BRITAIN'S AIRBORNE FORCES OF WWII: Uniforms and Equipment

1-227350

After successful German airborne operations in the early days of WWII, Winston Churchill called for an equal capability. The fledgling Parachute Regiment was born after drawing troops from the British Army and Royal Air Force.

Despite being initially poorly equipped, operating outdated aircraft, and wearing clothing copied from captured German examples, the Parachute Regiment rapidly grew into what would become two complete airborne divisions - formations which played a key role in the destruction of the Axis forces. The equipment needed by these men rapidly changed as the war evolved and this is clearly illustrated in the author's fine and unique collection of rare airborne items from that period, several of them being the sole surviving items known to exist.

Covers the chronology of Britain's paratroopers' role and development during WWII and also briefly covers the Polish Parachute Brigade and the Canadian parachute formations. Includes 290 B&W & color illustrations of equipment.