{"title":"80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was activated and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, on September 3, 1942, as the division was converting from a standard infantry division into America’s first airborne division. Under Lieutenant Colonel Whitfield Jack, the battalion was organized with a headquarters element, medical detachment, and six batteries. Its structure reflected the hybrid needs of an airborne division: Batteries A, B, and C served primarily as anti-tank batteries, originally with 37mm guns and later 57mm guns better suited to glider delivery, while Batteries D, E, and F served in the anti-aircraft role with heavy machine guns for air defense and infantry support. The battalion trained at Fort Bragg, Fort Fisher, Maxton Air Base, and Camp Edwards before deploying overseas in spring 1943, reaching Casablanca in May as part of the 82nd’s movement toward the Mediterranean theater. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough created as an anti-aircraft battalion, the 80th quickly became one of the 82nd Airborne Division’s most flexible combat-support units. During the Italian campaign, elements landed at Maiori by way of Salerno Bay on September 10, 1943, supporting Fifth Army and working with Ranger forces under Colonel William O. Darby. Its anti-aircraft batteries, headquarters, and medical detachment earned a Presidential Unit Citation for actions in Italy before the battalion moved to Naples for patrol, guard, and air-defense duties. In November 1943, the 80th left the Mediterranean and moved to Northern Ireland, then to England, where it prepared for the invasion of France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor Operation Neptune on D-Day, the 80th entered Normandy in separate waves. Batteries A, B, and C departed Ramsbury Airfield by glider on June 5, 1944, with A and B in Waco CG-4A gliders and C in British Horsa gliders. Batteries A and B landed near Sainte-Mère-Église in the early morning of June 6 and had 57mm guns in action that same day, including positions near the La Fière bridge area. The remaining batteries came ashore with the Howell seaborne force, reaching Utah Beach on June 8 after German S-boat attacks delayed the convoy. In Normandy, the battalion was parceled out to support the 505th, 507th, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments and the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, using its anti-tank guns and machine guns against German armor, artillery, troop carriers, aircraft, and infantry positions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter refitting in England, the 80th fought in Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Battery A landed in Holland on September 17, Battery B on September 18, and the remainder of the battalion followed on September 23. As in Normandy, the battalion was employed wherever the 82nd needed mobile firepower: Batteries A, B, and C provided anti-tank support to the division’s infantry regiments, while D, E, and F protected gun positions and delivered direct fire in support of the infantry. Battery E was converted into an anti-tank battery during the Holland fighting, further showing how the unit’s role evolved from nominal air defense into a broader airborne anti-armor and direct-fire support mission. The battalion remained with the 82nd through the Holland campaign and then moved to Camp Suippes, France, in November 1944. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 80th’s final major campaign came in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. Rushed forward with the 82nd Airborne Division in December 1944, the battalion reached the Werbomont area and supported the division’s defense along the Salm River, including actions tied to the 505th and 508th PIRs and the 325th GIR. Army Historical Foundation accounts note that the 82nd relied on the 80th’s 57mm anti-tank guns, with Batteries A, B, and C supporting infantry battalions, Batteries D and F returning to air-defense duties, and Battery E held as a reserve of firepower. During the fighting around Cheneux and the Salm River line, members of the 80th fought in close contact with German armor and infantry; Lieutenant Jake Wertich and Corporal Stokes M. Taylor were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions covering the withdrawal of an anti-tank gun crew under overwhelming fire. The battalion later supported the 82nd’s advance into Germany, occupation duty in Berlin, and the division’s return to the United States. By the end of the war, the 80th had earned six battle stars, two invasion arrowheads, a Presidential Unit Citation, and a reputation as one of the 82nd’s hard-used but lesser-known combat units before being deactivated in 1946.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"80th-airborne-anti-aircraft-artillery-battalion-t-shirt","title":"80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion T-shirt","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur original design honors the 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion; one of the 82nd Airborne's hard-used but lesser-known WWII combat units.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard Color T-Shirts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e-------\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"list-style-type: none;\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAthletic fit - runs small\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4.3 oz., 100% combed ring-spun cotton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSelf 3\/8\" shoulder to shoulder binding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrew neck\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Airborne Apparel Co.","offers":[{"title":"Artillery Red \/ S","offer_id":49597465690351,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-RD-SM","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Artillery Red \/ M","offer_id":49597465723119,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-RD-MD","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Artillery Red \/ L","offer_id":49597465755887,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-RD-LG","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Artillery Red \/ XL","offer_id":49597465788655,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-RD-XL","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Artillery Red \/ 2XL","offer_id":49597465821423,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-RD-2X","price":30.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Artillery Red \/ 3XL","offer_id":49597465854191,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-RD-3X","price":31.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ S","offer_id":49597465264367,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-SM","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ M","offer_id":49597465297135,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-MD","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ L","offer_id":49597465329903,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-LG","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ XL","offer_id":49597465362671,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-XL","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ 2XL","offer_id":49597465395439,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-2X","price":30.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ 3XL","offer_id":49597465428207,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-3X","price":31.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ 4X","offer_id":49597465460975,"sku":"80AAA-001R-NL207-BK-4X","price":31.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OD Green \/ S","offer_id":49597465493743,"sku":"80AAA-001-NL207-OD-SM","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OD Green \/ M","offer_id":49597465526511,"sku":"80AAA-001-NL207-OD-MD","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OD Green \/ L","offer_id":49597465559279,"sku":"80AAA-001-NL207-OD-LG","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OD Green \/ XL","offer_id":49597465592047,"sku":"80AAA-001-NL207-OD-XL","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OD Green \/ 2XL","offer_id":49597465624815,"sku":"80AAA-001-NL207-OD-2X","price":30.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OD Green \/ 3XL","offer_id":49597465657583,"sku":"80AAA-001-NL207-OD-3X","price":31.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0258\/0155\/6047\/files\/80AAA-001RV2-NL207-RD.webp?v=1779921561"}],"url":"https:\/\/airborneapparelcompany.com\/collections\/80th-airborne-anti-aircraft-artillery-battalion.oembed","provider":"Airborne Apparel Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}