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82nd Airborne Division

$24.95

Spearhead - Book 4
Author - Mike Verier
Published in 2001 by Ian Allan Publishing, UK
Softcover, 96 Pages
Size - 25cm * 19cm

Formed in August 1942, the 82nd Airborne Division first saw action during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Subsequently used as ground troops in Operation 'Avalanche' - the invasion of Italy - the 82nd resumed its airborne role when it was dropped on to the Cotentin Peninsula on 6 June 1944 as part of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

By the time it was withdrawn, the 82nd had sustained nearly 50% casualties. Its next use was in Operation 'Market' the airborne component of the Allied thrust towards Arnhem when it was dropped into Nijmegen. Also involved in the desperate fighting in the Ardennes, the division would end the war occupying Berlin and Frankfurt.

Spearhead looks at the cutting edge of war, units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. The series examines the unit's:

* Origins and history
* Organisation, order of battle and how this changed
* Battle history, theatre by theatre
* Insignia and Markings
* Top people biographies of commanders and personalities

Each book ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness – as seen by itself, its opponents and the wider viewpoint of history – and a full reterence section including:

* Critical bibliography
* Relevant museums or exhibits
* Website links
* Re-enactment groups
* Memorials

About the author
Mike Verier's interest in 82nd Airborne started from study of the Arnhem operation and intensified when he produced the first in the Europa Militaria series on the modern unit. Closely involved in the re-enactment scene, he regularly contributes to military magazines as both a photographer and writer and has now written five books, two on the 82nd Airborne and its home base of Fort Bragg. He is an authority on attack helicopters, and an honourary member of a US Marine Corps Cobra Squadron.

Fully Illustrated with B&W photos, 8 colour photos and 4 maps