11th Airborne Division
The 11th Airborne Division—the storied “Angels”, today widely known as the “Arctic Angels”—was formed in 1943 for Pacific-theater airborne operations, earning fame on Leyte and Luzon, the daring Los Baños rescue, and the final U.S. combat parachute assault of World War II at Aparri (Operation Gypsy). After the war, the Army later used the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) to help pioneer helicopter-borne airmobile doctrine. On June 6, 2022, the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated in Alaska, bringing Army forces in the state under one arctic-focused divisional headquarters. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 11th Airborne Division.
Activated in 1943 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, the 11th Airborne Division formed around one parachute regiment and two glider infantry regiments. Deployed to the Philippines, the division fought grueling campaigns on Leyte and Luzon, where its paratroopers and glider infantry broke through fortified terrain and shattered Japanese defenses.
The Los Baños Raid (February 23, 1945)
The division’s signature action was the Los Baños raid south of Manila—an audacious daylight parachute-and-amphibious operation led by elements of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment with Filipino guerrillas. Dropping at first light and coordinating closely with amphibious forces, the raiders liberated more than 2,000 civilian internees.
Operation Gypsy, Aparri — Final U.S. Combat Jump of WWII
In June 1945, the 511th PIR spearheaded the jump near Aparri in northern Luzon during Operation Gypsy. The operation is generally recognized as the final U.S. combat parachute assault of World War II.
Occupation Duty and Korea Era
After Japan’s surrender, the 11th Airborne moved to Japan for occupation duties. During the Korean War, the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, whose lineage was closely tied to the 11th Airborne, executed combat parachute assaults at Sukchon/Sunchon in 1950 and Munsan-ni in 1951. Although the full division did not fight in Korea as a division, the 187th ARCT carried forward its airborne combat tradition.
Europe, Inactivation, and the Air Assault (Test) Chapter
In the mid-1950s the division moved to Germany during the early Cold War, then was inactivated in 1958. A few years later, the Army activated the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) at Fort Benning. This experimental formation developed organizations and tactics for helicopter-borne airmobile warfare. In 1965, its personnel and equipment were used in the formation of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), which employed the concept in Vietnam.
Reactivation in Alaska (June 6, 2022)
The Army reactivated the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska to provide a unified headquarters for forces focused on Arctic and Indo-Pacific operations. The division includes two principal maneuver brigades with different roles: the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Fort Wainwright and the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The 2nd Brigade carries the division’s current airborne brigade mission.
- Mission focus: Arctic warfare, rapid deployment, joint operations, and crisis response across the Indo-Pacific and polar regions.
- Airborne infantry: Units within the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) include the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment.
- Airborne cavalry: 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne).
- Airborne fires: 2nd Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment (Airborne).
- Identity: The historic “Angels” identity continues today as the “Arctic Angels.”
Distinctive Insignia, Identity, and Culture
- Shoulder sleeve insignia: The division’s distinctive winged-angel design.
- Nicknames: “Angels” / “Arctic Angels.”
- Ethos: Airborne heritage combined with modern Arctic and cold-weather expertise.
Key Figures and Moments
- MG Joseph M. Swing: WWII division commander who led the Angels through the Philippines campaigns.
- 511th PIR: Central to both the Los Baños rescue and Operation Gypsy.
- 11th Air Assault Division (Test): Helped establish the doctrine and organizations that shaped Army airmobile warfare.
Honors and Campaigns (Selected)
- World War II: Leyte and Luzon, including Los Baños and Operation Gypsy.
- Korea-era heritage: 187th ARCT combat jumps and operations.
- Modern mission: Arctic and Indo-Pacific readiness under the reactivated division headquarters.
Why the 11th Matters Today
The 11th Airborne Division connects the Army’s World War II airborne heritage, the experimental development of airmobile warfare, and today’s demanding Arctic mission. The reactivated Arctic Angels combine cold-weather expertise with the airborne capability concentrated in the division’s 2nd Brigade.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 11th Airborne Division.