Q&A · 34:58-35:29

Airborne forces were not unique to the D-Day landing plan

D-Day's airborne component followed earlier combinations of air and maritime movement in Norway and Crete.

Question

Was D-Day the only amphibious invasion to feature airborne troops?

Short answer

No. Earlier operations in Norway and Crete also combined airborne assault with forces moving or arriving by sea.

Notes

Airborne troops had already been combined with maritime movement before 1944. Germany used airborne forces in Norway, while the assault on Crete began from the air and then depended on Italian amphibious troops as the defenders reorganized. D-Day refined a combined method rather than inventing it.