Welcome to the Airborne Military Police Web Site.

The Airborne Military Police website was established to give recognition to one of the most under-rated and seldom heralded units in the U.S. military.  The Military Police have been in every major battle since the Airborne was established.  When you see pictures of an armor unit in World War II, you will see an MP directing traffic.  That means the MP's were there first!

This site is dedicated to ALL Military Policemen, past and present, but we would especially like to hear from those who have served with an Airborne unit.  If you have photos you could share, they would be most welcome.  Feel free to visit the site often and to contact us with recommendations, additions, corrections, or comments. We would also like to hear from those who are serving or have served with a foreign military police unit.

History of the Airborne

Perhaps no military development has been so revolutionary as the employment of paratroopers. Certainly, none has been so spectacular!  Shortly after World War I, General Billy Mitchell proposed that parachuting troops from aircraft into combat could be effective. During the demonstration of his concept at Kelly Field at San Antonio, Texas, six soldiers parachuted from a Martin Bomber, safely landed, and in less than three minutes after exiting the aircraft had their weapons assembled and were ready for action.

Although the U.S. observers dismissed the concept, not all of the observers arrived at the same conclusion. The Soviets and Germans were impressed with the demonstration. In the USSR, static line parachuting was introduced as a national sport and the population was encouraged to join the Russian Airborne Corps. The German observers eagerly grasped the idea and planners worked quickly to develop an effective military parachute organization.

For the first time, in August 1930 at Veronezh, Russia, Soviet paratroopers participated in military maneuvers. Their actions were so effective that a repeat performance was given in Moscow one month later.

The Germans effectively developed their airborne forces and, at the start of World War II, used parachute troops in their spearhead assaults.

Spurred by the successful employment of airborne troops by the Germans in their invasion of the Low Countries, U.S. military branches began an all-out effort to develop this new form of warfare. Controversy surrounded the effort and the various branches made several colorful proposals. The Air Corps made the most unique proposal. Its staff proposed that the Air Infantry be called "Air Grenadiers" and be members of the "Marines of the Air Corps."

In April 1940, following the controversies, the War Department approved plans for the formation of a test platoon of Airborne Infantry to form, equip, and train under the direction and control of the Army's Infantry Board. In June, the Commandant of the Infantry School was directed to organize a test platoon of volunteers from Fort Benning's 29th Infantry Regiment. Later that year, the 2d Infantry Division was directed to conduct the necessary tests to develop reference data and operational procedures for air-transported troops. 

In July 1940, the task of organizing the platoon began. First Lieutenant William T. Ryder from the 29th Infantry Regiment volunteered and was designated the test platoon's Platoon Leader and Lieutenant James A. Bassett was designated Assistant Platoon Leader. Based on high standards of health and rugged physical characteristics, forty-eight enlisted men were selected from a pool of 200 volunteers. Quickly thereafter, the platoon moved into tents near Lawson Field, and an abandoned hanger was obtained for use as a training hall and for parachute packing.

Lieutenant Colonel William C. Lee, a staff officer for the Chief of Infantry, was intently interested in the test platoon. He recommended that the men be moved to the Safe Parachute Company at Hightstown, NJ for training on the parachute drop towers used during the New York World's Fair. Eighteen days after organization, the platoon was moved to New Jersey and trained for one week on the 250-foot free towers.

The training was particularly effective. When a drop from the tower was compared to a drop from an airplane, it was found that the added realism was otherwise impossible to duplicate. The drop also proved to the troopers that their parachutes would function safely. The Army was so impressed with the tower drops that two were purchased and erected at Fort Benning on what is now Eubanks Field. Later, two more were added. Three of the original four towers are still in use training paratroopers at Fort Benning. PLF training was often conducted by the volunteers jumping from PT platforms and from the back of moving 2 1/2 ton trucks to allow the trainees to experience the shock of landing.

Less than forty-five days after organization, the first jump from an aircraft in flight by members of the test platoon was made from a Douglas B-18 over Lawson Field on 16 August, 1940. Before the drop, the test platoon held a lottery to determine who would follow Lieutenant Ryder out of the airplane and Private William N. (Red) King became the first enlisted man to make an official jump as a paratrooper in the United States Army. On 29 August, at Lawson Field, the platoon made the first platoon mass jump held in the United States.

The first parachute combat unit to be organized was the 501st Parachute Battalion. It was commanded by Major William M. Miley, later a Major General and Commander of the 17th Airborne Division, and the original test platoon members formed the battalion cadre. The Civilian Conservation Corps cleared new jump areas and three new training buildings were erected. Several B-18 and C-39 aircraft were provided for training. The traditional paratrooper cry "GERONIMO" was originated in the 501st by Private Aubrey Eberhart to prove to a friend that he had full control of his faculties when he jumped. That cry was adopted by the 501st and has been often used by paratroopers since then. 

