555th Parachute Infantry Battalion

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, known as the “Triple Nickles,” holds a unique place in U.S. Army history as the nation’s first all-Black paratrooper unit during the era of military segregation. Its Soldiers broke barriers in the airborne community and later carried out a pioneering domestic airborne firefighting mission during World War II.

The original 555th Parachute Infantry Company was activated on 30 December 1943 at Fort Benning, Georgia. By late 1944, it had expanded into the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion.

World War II: Operation Firefly

Although the battalion did not receive an overseas combat mission, in 1945 it was sent to the Pacific Northwest for Operation Firefly, where its paratroopers worked with the U.S. Forest Service to fight wildfires and respond to the threat posed by Japanese balloon bombs.

The Triple Nickles became military smokejumpers, parachuting into remote areas to fight fires and pioneering techniques that contributed to the development of airborne firefighting.

Legacy and Integration

After Operation Firefly, the battalion returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 555th was inactivated in December 1947, and its personnel were integrated into the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division—an important milestone in the integration of the U.S. Army.

During the Korean War, several former Triple Nickles served in the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), an all-Black Ranger company that conducted a combat parachute assault at Munsan-ni in 1951.

Current Status

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion is inactive today, but its legacy remains central to the history of Army airborne forces, military integration, and the smokejumper mission.

Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (“Triple Nickles”).