The 504th Infantry Regiment, the legendary “Devils in Baggy Pants” of the 82nd Airborne Division, has been fighting America’s battles since 1942. Its battalions—the Red Devils (1st Battalion), White Devils (2nd Battalion), and Blue Devils (3rd Battalion)—earned their reputations in Sicily, Salerno, Nijmegen, and the Battle of the Bulge, and have continued to serve in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 504th Infantry Regiment.
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) was activated on 1 May 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Its first combat action came in July 1943 during Operation Husky, the airborne assault on Sicily—the first U.S. regimental combat parachute jump in history. Just two months later, the 504th conducted another combat jump into Salerno, Italy, seizing ground against fierce German opposition and helping to secure the beachhead.
The regiment endured brutal fighting during the Italian campaign, particularly at Anzio, where German soldiers reportedly referred to them as “Devils in Baggy Pants”—a nickname that became the regiment’s enduring identity.
Normandy and Market Garden
Due to heavy casualties in Italy, the 504th did not participate in the D-Day jump into Normandy in June 1944. By September, however, it was refitted and ready for Operation Market Garden. The regiment parachuted into the Netherlands near Nijmegen, where its paratroopers fought bitter battles to secure the Nijmegen Bridge and surrounding high ground.
The Battle of the Bulge and War’s End
In December 1944, the 504th rushed into Belgium to help blunt the German Ardennes offensive. Fighting in freezing winter conditions, the Devils held critical ground and contributed to halting the advance. The regiment ended the war with a record of tough combat across Sicily, Italy, Holland, Belgium, and Germany.
Postwar and Modern Deployments
After World War II, the 504th remained part of the 82nd Airborne Division and continued to write history. Its battalions deployed to the Dominican Republic (1965), Vietnam, Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury, 1983), Panama (Operation Just Cause, 1989), the Persian Gulf (1991), and multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Battalion Nicknames and Traditions
The 504th’s identity is deeply tied to its battalions, each carrying its own storied nickname:
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1st Battalion, 504th Infantry – “Red Devils”
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2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry – “White Devils”
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3rd Battalion, 504th Infantry – “Blue Devils”
These names reflect their WWII heritage and continue to be used proudly by paratroopers serving in the regiment today. Collectively, they embody the larger regimental spirit of the “Devils in Baggy Pants.”
Legacy and Honors
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Campaigns: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, plus modern campaigns in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
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Motto: “Strike Hold.”
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Decorations: Presidential Unit Citations, French Croix de Guerre, Netherlands Military Order of William, Belgian Fourragère.
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Key Figures: Colonel Reuben H. Tucker III, who commanded the regiment through its most grueling battles in WWII, remains a revered leader in airborne history.
From the Red, White, and Blue Devils of the battalions to the legendary “Devils in Baggy Pants” nickname earned at Anzio, the 504th Infantry Regiment has stood as one of the fiercest and most decorated airborne regiments in U.S. Army history.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 504th Infantry Regiment.