--- title: "101st Airborne Division" description: "The 101st Airborne Division (“Screaming Eagles”) parachuted into Normandy on D-Day to secure the exits from Utah Beach. Explore its actions at Brécourt Manor, Carentan, and later battles in Market Garden and Bastogne." url: "https://www.normandy1944.info/home/unit-histories/101st-airborne-division" date: "2026-07-10T07:37:13+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # 101st Airborne Division ### World War II: Formation and role The 101st Airborne Division, known as the **“Screaming Eagles”** was activated on 16 August 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, under the command of William C. Lee. It was formed as an airborne infantry division trained for parachute and glider operations. Designed for deployment behind enemy lines, the division was tasked with securing key objectives in advance of larger ground operations. The division departed for overseas service on 5 September 1943 from the New York Port of Embarkation and arrived in the United Kingdom on 15 September 1943. For Operation Overlord, the division was assigned to support the landings at Utah Beach by seizing causeways, disrupting German defenses, and securing routes inland across the flooded lowlands of the Cotentin Peninsula. ### Early history Following its activation, the division was organized as one of the U.S. Army’s first airborne formations and underwent extensive training in parachute and glider assault operations. The division adopted the “Screaming Eagles” insignia, reflecting its airborne role. After training in the United States, it deployed to the United Kingdom to prepare for operations in northwest Europe. ### Command chronology (World War II) #### Rank Commander Period **Major General William C. Lee** 16 Aug 1942 to 5 Feb 1944 **Major General Maxwell D. Taylor** 14 Mar 1944 to Aug 1945 **Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe** Acting commander during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944) ### Order of Battle (World War II) This technical list represents the core structure of the 101st Airborne Division during its operations in northwest Europe. **Infantry Regiments** - 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment - 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment - 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment - 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (including 1st Battalion, 401st GIR) Division Artillery - 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion - 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion - 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion - 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion **Combat Support Units** - 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion - 101st Airborne Signal Company - 81st Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion - 326th Airborne Medical Company - 326th Airborne Ordnance Maintenance Company ## Normandy Campaign ### Airborne Assault (Night of 5–6 June 1944) Shortly after midnight on 6 June 1944, paratroopers of the division began landing in Normandy. Units of the 501st, 502nd, and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments were widely dispersed due to anti-aircraft fire, weather conditions, and navigation difficulties. Despite this dispersion, small groups assembled and began carrying out their assigned missions. During the Normandy campaign, the division was commanded by **Maxwell D. Taylor.** ### Glider reinforcements In addition to the parachute assault, elements of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment were landed by glider in multiple lifts on 6 and 7 June. These forces brought heavier weapons and reinforcements, enabling the division to consolidate its scattered units and sustain operations inland. ### Securing the Utah Beach exits The division’s primary mission was to secure the exits from Utah Beach, particularly the causeways crossing flooded terrain behind the coastline. Units of the **502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment** secured northern exits, including positions near Audouville-la-Hubert. Other elements disrupted German defenses and secured key routes inland, enabling the advance of the [**4th Infantry Division**](https://www.normandy1944.info/home/unit-histories/4th-infantry-division) following its landing. ### Brécourt Manor On D-Day, elements of **E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment** located and neutralized a German artillery battery at Brécourt Manor. The position was reduced using small-unit tactics, eliminating a threat to forces landing at Utah Beach. ### Carentan and “Purple Heart Lane” A key objective of the division was the capture of Carentan, a critical road junction linking Utah and Omaha beachheads. The approach to the town required advancing along a narrow causeway under sustained German fire, an action later associated with the term “Purple Heart Lane.” From **10 to 14 June 1944**, the division engaged in sustained combat to secure the town. The capture of Carentan enabled the consolidation of the American beachheads into a continuous front. ## Continued operations in Northwest Europe (1944–1945) ### Operation Market Garden In September 1944, the division participated in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. Its objectives included securing key bridges and maintaining the corridor of advance, including the route later known as “Hell’s Highway.” The division captured several objectives, including Eindhoven, although the overall operation did not achieve its strategic goal. ### Ardennes offensive (Bastogne) During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the division was deployed to the Belgian town of Bastogne. The division held defensive positions while surrounded by German forces until relieved by advancing Allied units. Elements of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment played a key role in holding the southern sector of the perimeter. ### Final operations in Germany In early 1945, the division resumed offensive operations, advancing into Germany as part of the Allied push toward final victory. It participated in operations leading to the defeat of German forces and was involved in the liberation of camps and detention facilities in Germany. ### Operational significance The 101st Airborne Division’s combat record reflects the operational role of airborne forces in the European Theater: - Airborne assault: Normandy (D-Day) - Control of key terrain: Utah Beach exits and causeways - Linking operations: Capture of Carentan - Small-unit actions: Brécourt Manor - Airborne operations: Netherlands (Market Garden) - Defensive operations: Bastogne - Final advance: Germany, 1945 Its actions in Normandy were particularly significant. Despite widely dispersed landings, the