Word: airdropping
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Military historians have recorded the tactics-an airdrop too far north of the main body at Arnhem, bad communications because of radio breakdowns, not enough air support in foggy weather, the capture of the complete Allied battle plan by the Germans. But it remains for Daniel Paul,*then 29, a captain-surgeon with the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, to tell the personal story of that terrible battle. It is, he says, a story that "demanded to be written." He tells it deftly and quickly-as he would suture a wound...
...hours, between 0015 and 0900, the Allies won three quick successes. On the left flank the British 6th Airborne Division achieved complete tactical surprise, wiped out German positions east of the Orne River. On the right flank the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, although badly scattered in the airdrop, outfought three German divisions, suffering 2,500 casualties. Shielded by this U.S. airborne success, the U.S. 4th Infantry Division swept ashore soon after the first light on Utah Beach, swamped the defenses at a cost of only 197 casualties. It was D-Day's first major breakthrough...
...Nationalist troops, many of them Formosans. As bombardment wore on, the Nationalists got emergency schooling from U.S. officers and noncoms on fast unloading techniques, deployed underwater demolition teams to blast out new beach approaches, used small LVTs pouring out of big LST transports, and C46 airdrop teams escorted by U.S. Marine Corps night fighters to win the supply battle...
Scattered over the pitted landscape are white, blue and red parachutes from the latest airdrop. Cases of food and medical supplies are strewn about uncollected by the island's defenders. Amphibious tracked landing vehicles (LVTs) piled high with oil drums still have not been unloaded, 48 hours after their arrival...
Tuesday & Wednesday-Pleading bad weather, U.S. and Nationalist naval commands temporarily call off the convoys to consider new tactics. The Communist barrage has become steady, making beach and airfield almost unusable. In desperation, the Nationalists airdrop small quantities of medical supplies to Que-moy's garrison. Admiral Beakley comes ashore to consider with Taiwan Defense Command's Vice Admiral Smoot "what to do now." Beakley admits: "We are back right where we started before we began convoying. They called our hand when they shelled the beach and got that LSM. The Chicoms' guns can and will blast...