attached units found themselves surrounded in Bastogne. They faced relentless attacks from multiple German divisions, enduring heavy artillery bombardment and near-constant combat.

• Supplies, especially ammunition, were dwindling, and poor weather conditions made resupply by air challenging.

• December 22, 1944: General McAuliffe famously replied, "Nuts!" when presented with a German demand to surrender.

• December 26, 1944: The 4th Armored Division, part of General Patton's Third Army, broke through to Bastogne, relieving the 101st.

• December 27, 1944: General Taylor returned and reassumed command of the division.

• December 27, 1944 - January 17, 1945 For 22 days, the 101st held Bastogne while other Third Army units fought to eliminate the German salient.

• January 18, 1945: The 101st was moved to the Alsace region, serving in the Seventh Army line and holding defensive positions until late February.

Final Months of the War

• Late February 1945: The division was relieved by the 36th Infantry Division and returned to Mourmelon, France for training; it was placed back under First Allied Airborne Army control.

• March 1, 1945: The 506th PIR officially became an organic element of the 101st.

• Mid-March 1945: General Eisenhower awarded the 101st the Distinguished Unit Citation (now the Presidential Unit Citation) for their heroic stand at Bastogne.

• Late March/Early April 1945: The 101st, except for the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, moved to positions at the Ruhr Pocket, taking over the 97th Infantry Division’s sector on April 4th.

• Late April/Early May 1945: The 101st moved toward the Memmingen region. On April 25, arrived near Merchingen. The last combat mission, assigned to the 506th, was to capture Berchtesgaden, Hitler's mountain retreat. They entered Berchtesgaden on May 5 and lost three men, the last combat casualties of the 101st.

• August 1, 1945: The 42nd Infantry Division relieved the 101st. The 101st moved back to France.

• November 30, 1945: The 101st Airborne Division was inactivated in France.