paratrooper

soldier

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July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

A paratrooper is a soldier trained and equipped to parachute from an airplane. These specialized troops are known as paratroops. The term "paratrooper" was first used in 1927, while "paratroops" appeared in 1940.12

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D-Day in pictures
…hours before dawn, thousands of paratroopers descended on the Normandy countryside behind the German defenses. At about 6:30 am some 3,000 Allied landing craft began discharging men onto a stretch of beaches between Cherbourg and Le Havre. The Allied plan was to seize a beachhead within range of fighter coverage…
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…hours before dawn, thousands of paratroopers descended on the Normandy countryside behind the German defenses. At about 6:30 am some 3,000 Allied landing craft began discharging men onto a stretch of beaches between Cherbourg and Le Havre. The Allied plan was to seize a beachhead within range of fighter coverage…
Read More