320th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

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      The 320th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment (AFAR) has delivered firepower for America’s paratroopers since World War I. From its glider landings in Normandy and Holland to combat jumps in Vietnam and Panama, the 320th has been the artillery backbone of both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 320th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.

      The 320th Field Artillery Regiment was first constituted in 1917 and assigned to the 82nd Division during World War I. Its gunners supported the division in France during the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, establishing the unit’s combat lineage alongside America’s infantry.

      World War II – Glider Artillery

      Reorganized as the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, the unit joined the 101st Airborne Division and became one of the most celebrated glider artillery battalions of the war. Its paratrooper-artillerymen participated in every major campaign of the 101st:

      • Normandy (D-Day, June 1944): Gliders carried in the 320th’s artillery, which provided essential fire support during the defense of Carentan and the hedgerows.

      • Holland (Operation Market Garden, 1944): Glider-borne howitzers supported the division’s advance on Eindhoven and defense along “Hell’s Highway.”

      • Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge, 1944): The 320th’s guns played a decisive role in the defense of the encircled town, firing nearly nonstop under siege conditions.

      Vietnam War

      Elements of the 320th, reorganized as 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery (Airborne) and attached to the 101st Airborne Division, deployed to Vietnam. The battalion supported infantry brigades with direct and sustained artillery fire in some of the war’s fiercest combat, earning multiple unit commendations.

      Cold War & Modern Deployments

      Throughout the Cold War, the 320th’s battalions continued to serve in airborne and later air assault roles as the 101st transformed into an air-mobile division. Its artillery remained parachute-qualified, and units were often on call for contingency deployments.

      In Operation Just Cause (Panama, 1989), the 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery (Airborne) jumped into Panama alongside the 82nd Airborne Division to provide artillery fire support during the seizure of Torrijos/Tocumen Airfields.

      During Desert Storm, battalions of the 320th deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, providing artillery support to deep helicopter strikes and rapid armored thrusts.

      Since 9/11, the 320th has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, delivering precision fires in counterinsurgency operations while maintaining readiness for rapid deployment.

      Structure & Identity

      The 320th AFAR has multiple battalions, historically aligned under both the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division:

      • 1-320th FA (Top Guns) – 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

      • 2-320th FA (Balls of the Eagle) – 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

      • 3-320th FA (Red Knight Raiders) – 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

      • 4-320th FA (Thunder) – historically airborne; combat jump in Panama with the 82nd Airborne Division

      Motto: “Volens et Potens” — “Willing and Able.”

      Distinctive Honors

      • Combat Jumps & Glider Assaults: Normandy, Holland, Panama

      • Decorations: Presidential Unit Citations, French Croix de Guerre, Belgian Fourragère, Meritorious Unit Commendations from Vietnam through the Global War on Terror

      • Notable Service: The 320th’s guns were critical at Bastogne, one of the most storied moments in airborne history.

      Enduring Significance

      The 320th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment embodies the airborne artillery ethos—fast, accurate, and willing to deploy by parachute or helicopter into the fight. From glider landings in Europe to combat jumps in Panama and modern combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 320th’s paratrooper-artillerymen have been the “long arm” of America’s airborne infantry.

      Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 320th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.

      Unit descriptions and history have been sourced from Army.mil, Wikipedia.org
      Any appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.