The British Air Landing Battalion

The Air Landing Battalions served alongside the Parachute troops in the Airborne Divisions.  Unlike the Paratroopers, they were formed from existing Infantry Battalions that were converted wholesale to the role, one at least having previously been trained for mountain warfare!  Because of the risks involved in their operations even before meeting the enemy though, men still had to volunteer rather than simply being selected.  They arrived at the battlefield in wooden gliders, which enabled them to transport heavier weapons and some vehicles

The below link leads to a description of the official War Establishment for an Air Landing Battalion derived from II/239/2, notified in Army Council Instructions 7th April 1943, effective 12th March 1943.

My thanks also to Steve Manley for sharing his research into the Loading tables of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, which as ever answered some questions while posing other new ones!

The British Air Landing Battalion 1943 to 1945

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