This is one I remember reading when I was a kid, but could never verify it. Is it true that the French did an experimental drop of troops by parachute, from an observation balloon at the front, towards the end of 1918? Sounds highly unlikely, but you never know...... Regards, Gordon
Brigadier Mitchell was planning a airborne raid for the planned 1919 offensive. I don't know how succesful it would have been given the technology of the day.
i think that i had heard something about this, but i wouldnt think it would have been used in combat.
Wsant the plan more for an "Airmobile" movement, Each aircraft to carry one soldier and land in a field behind the lines. Arranging 500 2 seaters could have taken some work, but the US alone planned to build 1500 DH-9's in the 6 months after Nov 1918. Stores had been dropped from aircraft in Mesopotamia in 1915-16 and by parachute in the August offensives in 1918. I fail to see what effect dropping a Bn/Bde/Rgt behind the trenchlines would have had, given the regular failure of the main offensives. A Bridge too far, 25 years early??
Assuming the drop went perfectly to plan, and a a unit (say a brigade) could be dropped within striking distance of the frontline trench, then I would expect it would create considerable confusion amongst the enemy. That said, I'm completely certain that the technology of the day would make such a drop, and the coordination of forces required to make it work, impossible.
