US AIRBORNE

Edward Sachs

The 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion was formed on July 1, 1941, at Fort Kobbe, in the Panama Canal Zone on the Pacific side. Initially, it was neither a parachute battalion nor a glider unit but was designed as an air-landing infantry unit modeled after the German approach used during the assault on Crete. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Harry M. Melasky, the battalion was stationed in Panama in response to Germany's increasing interest in Central America. However, by mid-1943, as the German threat in the region diminished, the 550th was redeployed to the United States, reorganized as the 550th Glider Infantry Battalion, and began specialized glider operations training.

In 1944, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Edward Sachs, the battalion completed its training and was deployed for Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France, on August 15, 1944. This mission marked their first combat engagement. However, losses were significant. During the glider landings, eight soldiers were killed, and 20 were injured. In the capture of the town of Le Muy, one soldier was killed, and 15 were wounded. Despite these losses, the battalion played a critical role in capturing the town, contributing to the operation's success.

Following this initial success, the 550th was engaged in a challenging campaign in the Alpes-Maritimes along the French-Italian border. Their primary mission was to secure roads and mountain passes to prevent German forces from regrouping and launching counterattacks. Fighting in this region was particularly difficult due to the rugged terrain and often hostile weather conditions. The battalion conducted reconnaissance operations and launched targeted assaults on fortified German positions. Using guerrilla tactics, they leveraged their mobility and familiarity with the terrain to harass the enemy and disrupt their supply lines.

The 550th participated in several key engagements around the towns of Grasse and Cannes, repelling multiple German counterattacks and inflicting significant casualties. These efforts greatly contributed to securing the region for Allied forces, and the battalion's ability to operate effectively in such challenging terrain was vital to their success.

After the First Airborne Task Force was disbanded in November 1944, the 550th was sent to Aldbourne, England. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the battalion was integrated into the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division. In February 1945, it was consolidated with the 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment to reinforce the latter’s 3rd Battalion. Both units were ultimately disbanded in Belgium on March 1, 1945.