The 502d Parachute Infantry Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William C. Lee with men from the 501st as cadre, was activated on 1 July, 1941. The 502d was far below strength, and 172 prospective troopers from the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Bragg, NC were needed. The response to Lieutenant Colonel Lee's call for volunteers was startling: more than 400 men volunteered, including many noncommissioned officers who were willing to take a reduction in rank ("take a bust") to transfer to the new battalion.

Airborne experimentation of another type was initiated on 10 October, 1941 when the Army's first Glider Infantry battalion was activated. This unit was officially designated as the 88th Glider Infantry Battalion and was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Elbridge G. Chapman, Jr. Lieutenant Colonel Chapman later became a Major General and commanded the 13th Airborne Division.

As more airborne units were activated, it became apparent that a centralized training facility should be established. Consequently, the facility was organized at Fort Benning on 15 May, 1942. Since that date, the U.S. Army Parachute School has been known by a variety of names: The Airborne School (1 January, 1946); Airborne Army Aviation Section, The Infantry School (1 November, 1946); Airborne Department, The Infantry School (February, 1955); Airborne-Air Mobility Department (February, 1956); Airborne Department (August 1964); Airborne-Air Mobility Department (October, 1974); Airborne Department (October, 1976); 4th Airborne Training Battalion, The School Brigade (January, 1982); 1st Battalion (Abn), 507th Parachute Infantry, The School Brigade (October, 1985); and the 1st Battalion (Abn), 507th Infantry, 11th Infantry Regiment (July, 1991).

Although several types of headgear insignia have been worn by parachute and glider organizations since 1942, an insignia peculiar to the Airborne was not authorized until 1949 and did not appear in Army Regulations until 1956. The authorization was first mentioned in AR 670-5 (dated 20 September, 1956), which stated, "Airborne insignia may be worn when prescribed by commander...The insignia consists of a white parachute and glider on blue disk with a red border approximately 2 1/4 inches in diameter overall."

In December, 1943, the all black "555th Parachute Infantry Company (Colored)", later redesignated Company A, 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (and remembered by many as the "Triple Nickel"), arrived at Fort Benning for airborne training. This training event marked a significant milestone for black Americans in the combat arms. The first troops in the unit were volunteers from the all-black 92d Infantry Division stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. After proving their skills, the battalion was not sent overseas, but was deployed to the western United States for "Operation Firefly," dropping in to fight forest fires set by Japanese incendiary balloons in the Pacific Northwest. During this mission, the 555th earned the nickname the "Smoke Jumpers." In 1948, after full integration of the Armed Forces was finally effected, black Americans were finally given their full rights as American combat paratroopers and made their first combat jump while attached to the 187th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War.

On 14 December, 1973 another milestone in Airborne history was established when Privates Joyce Kutsch and Rita Johnson became the first women to graduate from the Basic Airborne Course. Following graduation from a modified, but rigorous, airborne course the two women successfully completed the U.S. Army Quartermaster School Parachute Rigger Course and were assigned to Aerial Delivery Companies at Fort Bragg, NC. Since then, women do not attend a modified airborne course, but complete the full course and meet the same standards as their male counterparts.

Airborne unit combat records tell stories of extreme valor. From the first combat jump during World War II in North Africa, paratroopers have fought with a spirit, determination, and tenacity that captured the respect of the world. Future events will continue to find the American paratrooper in the forefront of hostilities.

  History of the Military Police

The Military Police Corps is one of the youngest branches of the United States Army. It was officially established on 26 September, 1941. It's traditions of duty and service are unsurpassed in our armed services.  

 The need for military police has been evident to American military commanders since the struggle for national independence. Whenever the United States engaged in warfare, some form of police element emerged to assist its leaders in maintaining various aspects of discipline. Surfacing when necessity dictated, the Military Police Corps evolved through several phases, each meeting the needs of a particular period in American history. Assuming increased responsibilities, military police established their place as combat soldiers who have the professional knowledge and flexibility needed to perform a variety of missions in war and peace.

Although soldiers have been delegated to perform police type duties in the military since the beginning of armies, the seed that germinated into the birth of the modern Military Police Corps in 1941 can be traced back to the American Revolutionary War.  At the beginning of the American Revolution, the Continental Army adopted with little change the forms, titles, and administrative procedures of the British Army including those pertaining to military police.    

