HISTORY OF MILITARY OPERATIONAL PARACHUTE JUMPS.

1 HISTORY OF MILITARY OPERATIONAL PARACHUTE JUMPS. It is necessary to clarify the inclusions and omissions of this HISTORY . The listed PARACHUTE drops include all that were made by uniformed and organized bodies of troops. The title of " OPERATIONAL Jumps" is deliberate. These are not training or exercise jumps but they do include rescue PARACHUTE jumps and reinforcement jumps into what was enemy territory. The term "combat jump " has been purposely avoided, as it seems impossible to define a 'combat' jump from a 'reinforcement' jump . Also included in the OPERATIONAL PARACHUTE jump section are the numerous jumps made in civilian dress by personnel of the various intelligence agencies, such as the British SOE, USA OSS and French BCRA and BCRAA, and other intelligence organizations. Not included are all landings by glider forces, although these were an integral part of the major airborne operations during WW-II.

2 Where available, the insertion by PARACHUTE of missions to support the Resistance and Parisians are included, but some information may still not be available. The dates and locations of the drop zones are the best that can be found in the multitude of records, and in several operations there is a variance in the records from different sources to include the actual number of jump participants. These is a variance in the date of the drop, which may be attributed to some records indicating the date the aircraft departed and other records, such as this, will reflect the date of the actual jump . Many of the OPERATIONAL jumps that involved personnel from different nations sometimes had different Operation/Mission names given by the countries to the same mission, which may have resulted in some duplication in these records. In the case of many of the agent type drops, additional details, name, etc., are available in records but there is insufficient space here to present the full, fascinating story of each operation.

3 One of the better sources of the World War II agent infiltrations, land, air and sea, can be found in the following site: While this is an exhaustive record of MILITARY OPERATIONAL PARACHUTE Jumps, it is felt/known there are others which are not recorded here, such as have been recently conducted in Afghanistan. If any reader has information on additional OPERATIONAL jumps, please contact us so the information can be added to this HISTORY . DATE DROP ZONE NATION UNIT UNIT OPERATION TYPE OF OPERATION 1939 February Nr Summa, Finland Russia Small Groups Cut Lines of Communications 29 November Nr. Petsamo, Finland Russia Small Groups Cut Lines of Communications 1940 14 April Dombas, Norway Germany 1/FJR 1 Cut Road 19 April Masnedo, Denmark Germany 4/FJR 1 Capture Bridge 19 April Aaborg, Denmark Germany 4/FJR 1 Seize Airfield 19 April Stavanger, Norway Germany 3/FJR 1 Seize Airfield 10 May Dordrech, Holland Germany FJR 1 & FJR 2 Invasion Holland 10 May Waalhaven, Holland Germany FJR 1 & FJR 2 Invasion Holland 10 May Rotterdam, Holland Germany FJR 1 & FJR 2 Invasion Holland 10 May Hague, Holland Germany FJR 1 & FJR 2 Invasion Holland 18-29 May Narvik, Norway Germany 1/FJR 1 Reinforcement 29 June Bolgrad, Romania Russia 204th Abn Bde Capture Bolgrad City 30 June Izmail, Bessarabia Russia 201st Abn Bde Occupy Town 1941 16 Janusary Drogomysl, Poland Poland SOE 10 February Tragino, Italy 38 men, 11 SAS Bn Colossus Destroy Aqueduct 13 February Saint-Cirq, (Dordogne)

4 , France France BCRA team 14 March Vannes, France France 1 CCP (5 men) Savannah Ambush German Pilot transport 26 April Corinth, Greece Germany FJR 2 Capture Bridge 30 April Cephalonia, Greece Italy 5 Co, 2 Para Bn Occupation 11 May Mimizan, France France 3 men, BCRA Josephine B 13 May Chateauroux, France Canada 2 men, SOE Autogiro A 14 May Bordeaux, France France 1 CCP Josephine B Destroy Power Station 20 May Crete Germany 1 Sturm Regt, FJR 2, FJR 3 Capture Island of Crete 21 May Maleme Crete Germany 4 Para Co, 7 Anti-Tank Co. Reinforcement 12 June Chateauroux, France Belgium 1 man, Belgium Network Ali Organize Escape route 21 June Parnu, Estonia Germany Brandenburg Raid 25 June Bogdanon, USSR Germany 30 men, Abn Plt, 4th Co, Brandenburg Barbarossa Capture 2 Rail Bridges 5 July Caen, France France 2 men, Free French Para Co.

