US Paratrooper 1941–45

Carl Smith has had a life long fascination with many aspects of the military history of the United States. A specialist writer of many years experience, Carl has worked for several popular military magazines. He has written volumes on the battles of Gettysburg, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg and the Pearl Harbor attack in Osprey's Campaign series. Carl lives and works in Virginia. Mike Chappell spent 22 years in infantry soldiering, retiring in 1974 as RSM of the 1st Bn.The Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers). Since beginning to paint military subjects in 1968 Mike has gained world-wide popularity as a military illustrator, and has been a prolific artist and author for Osprey for well over 20 years. He currently lives and works in Kent.

• History of the concept of airborne forces - Europe leads, Germany excels, the US follows; birth of the US airborne; basic training; four weeks of jump school; jumps and jump qualification; paratrooper clothing, equipment and weapons; airborne unit; organization/TO&E; chronology of significant airborne events in World War II; transferring overseas to Northern Ireland and England; the paratrooper in action; an overview of major airborne operations in the African, European and Pacific theatres; paratroopers at the end of World War II; World War II airborne Medal of Honor Recipients.