The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment is a historic airborne unit first activated in 1942 and famed for its World War II service. Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, the regiment parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and fought in the fierce battle for the La Fière causeway, a key crossing that opened the way inland from Utah Beach. Later, with the 17th Airborne Division, the 507th fought in the Ardennes and participated in Operation Varsity, the massive airborne assault across the Rhine. Today, the regiment serves at Fort Benning, Georgia, where it trains America’s paratroopers at the Airborne School. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 507th Infantry Regiment.
he 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) was activated on 20 July 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and trained as part of the 82nd Airborne Division. On 6 June 1944, the regiment parachuted into Normandy during the D-Day invasion. Heavy German resistance, poor weather, and navigational errors scattered paratroopers across the countryside. Despite these challenges, groups of 507th troopers rallied and fought alongside other airborne units in some of the most critical actions of the campaign.
The Battle of La Fière Causeway
One of the regiment’s defining engagements was the battle for the La Fière causeway, a narrow stone bridge and roadway spanning flooded fields west of Sainte-Mère-Église. German forces defended the position with tanks, artillery, and infantry, knowing it was a vital choke point for Allied forces moving inland from Utah Beach.
For three days, paratroopers of the 507th PIR, joined by other scattered elements of the 82nd, held their ground under relentless German counterattacks. The fighting was brutal—close-quarters combat, artillery barrages, and armored assaults pressed the airborne line to the limit. Despite heavy casualties, the 507th and its comrades secured the causeway, opening the route for reinforcements and vehicles moving inland from the beachhead.
The stand at La Fière became a symbol of airborne grit and sacrifice, demonstrating how small, scattered units could seize and hold ground of decisive importance.
Later World War II Service
After Normandy, the regiment was reassigned to the 17th Airborne Division. In September 1944, the 507th fought during Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge, helping to repel Germany’s last major offensive in the Ardennes.
In March 1945, the 507th joined Operation Varsity, the largest single-day airborne assault in history, as Allied forces crossed the Rhine River into Germany. The regiment’s performance helped secure the bridgehead and push the Allies deeper into the heart of the Third Reich.
Postwar and Modern Role
Following World War II, the 507th underwent inactivations and reactivations as the Army reorganized its airborne forces. Today, the regiment is reactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia, where it commands and operates the U.S. Army Airborne School. Its battalions are responsible for training thousands of U.S. and allied Soldiers every year, from ground week through jump week, producing America’s paratroopers.
Legacy and Honors
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Campaigns: Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
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Key Figures: Private First Class Joe E. Mann, Medal of Honor recipient for sacrificing his life during Operation Market Garden.
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Decorations: Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre, Netherlands Military Order of William.
From the hedgerows of Normandy and the stone bridge at La Fière to the Rhine crossing and the modern skies over Fort Benning, the 507th Infantry Regiment stands as a guardian of the airborne legacy.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 507th Infantry Regiment.