5 Torture Airfield Sabotage 9 July Mortain, Manche, Fr 3 men,SOE Autogyro C 9 July Estonia Germany Brandenburg Erna Raid 14 July Gorki, Russia Russia 64 men, 10 Co, 4 Bn, 214 Abn Bde 19 July Nr. Tehran, Iran Germany Brandenburg Amina Sabotage Oil Fields 21 July Taurogen, Lithuania Germany 3 Plt, Branden. Cut Lines of Communications 28 July Estonia Estonia (G) Erna 1, Erna II Assist Resistence 31 July Puerto Bolivar, Ecuador Peru Air Force 20+ men Seize Main Supply Base, Peru-Ecuador War 5 August Saint-D sir , Montlu on, France 2 men, SOE Vaillant Fa ade 22 August Demidov, Russia Russia 12 Co, 4 Para Bn, 214 Abn Bde 22 August Dukhoushhina, Russia Russia 11 Co, 4 Para Bn, 214 Abn Bde 25 August Torop, Russia Russia 10 Co, 4 Para Bn, 214 Abn Bde End of Aug Odessa, Russia Russia Small Group, 3 Abn Corps Reinforcement 2 September Toulouse SW France Poland 1 man, SOE Adjudicate 6 September Argenton-sur-Creuse, France , France 6 men, SOE Draftsman 20 September Yugoslavia , Yugo SOE Team Bullseye 21 September Shitsli, Russia Russia 23 men, Navy paras Diversion 4 October Caslav, Czech Czech (W)

6 1 man Percentage 10 October Beleymas Lagudal, , France 4 men, SOE Corsican France 4 November Le Moulin Nick Pernot, France France 1 man, BCRA 7 November Near Warsaw, Poland Poland 3 men Ruction Cadre Resistance 17 November Timini area, Libya SAS Raid Airfields 14 December Klin area, Russia Russia 43men, Starchak Det, AF paras. Block retreat 23 December Kerch, Russia Russia Small Groups, Navy paras Reconnaissance scouts 28 December Prague, Poland Czech (W) 2 men Anthropoid Heydrich Assassination 28 December Kolin, Czech Czech (W) 3 men Silver A Intelligence Collection 28 December Plzen, Czech Czech (W) 2 men Silver B Intelligence Collection 31 December Ak-Monay, Kerch, Rus. Russia Bn, 2 Abn Corps Cordon 1942 January Iran Germany, India 100 men, Branden. Indian Legion To India for Sabotage 1 January Eygali res,St-R my-de-Provence,, France France 2 men, BCRA Mainmast 2 January Medyn area, Russia Russia 348 men, 1 Bn, 201 Abn Bde Capture Bridge 3 January Medyn area, Russia Russia 202 men, Starchak Det, AF paras.

7 Capture Airfield 11 January Menado, Celebes Japan 3 Co, 1 Spec Naval Land Unit Capture Airfield 18/19 January Vyazma, Russia Russia 642 men, 1&2 Bn, 201 Abn Bde Establish Base 27/29 January Vyazma, Russia Russia 2 & 3 Bn., 8 Abn Bde Reinforcement 29 January Ozerechnia, Russia Russia 540 men, 8th Abn Bde 30 January Ozerechnia, Russia Russia 120 men, 8th Abn Bde 31 January Ozerechnia, Russia Russia 640 men, 8th Abn Bde 4 February Yugoslavia 2 men, SOE Hydra 5 February Sarajevo, Yugoslavia , Royal Yugo Force 133 Mission Disclaim Liaison 14/15 Februar Palemban, Sumarta Japan 460 men, Army Para Bn Seize Refineries 16 February Rzhev, Russia Russia 4 Bn, 204 Abn Bde Reinforcement 17-23 Februar Vyazma, Russia Russia 4 Bn, 8 Abn Bde; 9 & 214 Abn Bde Making up 4th Abn Corps 21-23 Februar Koepang, Timor Japan 700 men, Army Paras Cut Lines of Communication 27 February Bruneval, France 120 men, C Co, 2 Para Bn. Biting Capture Radar equipment 3 March Montellier, France Russia 3 people, NKVD Rum Estab wireless network 27 March Gbely, Czech Czech (W) 2 men Zinc 27 March Telc, Czech Czech (W) 3 men Outdistance Plant Rebecca Beacon 15 April Vyazma, Russia Russia 23 and 211 Abn Bde Reinforcement 27 April Krivoklat, Czech Czech (W) 3 men Bivouac Sabotage 27 April Krivoklat, Czech Czech (W) 2 men Bioscope Sabotage 27 April Krivoklat, Czech Czech (W) 1 man Steel A 29 April Trebon, Czech Czech (W) 3 men Intransitive Sabotage 29 April Trebon, Czech Czech (W) 2 men Tin Assassinate Propaganda Minister 5 May Bourges, France France 3 men, Free French Para Co.

