Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalions

876th

This Airborne Battalion was activated in November 1942, and arrived overseas in July 1943. It was the first unit assigned to the IX Engineer Command. It was mainly engaged in France, Belgium and Germany. During the airborne invasion of Holland, the 876th carved out "hasty" airstrips for the airborne forces.

877th

The 877th Airborne Battalion arrived in the United Kingdom in March 1944, and on Omaha Beach on D + 30. They built A-15 at Maupertus, which was the first field on the continent to base medium B-26 bombers and Black Widow night fighters. The 877th was engaged in construction and maintenance of 66 fields in France and Germany.

878th

The airborne 878th was activated in Feb 1943, and arrived in England in March 1944 to "sweat out" D-Day. It was on almost constant alert for airborne missions from D-Day to V-E Day, a period enlivened by eight "dry runs" and a short sea voyage to Utah Beach and return. Its motto, "Ready, Willing, and Able" --- was recently revised to, "We've Had It".