On 1 June 1778, at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, after the harshest winter the Continental Army ever endured, General George Washington formed a special unit - a troop of light dragoons - soldiers on horseback.  The troop would be called the Marechaussee Corps.  The term Marechaussee was adopted from the French term Marecheaux (Marshow), which were the French provost marshal units dating back to the twelfth century. 

The original troop consisted of 63 men under the command of Captain Bartholomew Von Heer, a professional Prussian soldier.  The Marechaussee Corps had the duty and responsibility of maintaining order and enforcing the Articles of War in the often unruly and sometimes undependable American Army.  The Marchaussee Corps was the first MP-like organization in the United States and performed many duties much like the Army Military Police Corps of today. 

While some of their duties did not correspond to modern MP functions, many of their tasks resembled contemporary duties.  When the Army was encamped, soldiers of the Marechaussee Corps patrolled the camp and surrounding area, checking passes and papers in search of spies.  They arrested rioters, spies, drunkards, deserters, and stragglers, while ejecting merchants attempting to cheat the soldiers. 

When the Continental Army was on the move, the Marechaussee Corps patrolled the flanks and rear, watching for spies and stragglers and safeguarding the baggage and supplies.  As the infantry and cavalry troops went into battle, the men of the Corps patrolled the roads to the rear and on the flanks, guarding against enemy encroachment while searching for stragglers and deserters.  At times, they would move ahead of the Army to locate and protect a crossroad or a river crossing, such as occurred along the Hackensack River in 1780. 

The men of this early MP organization also participated in combat, fighting with General Nathaniel Greene's army in the victorious Battle of Springfield, New Jersey, in June 1780.  The next year, the Corps protected General Washington and his headquarters during the siege of Yorktown, the last major battle of the American Revolution. 

Although the Marechaussee Corps was disbanded in November 1783, the men of that unit established the high standard for behavior and dedication to duty that became the modern-day Military Police motto.  They assisted the commander of the Continental Army in maintaining order and safeguarding the rights of the soldiers.  They protected the Continental Army and its supplies in camp, on the move and in combat.  The soldiers of the Corps defended the nation by capturing spies and establishing discipline in the Army, as well as fighting in the ranks.  The soldiers of the Marechaussee Corps were also connected to the crossed flintlock pistols, the symbol of the Military Police Corps.  They normally carried a pair of flintlock pistols in holsters on their saddles and used them when necessary. 

With these strong connections to the Marechaussee Corps, the Army Military Police Corps is proud to claim heritage to the legacy of the Order of the Marechaussee. 

A Provost Marshal General's Office and Corps of Military Police were established in 1941.  Prior to that time, except during the Civil War and World War I, there was no regularly appointed Provost Marshal General or regularly constituted Military Police Corps, although a "Provost Marshal" can be found as early as January 1776, and a "Provost Corps" as early as 1778. 

The Harper's Ferry Army Arsenal flint lock, Model 1806, caliber .54, were adopted as the insignia of the Corps of Military Police in 1923.  The initial design consisted of crossed billy-clubs because that was the primary weapon of the MPs at that time but that symbol became confused with the field artillery crossed cannons.  The next proposal was crossed maces, the medieval clubs, but they appeared to be potato mashers.  The third proposal was crossed M-1911 .45 cailber automatic pistols but they appeared to be carpenter's squares.  Then they agreed on the 1806 Model of the Harper's Ferry pistols and it was adopted.  The order was signed by the Chief of Staff, General John J. Pershing in 1923 and became official. 

There are a few theories as to how the Military Police Corps acquired the colors of green and yellow.  The uniform coats of the enlisted dragoons during the American Revolution were green with black trim and yellow buttons and button holes.  In World War I, the Military Police of the American Expeditionary Force in France wore a yellow and green cord on their hats.  The MP Corps has the same lineage as the Cavalry, both having originated with the Dragoons, thus the yellow of the Cavalry was retained.  The green was taken from the staff of the Provost Marshal Branch.  In any case, in 1921 the colors of green and yellow were officially adopted for the Army Military Police with green on the field of yellow.  In 1941, the colors were reversed with yellow on green. 

The most recent landmark development in the evolution of the Military Police Corps occurred on 26 September 1986.  On that date, the 45th Anniversary of the founding of the Corps, the Department of the Army activated the Military Police Corps Regiment and designated Fort McClelland, Alabama, as its home.  It has since been moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  On 22 March 2001, the Department of the Army approved Field Manual FM 3-19-1 and posted it to the Reimer Digital Library (RDL) on 5 April 2001.  The commandant had previously approved the final draft on 18 July 2000.  With this approval, the MP Corps finally bid fairwell to the 1988 version and welcomed the new millennium with relevant and much-needed and revised MP doctrine.

 

 

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