8 Destroy Radio Station 29 May Vyazma, Russia Russia 23 and 211 Abn Bde Reinforcement 29 May Issoudun, France France 2 men, SOE Chestnut 21 June Harderwijk, Netherland Russia 1 man, NKVD Barsac 24 June Liege, Belgium Russia 1 man, NKVD Burgundy 1 July Sind, India India One Co, 152 Indian Para Bn Assault Rebels 1 July Saint-L onard de Noblat, East Limoges 1 man, SOE Pimento 3 July Myitkina area, Burma India 11 men, 153 Gurka Para Bn Puddle Intelligence 25 July Coursages, France France 3 men, BCRA Mackerel August Grozny, Cau., Russia German 25 men, Brandenburg Schamil Occupy Refinery August Hukawng, Burma India 1 man, Doctor Assist Refugees 13 August Fort Hertz, Burma India 11 men, 153 Gurka Para Bn Firepump Prepare Airstrip 25 August Chedign, Loire, France France 1 man, SOE Detective 29 August Bosnia Border, Yugo 3 men, Force 133 Join Team with Mihailovic 31 August Konosa, Belarussia Estonia 7 men Vehnianen Recon. (Gp from Finnish Army) 1 September Konosa, Belarussia Estonia 6 men Vehnianen Reconnaissance Reinforcement 12 September Sardinia USA, OSS Team Negotiations 24 September St Laurent Nouan, France France 2 women, SOE Monkeypuzzle 25 September Loyettes, Ain France 1 man, BCRA Vesta 26 September Montenegro, Yugo.

9 , Yugo. 4 men, Force 133 Provide Commo to Partisans 30 September Nr. Roumeli, Greece Force 133 Reinforce Partisans October Nazira, Burma Japan 18 men Cut lines of communication 1 October La Fert Sous Jouarre, Fr. France 2 men, SOE Prosper/Physician Organize networks 10 October Delphi, Greece 8 men, Force 133 Destroy Viaduct 11 October Norway 4 men, SOE (Norwegian Section) Bittern Assassination team 18 October Nr. Vemork, Hardangervidda, Norway Norway 4 men, Company Linge Swallow Prepare for Glider Raid - Operation Freshman 19 October Bear Island, Arctic Germany 4 men Wetterstaffel 5 Establish Weather Station 23 October Czech (W) 3 men Antimony 24 October Maikop, Cau., Russia Russia 40 men, Navy paras Raid Airfield 31 October St Laurent Nouan, France France 2 men, SOE Monkeypuzzle 8 November Tafaraoui, Morocco USA 556 men, 509 PIB Torch Seize Airfield 12 November Bone, Alogeria 3 Para Bn Seize Airfield 15 November Youks les Bains, Algeria USA 350 men, 509 PIB Torch Seize Airfield 16 November Souk el Arba, Algeria 1 Para Bn Seize Crossroads 18 November Blind, near Beaune la Rolande, France , Canada 3 men, SOE 18 November St Laurent Nouan, France , France 2 men, SOE Monkeypuzzle 21 November Gafsa, Tunisia Germany Engineer Plt, Para Bn Capture Airfield and Petrol Dump 29 November Deplenne, Tunisia 2 Para Bn Seize Airfield December Tunisia German 3d Co, Brandenberg Attack Bridges and Airfields 17 December Epi Rus, Greece 1 man, Force 133 Contact Resistance 24 December.

10 El Djem, Tunisia USA, France 30 men, Hqs Co, 509 PIB; 2 French Destroy Bridge 25 December Kolasin, Yugoslavia 2 men, Force 133 Liasion 29 December Etrepagny, France 2 men, SOE 29 December La Rochelle, France Czech, Polish 2 men, SOE Bookmaker 1943 16 January Bonira, Algeria Italy 11 men, 101 Para Co. 10 Regt Arditi Sabotage Eddous Bridge 18 January Issoire, Puy de D me, Fr. France 1 man, BCRA 22 January Fr ville du G tinais, Pithiviers, France France 2 men, SOE Juggler 24 January Dramen, Norway Norway SOE Chaffinch 25 January Brioude, Haute Loire, Fr UK 1 man, 1 woman, SOE Stationer Establish network 26/27 January Myitkyina, Burma USA, Burma 30 men, OSS Det 101 Establish Base 4 February Novorossiysk, Russia Russia 80 men Raid Headquarters 7/8 February North Burma USA, Burma 12 men, OSS Det 101 Establish Base 8 February Kaukwe, Burma , Burma 10 men, Force 136 Establish Resistance 11 February Beni-Mansoor, Algeria Italy 11 men, 101 Para Co.