82nd Airborne Division 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment WWII Reenactors

08/16/2026

Eighty-one years ago today, following the news of Japan's surrender, August 15 was formally proclaimed as V-J Day in the United Kingdom. In this image from our Digital Collections, United States servicemembers and British civilians celebrate in London, England, on the night of August 15, 1945, waving Allied flags and holding copies of 'The Stars and Stripes.'

08/16/2026

Happy Birthday!!

84 years ago today, weather and terrain nearly decided which division would earn the title of the U.S. Army's first official Airborne Division.

In the end, the choice came down to one thing: finding the unit that was trained, ready, and battle-proven.

On 15 August 1942 at Camp Claiborne, the 82nd Airborne Division took wings and became the U.S. Army's 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 Airborne Division.

Airborne!
ALL THE WAY!

08/12/2026

On 17 September 1944, the Pathfinders assigned to Operation Market Garden received their final briefing. Team 1, led by LT Jaubert, and Team 2, led by LT Carlock, both from the 504th PIR, received the mission to mark Drop Zone (DZ) 'O' for the main effort and provide a checkpoint for serials dropping on DZs 'N' and 'T'.

Just two hours later, the teams flew east to the coast of France, then turned north into enemy-held territory. They encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire, but P-47 escorts quickly neutralized the threats, including a flak positions at Grave. At 1245 the Pathfinders executed a precise drop: the teams landed side by side at a jump height of 450 feet, quickly assembling and setting up navigational aids within three minutes. Due to a shortage of smoke markers, the senior team leader used hand grenades at his discretion to mark the DZ.

The first serial of the main effort arrived at 1312, with additional serials landing within ten minutes. Despite encountering some anti-aircraft fire, the main force assembled without hesitation, and the entire field was cleared within 45 minutes.

The Pathfinders remained on the DZ until D plus seven, at which point they were relieved of their duties.

📷 Pathfinders of the 504th shortly before take off on 17 September 1944

08/09/2026

On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki became the second Japanese city devastated by a US atomic bomb in the closing days of World War II. Explore the history and lasting impact of this day, 81 years later: https://bit.ly/30Cez3h

08/08/2026

08/01/2026

The National WWII Museum mourns the loss of WWII Rosie the Riveter and dear friend Jeanne Gibson, who passed away Wednesday at age 100.

A Minnesota native, Gibson left home at 18 to join the wartime workforce as a welder at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle. From 1944 to 1945, she worked six days a week building destroyers for the US Navy. She went on to work for the Army Transportation Corps embarkation center in Juneau, Alaska, compiling manifests and hatch lists for ships carrying supplies to the Pacific theater. After the end of World War II, Gibson pursued higher education at UC Berkeley, where she earned a doctorate in educational psychology. She taught in the Berkeley public school system for over 30 years.

As a Rosie the Riveter of World War II, Gibson was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024 and of The National WWII Museum's American Spirit Award in 2026, in recognition of the group's invaluable wartime contributions. We are grateful for Ms. Gibson's service and friendship, and our thoughts are with her family.