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Quiz about United States Airborne Operations and their Units

United States Airborne Operations and their Units Quiz

This quiz covers U.S. Airborne Operations from their beginnings in World War II all the way through to operations in Afghanistan and then Iraq. Good luck and Airborne All The Way!

A multiple-choice quiz by PaysonAZ2011. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
PaysonAZ2011

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
364,783

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
358

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. The first major use of U.S. airborne troops occurred during which 1942 operation? Hint

Giant

Pegasus

Husky

Torch

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Question 2 of 15

2. The second jump for U.S. airborne forces happened during this 1943 operation? Hint

Giant

Husky

Torch

Pegasus

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Question 3 of 15

3. During the 1944 Normandy invasion, the U.S. airborne operation part was given what name? Hint

Pegasus

Deadstick

Samwest

Neptune

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Question 4 of 15

4. During the invasion of Southern France in 1944, what were the U.S. airborne operations called? Hint

Canary, Albatross, and Bluebird

Swan, Bluebird, and Albatross

Dove, Pigeon, and Bluebird

Bluebird, Heron, and Albatross

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Question 5 of 15

5. What 1944 U.S. airborne operation was planned to cross the Maas, Waal, and Rhine Rivers? Hint

Market Garden

Repulse

Varsity

Leap Forward

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Question 6 of 15

6. The last European U.S. airborne operation was "a jump into Germany" called? Hint

Hastings

Plunder

Repulse

Deadstick

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Question 7 of 15

7. The first U.S. airborne operation in the Pacific occurred in 1943, in which location? Hint

Henderson Field, Guadalcanal

Rabaul, New Ireland

Buna, Papua New Guinea

Nadzab, Papua New Guinea

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Question 8 of 15

8. Where did the second U.S. airborne operation in the Pacific take place, in 1944? Hint

Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Rabaul, New Ireland

Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea

Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea

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Question 9 of 15

9. The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment's most noted drop in the Philippines occurred where? Hint

Corregidor, Philippines

Saipan, Mariana Islands

Manila, Philippines

Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands

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Question 10 of 15

10. Which U.S. airborne division was responsible for the 1945 Los Banos prison raid? Hint

6th Airborne

10th Airborne

9th Airborne

11th Airborne

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Question 11 of 15

11. What U.S. unit made two combat jumps during the Korean War? Hint

503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment

187th Regimental Combat Team

509th Parachute Infantry Regiment

517th Regimental Combat Team

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which U.S. units made the only combat jump during the Vietnam War? Hint

2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry and 318th Artillery (Airborne)

3rd Battalion, 511th Infantry and 320th Artillery (Airborne)

3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry and 318th Artillery (Airborne)

2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry and 319th Artillery (Airborne)

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Question 13 of 15

13. What U.S. unit made up the bulk of the combat jump into the island of Grenada in 1983? Hint

75th Ranger Regiment

101st Airborne Division

2nd Catering Corps

187th Regimental Combat Team

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Question 14 of 15

14. In 1989, what U.S. airborne unit jumped into Panama after the Ranger Regiment? Hint

187th Airborne Regiment

101st Airborne Division

82nd Airborne Division

173rd Airborne Brigade

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Question 15 of 15

15. During operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, what U.S. units made combat jumps in 2001 and 2003? Hint

75th Ranger Regiment and 173rd Airborne Brigade

501st Parachute Infantry and 101st Airborne Division

75th Ranger Regiment and 101st Airborne Division

501st Parachute Infantry and 173rd Airborne Brigade

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first major use of U.S. airborne troops occurred during which 1942 operation?

Answer: Torch

The 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, initially planned to only drop into Oran in Nigeria, North Africa, to capture two airfields, but strong winds pushed the drop aircraft off course causing them to be widely scattered. Eventually enough troops were gathered to take the objective, but behind schedule.

A second drop was quickly planned for a week later when they hurriedly repacked their own parachutes and jumped into Youk-les-Bains near the Tunisian border. Thankfully they were welcomed by the French Nigerian 3rd Regiment of Zouaves that occupied the airfield, rather than fired upon.

