17th Airborne Division

My father was an airborne infantryman in WWII and I know he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and jumped in to Germany during Operation Varsity. I thought he said he was with the 17th Airborned Division. I recently found out from some distant relatives that he may have been with the 82d Airborne Division and jumped into France as well. Is there anyone on these lists who might be able to at least confirm what unit he served with? Let me know and I will provide what info I can.

 

Thanks for the info! I do know about the 507th PIR, but didn't know the 517th crossed over as well. He definitely jumped in Varsity as he had a nazi flag he got from a church and a few other war momentos. i also know he had at least one star on his jump wings. Hopefully I will be able to narrow this down someday.

 

Hi rcm99,

I'm in touch with the 17th association ... Could you give me your father's name , I will watch in my data base ... (100,000 airbornes names )

 

His name is Anthony Moon. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

 

I have an Anthony R Moon at the 464 Parachute Field Artilllery Battalion . 17th Airborne Division .

Domi

 

That would be my father! interesting that he was in Field Artillery; all these years I thought he was infantry based on things he said. Really appreciate the information

Richard Moon

 

Sgt Potier just helped me find info about my Uncle too. Another reason this site is so good. Dedicated members like Sgt Potier !!

 

If you need you can send me your web adresse by MP .

Airborne

 

The only question I have is where did the 464th PFAB come from? As near as I can tell it was assigned to the 17th Airborne for Operation Varsity.

 

The Airborne Divisions were reorganised at the beginning of March 1945 to include a second Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 507th PIR joined the 17th and it's artillery unit, the 464th, was rotated out of the US to the ETO. It had the honour of being the first artillery unit to land in Germany.

Steve W.

 

Thanks for the info!!!

 

I work ( free ) with a friend of mine for a website dedicating about the US airbornes . You will find some info about the 17th .

17th Airborne Division

 

My father, I believe, was with the 17th and jumped during the battle of the bulge, any info would be greatly appreciated

 

Although the 17th Airborne Division was engaged heavily in the Battle of the Bulge, they didn't jump in. They were trucked in close then walked the rest of the way to their positions where they dug in and fought it out. No Allied airborne divisions conducted airborne operations during this campaign, only the Germans did.

 

To expand on your point, I found this portion of the 17th AB history on the ww2-airborne.us website:

"From 23 to 25 December, elements of the Division were flown to the Reims area in France in spectacular night flights. These elements closed in at Mourmelon. After taking over the defense of the Meuse River sector from Givet to Verdun, 25 December, the 17th moved to Neufchateau, Belgium, then marched through the snow to Morhet, relieving the 28th Infantry Division, 3 January 1945.

The Division entered the Ardennes campaign, 4 to 9 January, at the Battle of Dead Man's Ridge. It captured several small Belgian towns and entered Flamierge, 7 January, but enemy counterattacks necessitated a withdrawal. However, constant pressure and aggressive patrolling caused the enemy to retreat to the Our River. On 18 January, the Division relieved the 11th Armored Division at Houffalize, pushed enemy remnants from the Bulge, and seized Wattermal and Espeler, 26 January. Coming under the III Corps, the 17th turned toward Luxembourg, taking Eschweiler and Clervaux and clearing the enemy from the west bank of the Our River. Aggressive patrols crossed the river to probe the Siegfried Line defenses and established a limited bridgehead near Dasburg before being relieved by the 6th Armored Division, 10 February."

 

I forgot to add that the same history goes on to state that the 17th did participate in the airborne assault in Operation Varsity, which was after the BotB.