Paratrooper! [Paperback]

Gerard M. Devlin (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1St Edition edition (October 1986)
• ISBN-10: 0312596545
• ISBN-13: 978-0312596545
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Paratrooper!, The Definitive Work!", January 4, 2011

By 

Greenknight01 "[e-mail]" (Some where in New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paratrooper! (Paperback)

I read this book back in 1979. The Saint Martin's 1st ed. date says 1986 and this is wrong! This is the definitive work on early American Paratroopers, from pre WW2 through the end of WW2. The book is extremely well researched and written. Dispite the 600 pages of the book it is very readable and has many early photographs. The text covers pre WW2 development of the historical parachuting concept. The book also touchs on the WW1 attempts at an "Airborne Division". Developments in other nations such as Russia, Japan, France, Germany and Great Britain are discussed by Devlin. It deals with the original Test Platoon of pre-war fame. Devlin discusses the Marine contribution to Airborne in WW2. He has unique chapters on such brave unsung heros from the 555th Parachute Infantry Battaion (African American)and their domestic yet strategically important "Smoke Jumper" mission in the Northwestern U.S. He deals with all of the major units, campaigns, and Airborne personalities in great detail. This is a must for the Airborne forces history enthusiast, or any WW2 history fan in general! Also please see: "Silent Wings: The Saga of the U.S. Army and Marine Combat Glider Pilots During World War II", by Gerard Devlin.

Salute from a 23 year retired "leg soldier", Major Devlin!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Paratrooper Bible, August 18, 2010

By 

John E. Nevola "Author" (Mount Olive, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paratrooper! (Paperback)

For those of you who had their interest in paratroopers picqued by the Band of Brothers HBO miniseries, this is a must-read book. While it was published over 30 years ago, it remains the definitive work on all aspects of the airborne infantry in World War II. It not only takes the reader through the development of the "vertical envelopment" concept but includes the training, organization and equipment for the early airborne units.

Paratrooper! also addresses the formation and missions of Marine parachutists as well as glider-borne troops. In addition to the more well known combat jumps of Sicily, Normandy, Holland and the Rhine, the author reveals the facts about the lesser known airborne failures in North Africa as well as the disasterous drop on Avellino, Italy. Lesser known airborne operations in the Pacific are also discussed in detail.

At over 600 pages, this fully indexed and footnoted work has an extensive, impressive bibliography and was heavily used in the research for my historical novel. Read this book if you are a fan of the airborne!

John E. Nevola
Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II