division secured critical objectives that enabled the expansion of the Utah Beach lodgment and the consolidation of Allied forces in the Cotentin Peninsula. Combat chronicle - 22 January 1944: VIII Corps, but attached to First Army. - 13 March 1944: First Army. - 6 June 1944: VII Corps, First Army - June 1944: VIII Corps. - 15 July 1944: Ninth Army. - 12 August 1944: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Allied (Abn) Army. - 18 September 1944: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the British XXX Corps, British Second Army. - 21 September 1944: British I (Abn) Corps. - 23 September 1944: British VIII Corps. - 28 September 1944: British XII Corps. - 9 November 1944: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the Canadian II Corps, Canadian First Army. - 17 December 1944: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group. - 26 December 1944: III Corps. - 29 December 1944: VIII Corps. - 19 January 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the Third Army, 12th Army Group. - 20 January 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the XV Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. - 26 January 1945: VI Corps. - 28 February 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Allied (Abn) Army. - 1 April 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the XXII Corps, Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group. - 6 April 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the 12th Army Group. - 17 April 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. - 23 April 1945: VI Corps. - 4 May 1945: XXI Corps. Sources used United States Army Center of Military History United States Army in World War II (“Green Books” series), U.S. Army official history # Screaming Eagles ![101st Airborne Division](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/54/101st-airborne-patch-544d4639.png) Black badge with black arc streaming above; on the badge is white screaming eagle and the word: "Airborne" appearing on arc --- Original WWII 101st Airborne Division patch from the author’s personal collection ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/US-Paratrooper-Jump-Wings.png) US Paratrooper Jump Wings --- ### Specific information for this unit - Activated on 15 August 1942 - Inactivated on: 30 November 1945 (Europe) - Went overseas on 5 September 1943 - 214 (U.S. Army records) days in combat - Nickname of this unit was Screaming Eagles --- 101st Airborne Division statistics Killed in action: 2.400 Wounded in action: 8.500 Missing in action: 800 Captured: 350 Total casualties: 12.00 - 13.000 --- Presidential citation awarded ![2](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/e2/Presidential-citation-us-e2dda4dc.png&src=images/patches/Presidential-citation-us.png&thumbnail=300,151,&hash=1fd9722f) Unit Citations: 2 --- This page was updated on: 25 April 2026 #### Unit awards of the 101st Airborne Division ![Medal of Honor](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/42/Medal-of-honor-us-42276b8c.png&src=images/medals/american/Medal-of-honor-us.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=58b7843c) Medal of Honor Awarded: 2 ![Distinguished Service Cross](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/fd/distinguished-service-cross-us-fdb593e4.png&src=images/medals/american/distinguished-service-cross-us.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=079a8f77) Distinguished Service Cross Awarded: 9 ![Silver Star](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/5a/Silver-Star-5a694365.png&src=images/medals/american/Silver-Star.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=7b9f2266) Silver Star Awarded: 432 ![Legion of Merit](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/ac/Legion-of-merit-us-ac9c343d.png&src=images/medals/american/Legion-of-merit-us.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=9f24d40d) Legion of Merit Awarded: 10 ![Soldier's Medal](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/90/Soldiers-Medal-us-9080c9f1.png&src=images/medals/american/Soldiers-Medal-us.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=a65de79b) Soldier's Medal Awarded: 56 ![Bronze Star](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/0b/us-bronze-star-0b048274.png&src=images/medals/american/us-bronze-star.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=c7f35eb8) Bronze Star Awarded: 1.515 ![Air Medal](https://www.normandy1944.info/component/ajax/?p=cache/37/Air-Medal-us-37bcf587.png&src=images/medals/american/Air-Medal-us.png&thumbnail=150,209,&hash=ad789a91) Air Medal Awarded: 41 Commanders of the 101st Airborne Division during WW2 ![Maj. Gen. William C. Lee](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/american/army/10st-airborne/commanders/Maj-Gen-William-C-Lee-US.jpg) ### Maj. Gen. William C. Lee ![Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/american/army/10st-airborne/commanders/Maj-Gen-Maxwell-D-Taylor-US.jpg) ### Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor ![Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/american/army/10st-airborne/commanders/Maj-Gen-Anthony-C-McAuliffe-US.jpg) ### Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe ![Brig. Gen. William N. Gillmore](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/american/army/10st-airborne/commanders/Maj-Gen-William-N-Gillmore-US.jpg) ### Brig. Gen. William N. Gillmore ![Brig. Gen. Gerald St. C. Mickle](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/american/army/10st-airborne/commanders/Maj-Gen-Gerald-St-C-Mickle-US.jpg) ### Brig. Gen. Gerald St. C. Mickle ![Brig. Gen. Stuart Cutler](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/units/american/army/10st-airborne/commanders/Maj-Gen-Stuart-Cutler-US.jpg) ### Brig. Gen. Stuart Cutler ### Campaigns of the 101st Airborne Division ### Normandy ### Rhineland ### Ardennes-Alsace ### Central Europe #### Cite this historical page I aim to provide accurate, open-access accurate historical records. If you are using this content for academic research, articles or educational projects, please use the citation below to credit this source. 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Explore its actions at Brécourt Manor, Carentan, and later battles in Market Garden and Bastogne.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/101st-airborne-patch.png" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Normandy1944.info – D-Day, Normandy and Beyond", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.normandy1944.info/images/logo/D-Day-Normandy-1944-WW2-logo.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank C. Everards", "url": "https://www.normandy1944.info/blog/how-it-started" }, "datePublished": "2021-01-22T11:48:25+01:00", "dateCreated": "2021-01-22T11:48:25+01:00", "dateModified": "2026-04-25T17:56:17+02:00" } ```