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In the early morning hours of November 8, 1942, Allied forces launched Operation Torch—the first large-scale joint Anglo-American amphibious assault of World War II. The operation targeted key ports and airfields along the Atlantic coast of Morocco and the Mediterranean coast of Algeria, aiming to secure French-North African territories held by the Vichy regime. Its objectives were to establish a foothold in North Africa, relieve pressure on the Soviet Union, and set the stage for the eventual invasion of southern Europe. Operation Torch holds a special place in U.S. military history as the site of the first American combat parachute jump. On that same day, paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (2-509 PIR) conducted a daring drop near Oran, Algeria, to seize the Tafaraoui and La Sénia airfields ahead of the amphibious landings. Despite significant challenges—including poor weather, navigational errors, and scattered aircraft—the mission marked the beginning of U.S. airborne combat operations. While the airborne element faced confusion and unexpected resistance, the overall operation succeeded in securing its primary objectives. The capture of the airfields and surrounding areas allowed Allied forces to strengthen their foothold in North Africa, paving the way for the campaign in Tunisia and the eventual invasion of Italy. For the men of the 509th, the jump into Algeria became a defining moment—an act of courage and innovation that established the U.S. Army’s airborne forces as a formidable combat arm. Operation Torch not only represented a major strategic victory for the Allies but also the birth of America’s airborne legacy. What began as a risky experiment in North Africa would evolve into the large-scale, precision airborne assaults that later defined Allied operations in Sicily, Normandy, and beyond. |
