Canadian Airborne Forces since 1942
- Publisher
- Osprey
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2006
- Category
- World War II
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781841769851
- Publish Date
- Aug 2006
- List Price
- $28
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Osprey's detailed study of the fascinating and proud history of the Canadian Airborne Regiments, from World War II (1939-1945) to the present day. The 1st Canadian Parachute Bn jumped into Normandy on D-Day as part of 6th British Airborne Division. They fought with distinction for the rest of the North-West Europe campaign, making a second combat jump at the Rhine crossings in March 1945, and fighting in Holland until VE-Day. In the post-war years the Canadian SAS and the Mobile Striking Force maintained an airborne capability, formalized in 1968 with the raising of a Canadian Airborne Regt, which later served overseas in Cyprus and Somalia. Since its disbandment in 1995 a parachute capability has been maintained by companies of light infantry units – Royal 22e Regt, Princess Patricia's, and Royal Canadian Regt - which served against the Taliban and al-Quaida in Afghanistan, 2002–03.
About the authors
Michel Wyczynski has worked at the National Archives of Canada for the past 24 years, primarily in political and military archives. He is the honorary archivist for the Canadian Airborne Forces Museum, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association, and the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada.
Editorial Reviews
“It makes for fascinating reading -- I've never heard of another force more at the whim of politics and the changing nature of warfare.” —Rowan Baylis, AeroScale (September 2006)
“... is largely an organizational history that recounts in intriguing fashion the frequent ups and downs of these forces. The book also contains a good summary of the service and combat history of the airborne units, up through their recent deployments to Bosnia and Afghanistan... there is much information to be gleaned...from the phoots, Carlos Chagas' excellent color plates, and the informative captions.” —Military Trader