US AIRBORNE

Joseph Hinton

The 88th Glider Infantry Regiment was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on October 10, 1941. General Marshal ordered its formation due to the impressive results of maneuvers that took place in Panama, in which Company C of the 550th Infantry Airborne and the 50th Parachute Battalion participated.

At its inception, the regiment consisted of 2 officers and 500 men, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Eldridge G. Chapman, who would later command the 13th Airborne Division.

During the next 6 months, the 88th was employed to define and experiment with new methods for loading men and securing equipment for airborne missions. The result of these experiments was the development of various troop transports and gliders.

In April 1942, the 88th's personnel increased by 1000 men to become a battalion. Colonel Robert C. Aloe took command, replacing Colonel Chapman, who was promoted to Executive Officer in Airborne Command by General Lee. The following month, the 88th left Fort Benning, Georgia, for Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In June 1942, the 88th was reorganized and became the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment. Since no gliders were available, the training of the 88th was primarily infantry training. Actual airborne training was mostly theoretical.

In December 1942, Colonel Joseph Hinton replaced Colonel Aloe. He began studying advanced glider techniques. In April 1943, the 88th was assigned to the first airborne infantry brigade with the 326th GIR and the 507th PIR. After participating in a series of maneuvers, the 88th GIR returned to Fort Bragg and later joined the newly formed 13th Airborne Division on December 1, 1943. Colonel Samuel Roth, back from the North African campaign, assumed command of the 88th GIR in April 1944.

On January 13, 1945, the 88th moved from Camp Mackall to Camp Shanks in New York. Six days later, the 88th GIR arrived by train in New York to board the USAT George Washington. On February 6, the ship docked at Le Havre, France. The regiment was then stationed at Camp Lucky Strike.

On March 1, 1945, a reorganization of the unit occurred, and it was incorporated into the 326th GIR to form three battalions. During this time, the 13th Airborne Division was put on alert several times for operations, but each time the operation was canceled.

On May 7, 1945, the German forces surrendered. The 13th and 101st Airborne were notified that they would be redeployed to the Pacific Front. However, the atomic bombs dropped on Japan ended the war in August 1945. That same month, the regiment boarded two ships, the USS Cranston Victory and the USS Georgetown Victory. The 326th GIR arrived in New York on August 27, 1945, and was deactivated at Camp Kilmer.