The 509 in North Africa

Once the Allies had established the "Germany First" policy, the United States, Great Britain and Russia discussed plans on how best to liberate Europe from Germany.  One of the options on the table was a direct assault across the English Channel. A plan code named  "Sledgehammer" was devised to accomplish this objective. The second option was to land American Forces in North Africa assisting the British in eliminating Rommel's Africa Korps. The Americans and the Russians were in favor of Operation "Sledgehammer"; the British, on the other hand wanted to remove the more immediate problem -- the Africa Korps.

Since 1941 the Africa Korps had pushed the British across North Africa.  With American assistance the British could finally eliminate the Africa Korps, and after much debate convinced the United States to land in Northwest Africa.

Operation Torch was devised to carry out this goal. Operation Torch called for three amphibious task forces to land simultaneously along the sprawling French North African coast. To augment the amphibious landings, an airborne phase of the operation was added to secure two airfields near Oran, Algeria. The 509 Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB) was tasked to perform the operation.

America's First Combat Jump Of The War

On the evening of November 9, 1942, the 509 PIB (techinically they were still designated the 2nd Bat. of the 503rd.  They were designated the 509 upon arriving in North Africa)  left England in 39 C-47's. The paratroopers were informed that Plan Peace was in effect. This relieved the men of the 509, who looked forward to a peaceful landing at LeSenia airfield. The 509's luck wouldn't last though. While over Spain, head winds scattered the planes. Furthermore, unknown to the paratroopers, instead of a peaceful reception, the French were resisting the landings. As some of the lead planes began their descent on LeSenia airfield, they came under intense antiaircraft fire. The pilots were able to avoid the airfield and land the planes on a dry lake bed west of Oran. Another group of planes, which included the 509's commander, Colonel Edson Raff, were heading toward the Tafaraoui Airfield Drop Zone. As they approached the airfield Raff noticed a column of tanks. After incorrectly determining the column was a group of enemy tanks, Raff ordered his men to jump and attack the column. Upon reaching the ground, it became obvious that the vehicles were American tanks moving inland from the invasion beaches. Eventually, both airfields were captured by American ground troops.

America's first combat parachute jump ended in confusion and disappointment. Raff's men wouldn't have to wait long before they would have a second chance to prove their capabilities.

Youks les Bains Airfield - A Toast To Victory

Youks les Bains airfield, located near the Tunisian border, was strategically important to the Allies drive to German-occupied Tunisia. American Intelligence indicated that the airfield was held by a garrison of German paratroopers. Raff viewed capturing Youks les Bains as the perfect opportunity to showcase the true capabilities of his men and convinced Headquarters that the 509 PIB was ideally suited for the mission.

On November 15, 1942, the 509 boarded C-47 transport planes and headed for Yonk Les Bains. While over the airfield, they were surprised to find they weren't being fired upon. The 509 successfully jumped and landed near the airfield. Within several minutes the entire battalion was assembled and Colonel Raff ordered his men to dig in.

Meanwhile, Raff was approached by a small group of French Solders. One French soldier stepped forward and greeted Raff with a handshake and a salute and identified himself as Colonel Berges, the commanding officer of the Third Zouves Regiment.

The Colonel told Raff that he had been advised of his arrival by his superiors. Using his walking stick as pointer, Berges demonstrated that the entire airfield was ringed with concealed 75mm cannons and machine guns that were zeroed in on the drop zone, making a perfect killing field. Raff realized instantly that had the French chosen to resist the American parachute landing, the 509 would have been destroyed.

The Colonel then invited Raff and his staff, over to his command post. The French uncorked several bottles of wine. Colonel Berges then raised his glass and said with great emotion "This marks the beginning of a new hope for France. Together we will drive the Germans out of Tunisia and then we shall liberate France!"

After the toast, the Colonel then removed the badge of the Third Zouves Regiment from his tunic and pinned it on Raff's jump jacket saying "From this Day Forward, my Regiment is your Regiment." The deeply moved Raff presented Berg an American flag. The ritual marked a lasting bond of friendship between the two units.

Within a week after the drop, the 509 was bolstered by the addition of a tank destroyer company and two sections of British Engineers. With the increased firepower, the 509 conducted numerous raids across the Tunisian border to engage the Germans, including a small airborne assault attacking Rommel's supply lines at El Djem Bridge.