The 88th Infantry Regiment was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. It was created as the 88th Airborne Infantry Battalion on 10 October 1941 during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

as the U.S. Army's first

glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

unit.

Unit history

Attached to the

U.S. Army Infantry School The United States Army Infantry School is a school located at Fort Benning, Georgia that is dedicated to training infantrymen for service in the United States Army. Organization The school is made up of the following components: * 197th Infantr ...

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, the unit was authorized a strength of 27 officers and 500 enlisted men. In May 1942 it was moved to

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, and expanded into the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment. All equipment and personnel assigned to the regiment were designed to be carried in the

Waco CG-4A Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the st ...

glider. The regiment was stationed at

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, from February to November 1943. Troops were trained in infantry tactics including forced night marches, although they also had mock gliders and a tower north of the fort for practice parachute drops. The soldiers at Fort Meade were taken to

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, for their airborne training, and the glider pilots received their flight training there as well. In April 1943 the regiment was assigned to the 1st Airborne Infantry Brigade along with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment. Both the 88th GIR and the 326th GIR were organized as two-battalion regiments. The 88th was assigned to the 13th Airborne Division in December 1943 and moved to France in February 1945 but saw no combat. In March 1945 the 88th GIR was combined with the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment to form a three-battalion 326th Glider Infantry Regiment. This was in line with the reorganization previously completed by the 17th, 82nd, and

101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault operations. It can plan, coordinate, and execute multiple battalion-size air assault operati ...

s.The Thirteenth Airborne Division ''Shoulder Patch of the 13th Airborne Division'' Turner Publishing Company
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Distinctive unit insignia

* Description A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a cross pendal saltirewise Argent. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver tripartite scroll inscribed "RIDE THE STORM" in Blue letters. * Symbolism The shield is blue for Infantry. The symbol produces the effect of two crossed "8’s," which may be alluded to as

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heraldry. It also has the appearance of a propeller, indicating connection with aviation. * Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 88th Infantry Airborne Battalion on 17 December 1941. It was redesignated for the 88th Infantry Regiment on 29 September 1942. The insignia was rescinded on 10 February 1959.

Coat of arms

*Blazon ** Shield: Azure, a cross pendal saltirewise Argent. ** Crest None. ** Motto RIDE THE STORM. * Symbolism ** Shield: The shield is blue for Infantry. The symbol produces the effect of two crossed "8’s," which may be alluded to as canting heraldry. It also has the appearance of a propeller, indicating connection with aviation. ** Crest None. * Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 88th Infantry Airborne Battalion on 17 December 1941. It was amended to correct the history on 23 January 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 88th Infantry Regiment on 30 September 1942. It was rescinded on 10 February 1959.

Notes

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External links

ww2-airborne.us

www.ospreypublishing.com
088 088 Airborne units and formations of the United States Army Military gliding