507th Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
During World War II, the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (507th PIR) was a regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and, later, 17th Airborne Division of the United States Army
.
The regiment was initially formed at Camp Toccoa
, Georgia
on 20 July 1942. It would participate in three operations during the war: D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge
and Operation Varsity
.
As part of the 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade, the 507th was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division to replace the 504th Parachute Infantry
regiment that had suffered many casualties in Italy. After arriving in Britain, their D-Day objective was to help secure the Merderet River crossings. Although their target was supposed to be in Drop Zone T, north of Amfreville
, the confusion caused by clouds and flak resulted in a wide scattering of the unit. Colonel George V. Millett Jr., the initial commander of the regiment, was captured in Amfreville a few days after being deployed. Colonel Edson Raff
, who had recently led the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, then took command of the regiment. The 507th later became known as Raff's Ruffians. After returning to England, the 507th was permanently assigned to the 17th Airborne Division, because another of the 82nd's regiments, the 504th
, had returned by then from Anzio
.
As part of the 17th, the 507th was not utilized in Operation Market Garden
and was still in England training with the new division when the Battle of the Bulge
began. The unit redeployed to France on 25 December 1944, and was used in the counter-attacks against the Germans in January and early February of 1945.
Finally, the regiment dropped near Wesel
, Germany
on 24 March to spearhead the Division's assault during Operation Varsity
. During this action, Private George J. Peters
earned the Medal of Honor
for single-handedly attacking a German machine gun emplacement.
The regiment was shipped home and inactivated in September 1945.
under the United States Army Regimental System, and transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
. The 1st Battalion
serves as the U.S. Army Airborne School.
In 2004, two documentaries aired on the 507th. PBS aired the documentary
, D-Day: Down to Earth — Return of the 507th. This film connects the regiment's contribution in the war with their journey back to Normandy for the unveiling of a monument in 2002. On 1 June 2004, Investigating History aired, D-Day: The Secret Massacre. The story focuses on the Nazi massacre of French civilians, and wounded paratroopers of the 507th, in retaliation for battle at the village of Graignes
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
The regiment was initially formed at Camp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on 20 July 1942. It would participate in three operations during the war: D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
and Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
.
As part of the 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade, the 507th was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division to replace the 504th Parachute Infantry
504th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment in the United States Army, first formed in 1942 as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.-Organization:...
regiment that had suffered many casualties in Italy. After arriving in Britain, their D-Day objective was to help secure the Merderet River crossings. Although their target was supposed to be in Drop Zone T, north of Amfreville
Amfreville, Manche
Amfreville is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France.* Postal code: 50480* INSEE code: 50005* Population: 295 * Area: 10.1 km²* Population density: 29.21/km²* Canton: Sainte-Mère-Église...
, the confusion caused by clouds and flak resulted in a wide scattering of the unit. Colonel George V. Millett Jr., the initial commander of the regiment, was captured in Amfreville a few days after being deployed. Colonel Edson Raff
Edson Raff
Edson Duncan Raff was an officer in the US Army and author of a book on paratroopers. He served as commanding officer of the first American paratroop unit to jump into combat, the 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, near Oran as part of Operation Torch...
, who had recently led the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, then took command of the regiment. The 507th later became known as Raff's Ruffians. After returning to England, the 507th was permanently assigned to the 17th Airborne Division, because another of the 82nd's regiments, the 504th
504th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment in the United States Army, first formed in 1942 as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.-Organization:...
, had returned by then from Anzio
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
.
As part of the 17th, the 507th was not utilized in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
and was still in England training with the new division when the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
began. The unit redeployed to France on 25 December 1944, and was used in the counter-attacks against the Germans in January and early February of 1945.
Finally, the regiment dropped near Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on 24 March to spearhead the Division's assault during Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
. During this action, Private George J. Peters
George J. Peters
George J. Peters was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II during Operation Varsity.-Biography:...
earned the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for single-handedly attacking a German machine gun emplacement.
The regiment was shipped home and inactivated in September 1945.
Recent history
The regiment was briefly re-activated in the late 1940s, then again in 1985. On 23 October 1985, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 507th Infantry, a parent regimentParent regiment
Many armies use different regimental systems. The United States Army, among others, uses the parent regiment system.In this system, adopted in 1957 under the Combat Arms Regimental System, or CARS, regiments are simply there to preserve units' lineage, and few regiments actually are complete...
under the United States Army Regimental System, and transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Established 1 July 1973, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command is an army command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces, the development of operational doctrine, and the development and procurement of...
. The 1st Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
serves as the U.S. Army Airborne School.
In 2004, two documentaries aired on the 507th. PBS aired the documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, D-Day: Down to Earth — Return of the 507th. This film connects the regiment's contribution in the war with their journey back to Normandy for the unveiling of a monument in 2002. On 1 June 2004, Investigating History aired, D-Day: The Secret Massacre. The story focuses on the Nazi massacre of French civilians, and wounded paratroopers of the 507th, in retaliation for battle at the village of Graignes
Battle of Graignes
The Battle of Graignes was fought during World War II. The story focuses on a German massacre of French civilians, and wounded US paratroopers, in retaliation for a battle at the village of Graignes, France.-Tuesday, 6 June 1944:...
.
See also
- United States Army Pathfinder SchoolUnited States Army Pathfinder SchoolThe mission of the United States Army Pathfinder School is to train personnel in the U.S. Army and its sister services in a three week course, during which the candidate Pathfinder learns how to navigate dismounted, establish and operate a day / night helicopter landing zone, establish and operate...
- United States Army Airborne SchoolUnited States Army Airborne SchoolThe United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
- United States Army Jumpmaster SchoolJumpmasterJumpmasters are the expert Paratroopers in an Airborne unit who train and teach the military techniques for jumping from airplanes. They are responsible for transforming Soldiers who enter Army Airborne School into Paratroopers and managing Airborne jump operations in Airborne units across all...
- D-Day: Down to Earth — Return of the 507th film website