2. The second jump for U.S. airborne forces happened during this 1943 operation?

Answer: Husky

The 82nd Airborne Division jumped into Sicily as part of Operation Husky. Once again, strong winds blew the drop aircraft off course, leading to widely scattered pockets of airborne troops. A day after the initial drop reinforcements were scheduled to be dropped at an airfield behind the German lines; unfortunately, lack of communication with Naval and other US forces caused the loss of 23 drop aircraft which were shot down by "friendly fire".

3. During the 1944 Normandy invasion, the U.S. airborne operation part was given what name?

Answer: Neptune

The 82nd's code name was Operation Detroit and the 101st Airborne Division's was Operation Chicago; Intense ground fire and winds resulted in both divisions being scattered all over Normandy.

4. During the invasion of Southern France in 1944, what were the U.S. airborne operations called?

Answer: Canary, Albatross, and Bluebird

The units involved were the 1st Special Service Force, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 509th and 551st Parachute Infantry Battalions; also the 550th Airborne Infantry "Glider" Battalion. This drop ended up being one of the most successful drops of WWII, delivering over 5,600 airborne troops and additional glider-borne troops into the specified areas.

5. What 1944 U.S. airborne operation was planned to cross the Maas, Waal, and Rhine Rivers?

Answer: Market Garden

The 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions dropped into the Netherlands; the British 1st Airborne Division's target was the last required bridge located over the Rhine into Germany, for the operation to be successful. During the ensuing battle the British 1st Airborne Division was decimated to the point of no longer being an effective fighting force; the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was also badly mauled while dropping to support the British 1st Airborne Division.

6. The last European U.S. airborne operation was "a jump into Germany" called?

Answer: Plunder

The 6th British Airborne and U.S. 17th Airborne Divisions took part in operation Varsity the code name for the the entire operation, but the airborne operation was actually known by a lesser operational name of Plunder.

7. The first U.S. airborne operation in the Pacific occurred in 1943, in which location?

Answer: Nadzab, Papua New Guinea

The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment made an unopposed jump allowing for the establishment of a much needed airfield.

8. Where did the second U.S. airborne operation in the Pacific take place, in 1944?

Answer: Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea

The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment made this jump to capture a Japanese airfield used to attack allied troops on New Guinea.

9. The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment's most noted drop in the Philippines occurred where?

Answer: Corregidor, Philippines

The Island of Corregidor, Philippines was a significant drop as far as America returning to the Philippines, and also opened Manila Bay to allied shipping.

10. Which U.S. airborne division was responsible for the 1945 Los Banos prison raid?

Answer: 11th Airborne

The 1st Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division performed a very successful prison raid behind enemy lines at Los Banos. Once the troops entered the prison area everything had too go like clockwork, surprise was the critical factor so the Japanese guards could not try to kill the prisoners.

Not one was lost in the ensuing fight that broke out. The attacking U.S. forces had two, but compared to the results of the operation of over 2,000 allied civilian internees being liberated, it seems minimal.

11. What U.S. unit made two combat jumps during the Korean War?

Answer: 187th Regimental Combat Team

The first of these was into Sunchon, North Korea, in an attempt to block North Korean and Chinese forces retreating north from Pyongyang, as well as rescuing allied POWs. The second drop, into Munsan-ni, South Korea, was also to block Chinese retreating north.

12. Which U.S. units made the only combat jump during the Vietnam War?

Answer: 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry and 319th Artillery (Airborne)

The jump, Operation Junction City, was the largest use of airborne troops by the U.S. since World War Two in Operation Market Garden.

13. What U.S. unit made up the bulk of the combat jump into the island of Grenada in 1983?

Answer: 75th Ranger Regiment

They were dropped into Point Salinas International Airport as part of operation Urgent Fury.

14. In 1989, what U.S. airborne unit jumped into Panama after the Ranger Regiment?

Answer: 82nd Airborne Division

The division made their first combat jump since World War Two as part of Operation Just Cause, when the division dropped into Omar Torrijos International Airport.

15. During operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, what U.S. units made combat jumps in 2001 and 2003?

Answer: 75th Ranger Regiment and 173rd Airborne Brigade

In 2001 the 3rd Ranger Battalion, jumped into Kandahar International Airport to secure it for heavy airlift to bring in reinforcements and supplies. In 2003 the 173rd dropped into Northern Iraq to secure a desert airfield and provide support to Special Operation Forces.

Source: Author PaysonAZ2011

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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